tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23903007485925889132024-03-14T17:52:38.343+00:00Days of the PharaohsFresh look at the civilization of the pharaohsjudyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14174916632363141150noreply@blogger.comBlogger169125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2390300748592588913.post-77273103383352028312011-10-29T08:00:00.000+01:002011-10-29T08:00:19.220+01:00Ancient Egypt Remedies for helping women in childbirth<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed;"><b><span style="color: blue; mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">Ancient <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Egypt</st1:country-region></st1:place> Remedies for helping women in childbirth<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRoHW0eWvNhJd-8RyKH2fdbcC7pZimMs6JjVPEvyo9ED7XL1_z2W8ailKcwbv8dyvxed3FckKyowZokqKPwUye-smWdIqXmA6jEgh9MqbmCslnXmoFCioLjlmOeAaOfv8KzjFLv2DTbwY/s1600/Ancient+Egypt+Remedies+for+helping+women+in+childbirth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="279" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRoHW0eWvNhJd-8RyKH2fdbcC7pZimMs6JjVPEvyo9ED7XL1_z2W8ailKcwbv8dyvxed3FckKyowZokqKPwUye-smWdIqXmA6jEgh9MqbmCslnXmoFCioLjlmOeAaOfv8KzjFLv2DTbwY/s320/Ancient+Egypt+Remedies+for+helping+women+in+childbirth.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span>In real life, Egyptian midwives seem to have used both medical and magical methods to speed up labour. Medical remedies included swallowing a mixture of honey and fenugreek, or a vaginal suppository whose ingredients included incense, beer and fly dung. Spells of the second millennium BC for helping women in childbirth involve a variety of magical techniques, most of them similar to those used for treating diseases and minor accidents.<span dir="RTL" lang="AR-EG"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span>Identification with deities is often at the centre of these spells. The person helping the mother sometimes takes the role of Horus. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span>This could indicate that the helper was a male doctor, but cross-sexual identification is quite common in funerary literature and may have been in everyday magic too. The parturient woman is normally identified with either Isis or Hathor. In myth, <st1:place w:st="on">Isis</st1:place> gave birth to a posthumous son after an unusually prolonged pregnancy. This made her an obvious model for women suffering from a long and difficult labour. One spell describes the trials of <st1:place w:st="on">Isis</st1:place> and threatens the gods with cosmic disaster if they do not allow both Horus and the child of the human mother to be born.<span dir="RTL" lang="AR-EG"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span>In a spell from the same collection (Papyrus Leiden 1348), the patient is identified with Hathor. The last line of the spell affirms that it is Hathor, Mistress of Dendera, who is giving birth. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span>This refrain was probably chanted over and over again, giving psychological support to the mother. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span>Another of these spells depicts Horus comforting a distraught husband whose pregnant wife has cried out for a dwarf statue made of clay. Horus knows that this 'amulet of health' is to be fetched from Hathor, Mistress of Dendera. The dwarf is almost certainly Bes, who features prominently in the two Birth Houses attached to the Hathor temple at Dendera <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span>A spell to 'bring down' the womb or the placenta, is to be said four times over a dwarf of clay tied to the suffering woman's head. The spell says that the 'good dwarf is sent to assist at the birth by Ra himself.<span dir="RTL" lang="AR-EG"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span>It is quite likely that dwarf amulets were obtainable from the Hathor temple at Dendera. Large quantities of votive objects were manufactured there for dedication in the temple during the mid-second millennium BC. Visitors may also have been able to procure the protection of the goddess and her helpers by buying amulets to take home with them.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span>Some columns of the Graeco-Roman Period temple at Dendera bear deep grooves. These were probably made to obtain particles of stone from the sacred fabric which could be drunk in water or incorporated in amulets. The crypts of the present temple are still visited by local women who desire to have children. Hathor, Lady of Dendera, retains a reputation for helping women with fertility problems some 1700 years after her cult is supposed to have died out.<span dir="RTL" lang="AR-EG"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span>The oracular decrees worn as amulets were also obtained from temples <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span>A decree by Min and <st1:place w:st="on">Isis</st1:place> promises the wearer that she will conceive healthy male and female children and that she will have an easy and joyful delivery. In another decree, a triad of gods undertakes to protect the wearer from miscarriage, from having twins, which was regarded as unlucky or particularly hazardous, and from any death or sickness while giving birth.<span dir="RTL" lang="AR-EG"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2390300748592588913.post-34697765531835200112011-10-29T07:58:00.000+01:002011-10-29T07:58:09.323+01:00Love, sex and birth in Ancient Egypt Papyrus<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed;"><b><span style="color: blue; mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">Love, sex and birth in Ancient <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Egypt</st1:place></st1:country-region> Papyrus <o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKURYEE1qew7Kglo0YIUr_NPgScd2H2nsZ8KgCTHxC2Si97MZasw3OeJTpm5goq3fJ5ZNeLBjffyDhBQcH6IudfJc5bNs94HSIpY8LFVsvLU4BcdKrs8_g4Mp2wmyAW-uZoFmsn2OEkCo/s1600/Love+sex+and+birth+in+Ancient+Egypt+Papyrus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKURYEE1qew7Kglo0YIUr_NPgScd2H2nsZ8KgCTHxC2Si97MZasw3OeJTpm5goq3fJ5ZNeLBjffyDhBQcH6IudfJc5bNs94HSIpY8LFVsvLU4BcdKrs8_g4Mp2wmyAW-uZoFmsn2OEkCo/s320/Love+sex+and+birth+in+Ancient+Egypt+Papyrus.jpg" width="271" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span>Two curious fertility figurines from tombs at Beni Hassan are made of knotted string.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span>They were probably the physical component of spells involving the tying of magical knots. One seventeenth century BC pottery fertility figurine has an iron ring fitted tightly around its thighs.<span dir="RTL" lang="AR-EG"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span>Iron was a rare material at this date and the ring is almost certainly a magical binding device. The purpose of this charm may have been to prevent miscarriage by keeping the womb closed until the baby was due.<span dir="RTL" lang="AR-EG"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span>Alternatively, this figurine could be the relic of a malicious act of magic.<span dir="RTL" lang="AR-EG"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span>The iron ring might be there to prevent someone from giving birth easily. Without knowing what words were spoken to activate the figurine, its purpose must remain ambiguous.<span dir="RTL" lang="AR-EG"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span>As the time for the birth approached, the expectant mother was isolated from the rest of the household, or at least from its adult males.<span dir="RTL" lang="AR-EG"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span>One spell for 'hastening birth' summons Hathor to bring the sweet north wind to the pavilion in which the birth is taking place. Painted ostraca show women suckling children in an airy pavilion whose columns are wreathed with columbine or bryony <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span>This is a specially constructed 'House of Birth'. <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Temples</st1:place></st1:city> of the first millennium<span dir="RTL" lang="AR-EG"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span>BC have stone versions of these temporary structures. These Mammesi or Birth Houses were shrines to celebrate the birth of a god.<span dir="RTL" lang="AR-EG"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span>Many urban Egyptians will not have had the space to construct a garden pavilion, so part of the house had to be set aside for women and children. Some of the houses in the workmen's village at el-Amarna had an upper room decorated with protective figures of Bes and Taweret. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span>In the artisans' village at Deir el-Medina, many houses had a room with a bed-shaped altar and wall paintings showing naked women, Bes and Taweret. The outer areas of <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placetype w:st="on">temple</st1:placetype> <st1:placename w:st="on">Birth</st1:placename></st1:place> Houses are decorated with the same apotropaic figures used in household magic.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span>In Papyrus Westcar, the sun god Ra sends five deities to assist a woman called Rudjedet to give birth to triplets who are destined to be rulers of <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Egypt</st1:place></st1:country-region>. Isis, Nephthys, the frog goddess Heqet, and the birth goddess Meskhenet disguise themselves as dancers. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span>The ram god Khnum accompanies them as their porter. The deities' first act is to close or seal the room in which the birth is to take place. This probably echoes the standard practice of creating a protective zone around the mother. It also insulated the rest of the household from the demons and ghosts who might be attracted by the danger and pollution of childbirth.<span dir="RTL" lang="AR-EG"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span>The expectant mother was probably naked except for her protective amulets. Her hair might be bound up in the way depicted on some fertility figurines and birth arbour ostraca <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span>Like the figurines, the ostraca were probably intended to promote a successful birth by showing the image of the desired 'happy event'. Many of the figurines have a cone <span style="color: black;">of scented fat surmounting the hair. The application of such a cone seems to be mentioned in a birth spell of around the sixteenth century </span>BC.<span dir="RTL" lang="AR-EG" style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span>The woman sat on a birthing stool, or squatted braced against two or four 'birth bricks'. She was attended by female relatives and perhaps by a midwife. Little is known about the status of midwives. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span>They may have been local 'wise women'; women given the title of'nurse'; or members of a musical troupe of Hathor or one of the other goddesses associated with <span style="color: blue;">love, sex and birth</span>. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span>In Papyrus Wesfcar, Rudjedet's husband seems to recognize the four goddesses as potential midwives because they are carrying the menit necklaces and sistra that are the insignia of dancers or priestesses of Hathor. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span>Spells sometimes refer to four protective goddesses who are linked with the four birth bricks. <span style="color: blue;">In Papyrus Westcar, Meskhenet</span> probably transforms herself into the birth bricks or birth chair, while <st1:place w:st="on">Isis</st1:place> places herself before the mother and Nephthys behind her. Heqet 'hastens the birth', perhaps by the recitation of spells.<span dir="RTL" lang="AR-EG"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2390300748592588913.post-13409600193118181752011-10-21T09:00:00.002+01:002011-10-21T09:00:48.392+01:00Ancient Egypt Magic therapy techniques to enjoying sex and orgasm<br />
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<b><span style="color: blue; mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">Ancient
<st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Egypt</st1:place></st1:country-region>
Magic therapy techniques to enjoying sex and orgasm<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH9NTiLDpG728M8-gJHDxC7zoZ2OOabh8Akx3kZXLCwYK6xjkUOn_iMGlEgWfmD-kOIQJVuCuBp8oRnvHbdseF1sgl6zWMRZJVw0J6JpRhmEEY4qQ11VCN50y6ZzD8N9bLgGNOVEKM3cHO/s1600/Ancient+Egypt+Magic+therapy+techniques+to+enjoying+sex+and+orgasm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH9NTiLDpG728M8-gJHDxC7zoZ2OOabh8Akx3kZXLCwYK6xjkUOn_iMGlEgWfmD-kOIQJVuCuBp8oRnvHbdseF1sgl6zWMRZJVw0J6JpRhmEEY4qQ11VCN50y6ZzD8N9bLgGNOVEKM3cHO/s320/Ancient+Egypt+Magic+therapy+techniques+to+enjoying+sex+and+orgasm.jpg" width="252" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: blue; mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">One case</span><span> is described in detail on a funerary stela of
the first century BC <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span>The Lady Taimhotep was married at the age of
fourteen to the High Priest of Ptah at <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Memphis</st1:city></st1:place>.
She bore him three daughters but the couple wanted a son. They prayed together
to the deified Imhotep<span dir="RTL" lang="AR-EG"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span>The god appeared to the High Priest in a dream
and promised that he should have a son if he refurbished the sanctuary of
Imhotep's temple. The High Priest carried out the work and made offerings.
Imhotep caused Taimhotep to conceive a male child, who was named after the god.
She died four years later at the age of thirty.<span dir="RTL" lang="AR-EG"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span>Earlier in time, the major deities of the
state-run temples were not so accessible. Women prayed to the traditional
deities of household shrines, such as Taweret and Hathor. Appeals for help
might also be made to the family ancestors. Some Letters to the Dead of the
late third and early second millennia BC ask for the birth of children, or
specifically for a son. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span>Such pleas might also be inscribed on figurines
of a naked woman holding a child. These figurines would have been placed in the
outer areas of tombs. The dead were probably being asked to intercede with the
great gods, rather than to make things happen through their own powers. One
inscribed figurine asks for 'a birth for your daughter'.<span dir="RTL" lang="AR-EG"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span>To reinforce the request, the figurine is in
the form of the desired outcome — a young mother or nurse with a thriving
child.<span dir="RTL" lang="AR-EG"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span>These 'fertility figurines', which were used at
most periods of Egyptian history, can be made in stone, pottery, faience or
wood. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span>The woman is usually naked except for amuletic
jewellery such as cowrie-shell girdles and Horus falcon or crescent moon
pendants. Some figures also display amuletic tattoos or body paintings. A
minority have brightly-patterned dresses of the kind worn by priestesses and
dancers who served the cult of Hathor. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span>The genitals may be shown below the dress to emphasize
the sexuality of these figures.<span dir="RTL" lang="AR-EG"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span>In some examples of the second millennium BC,
the lower legs are omitted <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span>This could either be to curtail the figurine's
power to leave a tomb, or because it was thought important to include only the parts
of the body needed for the conception and rearing of children. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span>The woman sometimes suckles or holds a child,
or is lying on a model bed with a baby beside her. The baby may be female or
male, since children of both sexes were desired to make up the ideal Egyptian
family.<span dir="RTL" lang="AR-EG"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span>Fertility figurines have been found in both
child and adult, male and female burials, and in the outer areas of family
tombs. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span>They were also kept in house shrines. In the
second millennium BC they were dedicated in temples to Hathor, and in the first
millennium BC to <st1:place w:st="on">Isis</st1:place>. Placing the figurines
in the vicinity of a higher power, such as a deity or a transfigured spirit,
charged them with heka to act as fertility charms at all stages from conception
to the rearing of infants.<o:p></o:p></span></div>judyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14174916632363141150noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2390300748592588913.post-91676291856965209532011-10-21T08:59:00.000+01:002011-10-21T08:59:55.441+01:00Ancient Egypt Magic therapy techniques to sexual turmoil<br />
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<b><span style="color: blue; mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">Ancient
<st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Egypt</st1:country-region></st1:place>
Magic therapy</span></b><span style="color: blue; mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;"> <b>techniques
to sexual turmoil<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjim7HeR-STsnK6ma70JpQeio57wL2VC1t12Cn_o3DKzu4dXwOxP4kfehlwd8fx7jjbFzP_waCEpWf71V8ZfAB88nzBxahpErcQiii6LRzyTX1zk2n8RHEznrYb_OpxNdAz1G4xaHdzQFiY/s1600/Ancient+Egypt+Magic+therapy+techniques+to+sexual+turmoil.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjim7HeR-STsnK6ma70JpQeio57wL2VC1t12Cn_o3DKzu4dXwOxP4kfehlwd8fx7jjbFzP_waCEpWf71V8ZfAB88nzBxahpErcQiii6LRzyTX1zk2n8RHEznrYb_OpxNdAz1G4xaHdzQFiY/s1600/Ancient+Egypt+Magic+therapy+techniques+to+sexual+turmoil.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span>The arrival of the beloved acts like an amulet <span style="color: blue;">(wedja)</span> and restores the young man to health. In
another poem from the same papyrus (ChesterBeatty /), the young man complains
that the girl has lassoed him with her hair, caught him with her eye,
restrained him with her necklace and branded him with her seal. These metaphors
are all equivalent to <span style="color: blue;">magical techniques</span>.<span dir="RTL" lang="AR-EG"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span>Many cultures have thought the ability of a
woman to throw a man into sexual turmoil to be akin to sorcery. This may partly
explain the aggressive tone of some love charms directed at women. A rare
second millennium BC example has already been mentioned <span dir="RTL" lang="AR-EG"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span>With this spell the woman is to be reduced to
following the man like a cow follows her calf. Love charms are very common in
the Graeco-Egyptian papyri <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span>Even those written in Greek involve Egyptian
deities. <st1:place w:st="on">Isis</st1:place> was regarded as the paradigm of
faithful love. Spells promise to make a woman love the client as devotedly as <st1:place w:st="on">Isis</st1:place> loved Osiris. If the woman in question was already
married, or fond of someone else, the spell would make her hate her present
partner as fiercely as <st1:place w:st="on">Isis</st1:place> hated Seth.<span dir="RTL" lang="AR-EG"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;">
<span>In some spells from the Graeco-Egyptian papyri,
the procedure ends with the magician or his client anointing his penis with a
specially prepared ointment and having intercourse with the woman. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span>Since the couple are already sleeping together,
the primary purpose of the spell is to keep the woman faithful. The client can
then be sure that he is the father of any children she may bear. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span>Under Egyptian law a man was obliged to divide
his property between the children of his wife, so marital fidelity was an issue
of financial as well as emotional importance.<span dir="RTL" lang="AR-EG"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;">
<span>Some funerary spells promise that a man will be
able to have sex with his wife and beget children after death. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;">
<span>Spell 576 of The Coffin Texts is a more general
spell for enjoying sex in the afterlife. The rubric to the spell suggests that
it may have been adapted from an 'aphrodisiac' used in life.<span dir="RTL" lang="AR-EG"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;">
<span>The spell is to be spoken over an amuletic bead
of carnelian or amethyst placed on the man's right arm. The wording of the
spell implies that not only will the man be able to have intercourse as often
as he wants, but that he will always <span style="color: blue;">give his partner
an orgasm.<span dir="RTL" lang="AR-EG"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;">
<span>Magico-medical texts from the twentieth century
BC down to the fourth century AD contain herbal remedies for impotence and procedures
to test a woman's ability to conceive. Comparatively few spells that promise to
make a woman conceive are recorded. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;">
<span>It may have been felt that only a deity could
create life in the womb. From at least the fifteenth century BC, childless
women or couples are known to have visited temples to pray for help.<span dir="RTL" lang="AR-EG"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>judyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14174916632363141150noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2390300748592588913.post-49041744293016034592011-05-16T15:31:00.000+01:002011-05-16T15:31:46.706+01:00The most important ancient Egypt books4/10<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed;"><b><span style="color: blue; mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">The most important ancient <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Egypt</st1:country-region></st1:place> books4/10<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9IzQc-TMkjy95KmOQpuGM4EpJLrezX1YdbVTA0DHI-cA7e6pXzlLS3JTd7zEF_lBwExUiDt9G7dDDv0065Kej2iBB7jx4S7HRQeXGPaS-EPTZE86jcacr04r6QzYySldMQbjuxQKHKP0/s1600/The+Tutankhamun+Affair.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9IzQc-TMkjy95KmOQpuGM4EpJLrezX1YdbVTA0DHI-cA7e6pXzlLS3JTd7zEF_lBwExUiDt9G7dDDv0065Kej2iBB7jx4S7HRQeXGPaS-EPTZE86jcacr04r6QzYySldMQbjuxQKHKP0/s1600/The+Tutankhamun+Affair.jpg" /></a></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">After many hard days of search and research for most important and unique information included in ancient <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Egypt</st1:country-region></st1:place> available books we found only 10 books we can tell you that we trust this will be helpful and trustable to reading in <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed;"><b><span style="color: blue; mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">The Tutankhamun Affair<span dir="RTL" lang="AR-EG"><o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">At the beginning of the 20th century, a young unknown pharoah remained, beneath his golden mask, in the darkness of a tomb deep in the <st1:place w:st="on">Valley of the Kings</st1:place>. His name was Tutankhamun. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">He had lain undisturbed for a thousand years until two men, Howard Carter and Lord Carnarvon, discovered the tomb and wrested him from obscurity in an attempt to solve his riddle. <o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
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<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><object classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://fpdownload.macromedia.com/get/flashplayer/current/swflash.cab" height="250px" id="Player_c00fcfaa-23b8-494d-9ae5-ce54f70e8f8b" width="300px"> <param NAME="movie" VALUE="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?rt=tf_ssw&ServiceVersion=20070822&MarketPlace=US&ID=V20070822%2FUS%2Fegyoffline-20%2F8003%2Fc00fcfaa-23b8-494d-9ae5-ce54f70e8f8b&Operation=GetDisplayTemplate"><param NAME="quality" VALUE="high"><param NAME="bgcolor" VALUE="#FFFFFF"><param NAME="allowscriptaccess" VALUE="always"><embed src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?rt=tf_ssw&ServiceVersion=20070822&MarketPlace=US&ID=V20070822%2FUS%2Fegyoffline-20%2F8003%2Fc00fcfaa-23b8-494d-9ae5-ce54f70e8f8b&Operation=GetDisplayTemplate" id="Player_c00fcfaa-23b8-494d-9ae5-ce54f70e8f8b" quality="high" bgcolor="#ffffff" name="Player_c00fcfaa-23b8-494d-9ae5-ce54f70e8f8b" allowscriptaccess="always" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" align="middle" height="250px" width="300px"></embed></OBJECT> <noscript><a href="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?rt=tf_ssw&ServiceVersion=20070822&MarketPlace=US&ID=V20070822%2FUS%2Fegyoffline-20%2F8003%2Fc00fcfaa-23b8-494d-9ae5-ce54f70e8f8b&Operation=NoScript">Amazon.com Widgets</a></noscript></div><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">Christian Jacq tells the incredible true story of the strange curse of Tutankhamen which was to cause havoc among its unfortunate victims for the next half-century.<o:p></o:p></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2390300748592588913.post-27863037155655479722011-05-16T15:29:00.000+01:002011-05-16T15:29:43.134+01:00The most important ancient Egypt books3/10<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed;"><b><span style="color: blue; mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">The most important ancient <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Egypt</st1:country-region></st1:place> books3/10<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNjQTcTtcACNjy_0jvlOI_LwqV4FK59E2K9OQTs70FNrn_APohdpOgVZPUKXS_Ln3XKBGS6z_DyFmprXNg-QJ6XUAAB41f6au4FNDf94mk3LIxiw5ktHk11_kDOvhX3I0jn4yzdU4AOBg/s1600/Myth+and+Symbol+in+Ancient+Egypt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNjQTcTtcACNjy_0jvlOI_LwqV4FK59E2K9OQTs70FNrn_APohdpOgVZPUKXS_Ln3XKBGS6z_DyFmprXNg-QJ6XUAAB41f6au4FNDf94mk3LIxiw5ktHk11_kDOvhX3I0jn4yzdU4AOBg/s1600/Myth+and+Symbol+in+Ancient+Egypt.jpg" /></a></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">After many hard days of search and research for most important and unique information included in ancient <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Egypt</st1:country-region></st1:place> available books we found only 10 books we can tell you that we trust this will be helpful and trustable to reading in <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed;"><b><span style="color: blue; mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">Myth and Symbol in Ancient <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Egypt</st1:country-region></st1:place><span dir="RTL" lang="AR-EG"><o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">This book is not intented as a general public introduction to the religion of ancient <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Egypt</st1:country-region></st1:place> and that's why many newcomers in Egyptology became dissapointed or were at a lost. The speech of the author is not easy to follow if one is not well embebed into the ancient system of thought. None the less, there are plentiful of original research in this book that I should recommend it to anyone who wants to get deeper into Egyptian mythology.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">Clark did touch on a good amount of details that were interesting and helpful about the religion of ancient <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">egypt</st1:country-region></st1:place>, I had a problem with his writing style. It can get convoluted and unclear at times, going back and forth frequently on a topic, and cutting to the next idea rather bluntly. <o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><object classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://fpdownload.macromedia.com/get/flashplayer/current/swflash.cab" height="250px" id="Player_c00fcfaa-23b8-494d-9ae5-ce54f70e8f8b" width="300px"> <param NAME="movie" VALUE="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?rt=tf_ssw&ServiceVersion=20070822&MarketPlace=US&ID=V20070822%2FUS%2Fegyoffline-20%2F8003%2Fc00fcfaa-23b8-494d-9ae5-ce54f70e8f8b&Operation=GetDisplayTemplate"><param NAME="quality" VALUE="high"><param NAME="bgcolor" VALUE="#FFFFFF"><param NAME="allowscriptaccess" VALUE="always"><embed src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?rt=tf_ssw&ServiceVersion=20070822&MarketPlace=US&ID=V20070822%2FUS%2Fegyoffline-20%2F8003%2Fc00fcfaa-23b8-494d-9ae5-ce54f70e8f8b&Operation=GetDisplayTemplate" id="Player_c00fcfaa-23b8-494d-9ae5-ce54f70e8f8b" quality="high" bgcolor="#ffffff" name="Player_c00fcfaa-23b8-494d-9ae5-ce54f70e8f8b" allowscriptaccess="always" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" align="middle" height="250px" width="300px"></embed></OBJECT> <noscript><a href="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?rt=tf_ssw&ServiceVersion=20070822&MarketPlace=US&ID=V20070822%2FUS%2Fegyoffline-20%2F8003%2Fc00fcfaa-23b8-494d-9ae5-ce54f70e8f8b&Operation=NoScript">Amazon.com Widgets</a></noscript></div><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">In other words, he'll be talking about a specific subject and all of a sudden, the next paragraph will be on something new with hardly any transition, much less a smooth one. The first few chapters are the worst "mumbo-jumbo," which can make it a little hard and frustrating to get into the book (something any author would want to avoid, I'm sure). I realize the religion itself is one of the most complicated religions, but I'm convinced there has to be a better/ simpler way to explain its myths to beginners. However, if you don't mind re-reading some things and taking notes, the book should be a good addition to your reading list, but ONLY as an addition.<o:p></o:p></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2390300748592588913.post-85154828632578273252011-05-16T15:27:00.000+01:002011-05-16T15:27:41.973+01:00The most important ancient Egypt books2/10<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed;"><b><span style="color: blue; mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">The most important ancient <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Egypt</st1:country-region></st1:place> books2/10<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1o1T7TdX0qct6SMRhc7JHhKKSQMDhbNy-Qpb2Rt1tkW6YeWUPjALOyzbacR_4MF278ysQBzaKGTfSyXqvThLjHbbs0c-bkWw25EGyN1l1BNj3qoY91PgWuwV1awLiOo0chlGwKwO6iis/s1600/The+Ancient+Egyptian+Books+of+the+Afterlife.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1o1T7TdX0qct6SMRhc7JHhKKSQMDhbNy-Qpb2Rt1tkW6YeWUPjALOyzbacR_4MF278ysQBzaKGTfSyXqvThLjHbbs0c-bkWw25EGyN1l1BNj3qoY91PgWuwV1awLiOo0chlGwKwO6iis/s1600/The+Ancient+Egyptian+Books+of+the+Afterlife.jpg" /></a></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">After many hard days of search and research for most important and unique information included in ancient <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Egypt</st1:country-region></st1:place> available books we found only 10 books we can tell you that we trust this will be helpful and trustable to reading in <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed;"><b><span style="color: blue; mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">The Ancient Egyptian Books of the Afterlife<span dir="RTL" lang="AR-EG"><o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">Ancient Egyptians held a rich and complex vision of the afterlife and codified their beliefs in books that were to be discovered more than two millennia later in royal tombs. Erik Hornung, the world's leading authority on these religious texts, surveys what is known about them today. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">The contents of the texts range from the collection of spells in the Book of the Dead, which was intended to offer practical assistance on the journey to the afterlife, to the detailed accounts of the hereafter provided in the Books of the Netherworld. Hornung looks closely at these latter works, while summarizing the contents of the Book of the Dead and other widely studied examples of the genre. <o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><object classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://fpdownload.macromedia.com/get/flashplayer/current/swflash.cab" height="250px" id="Player_c00fcfaa-23b8-494d-9ae5-ce54f70e8f8b" width="300px"> <param NAME="movie" VALUE="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?rt=tf_ssw&ServiceVersion=20070822&MarketPlace=US&ID=V20070822%2FUS%2Fegyoffline-20%2F8003%2Fc00fcfaa-23b8-494d-9ae5-ce54f70e8f8b&Operation=GetDisplayTemplate"><param NAME="quality" VALUE="high"><param NAME="bgcolor" VALUE="#FFFFFF"><param NAME="allowscriptaccess" VALUE="always"><embed src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?rt=tf_ssw&ServiceVersion=20070822&MarketPlace=US&ID=V20070822%2FUS%2Fegyoffline-20%2F8003%2Fc00fcfaa-23b8-494d-9ae5-ce54f70e8f8b&Operation=GetDisplayTemplate" id="Player_c00fcfaa-23b8-494d-9ae5-ce54f70e8f8b" quality="high" bgcolor="#ffffff" name="Player_c00fcfaa-23b8-494d-9ae5-ce54f70e8f8b" allowscriptaccess="always" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" align="middle" height="250px" width="300px"></embed></OBJECT> <noscript><a href="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?rt=tf_ssw&ServiceVersion=20070822&MarketPlace=US&ID=V20070822%2FUS%2Fegyoffline-20%2F8003%2Fc00fcfaa-23b8-494d-9ae5-ce54f70e8f8b&Operation=NoScript">Amazon.com Widgets</a></noscript></div><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">For each composition, he discusses the history of its ancient transmission and its decipherment in modern times, supplying bibliographic information for any text editions. He also seeks to determine whether this literature as a whole presents a monolithic conception of the afterlife. The volume features many drawings from the books themselves--drawings that illustrate the nocturnal course of the sun god through the realm of the dead. Originally published in German and now available in a fluid English translation, this volume offers an accessible and enlightening introduction to a central element of ancient Egyptian religion.<o:p></o:p></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2390300748592588913.post-38484568432245195372011-05-16T15:25:00.000+01:002011-05-16T15:25:27.384+01:00The most important ancient Egypt books1/10<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed;"><b><span style="color: blue; mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">The most important ancient <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Egypt</st1:place></st1:country-region> books1/10<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgIvddP0KvizolKjlhiORG-bwxdcWJMoowsRmw7kvgJ8NfPjXL2YlTMoBWJ2fLBvrXtZU5WWQzM5eQj10j0cV6Xn18G48sl6RDAf9YN-r7KAlvoP34WBTcuHtcwV-588DLHeNNjQ8tjBc/s1600/Serpent+in+the+Sky+The+High+Wisdom+of+Ancient+Egypt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgIvddP0KvizolKjlhiORG-bwxdcWJMoowsRmw7kvgJ8NfPjXL2YlTMoBWJ2fLBvrXtZU5WWQzM5eQj10j0cV6Xn18G48sl6RDAf9YN-r7KAlvoP34WBTcuHtcwV-588DLHeNNjQ8tjBc/s1600/Serpent+in+the+Sky+The+High+Wisdom+of+Ancient+Egypt.jpg" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">After many hard days of search and research for most important and unique information included in ancient <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Egypt</st1:place></st1:country-region> available books we found only 10 books we can tell you that we trust this will be helpful and trustable to reading in <o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed;"><b><span style="color: blue; mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">Serpent in the Sky: The High Wisdom of Ancient <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Egypt</st1:place></st1:country-region><span dir="RTL" lang="AR-EG"><o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">John Anthony West's revolutionary reinterpretation of the civilization of <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Egypt</st1:place></st1:country-region> challenges all that has been accepted as dogma concerning Ancient Egypt. In this pioneering study West documents that: Hieroglyphs carry hermetic messages that convey the subtler realities of the Sacred Science of the Pharaohs. <o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">Egyptian science, medicine, mathematics, and astronomy were more sophisticated than most modern Egyptologists acknowledge. Egyptian knowledge of the universe was a legacy from a highly sophisticated civilization that flourished thousands of years ago. The great Sphinx represents geological proof that such a civilization existed. <o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">This revised edition includes a new introduction linking Egyptian spiritual science with the perennial wisdom tradition and an appendix updating West's work in redating the Sphinx. Illustrated with over 140 photographs and line drawings.<o:p></o:p></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2390300748592588913.post-71772455713884397532011-05-13T21:56:00.000+01:002011-05-13T21:56:50.314+01:00Ancient Egypt Fertility Magic guide<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed;"><b><span style="color: blue; mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">Ancient <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Egypt</st1:place></st1:country-region> Fertility Magic guide<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3UIAjR27LbcknZTBr5nhQb3hX3O88KOfyj0OtYieboIKZjY2WARcp49XBR5a4EqaudJI_o3oXu8qJ6zuuWkOztNeK7d_BJ7uG_POrHy-IgLfT6aXQODlBP8dIlFEhyphenhyphen_OLGbYEcJEcDvs/s1600/1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3UIAjR27LbcknZTBr5nhQb3hX3O88KOfyj0OtYieboIKZjY2WARcp49XBR5a4EqaudJI_o3oXu8qJ6zuuWkOztNeK7d_BJ7uG_POrHy-IgLfT6aXQODlBP8dIlFEhyphenhyphen_OLGbYEcJEcDvs/s320/1.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed;"><b><span style="color: blue; mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">Block from a tomb at Giza, c. 2300 BC. In the middle of a procession of female dancers and young boys stands a figure masked like Bes who holds a scourge and a hand-shaped wand. This unusual scene has variously been interpreted as a puberty ritual, a harvest festival, or a protective rite.</span></b></div></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">In Egyptian religion, the fertility of animals and crops was chiefly associated with male deities, such as Osiris, Amun-Min and the earth god Geb, but human fertility was more the domain of goddesses, such as Hathor, Isis, and Heqet. A snake goddess called Renenutet was linked to both human and crop fertility'. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">Renenutet is often shown suckling a divine or royal child and was revered as 'the nourisher of children'. She was also the 'Lady of Granaries'. Renenutet was honoured in shrines set up in granaries and in the fields at harvest time.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span dir="RTL" lang="AR-EG" style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><a name='more'></a><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">Agricultural fertility, especially the production of cereal crops, was one of the main concerns of the state religion. The blessing of the gods was asked on the fields, and the first fruits of the harvest seem to have been offered in local temples. The king took part in rites to make the <st1:place w:st="on">Nile</st1:place> rise and the crops grow. The state cults included gods such as Min and Amun-Min whose festivals promoted both crop and animal fertility.<span dir="RTL" lang="AR-EG"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">In the early third millennium BC, an ithyphallic statue of Min was yearly carried out of his temple to tour and bless the fields.<iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=egyoffline-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=1567181309&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe> <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">This ceremony was later reduced to a symbolic visit to a temple lettuce garden.1 If this was a general pattern, it seems that the agricultural rites of the state cults became increasingly remote from the peasants who actually worked in the fields.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">The peasant farmers must have turned to beliefs and practices of their own. In this area, magic and religion are particularly hard to separate. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">In the vicinity' of Akhmim, where the god Min had his ancient cult centre, crude phallic figurines are still set up in fields.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">This custom is likely to go back to ancient times and the figures may be derived from the ithyphallic image of Min. They are probably used today because their sexuality is thought to stimulate crop growth and because an erect penis is thought to frighten away the afrits who threaten crops.<span dir="RTL" lang="AR-EG"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">Some Egyptian paintings of the sixteenth—fourteenth centuries BC show objects resembling 'corn-dollies' in reaping and threshing scenes.<span dir="RTL" lang="AR-EG"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">In modern <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Egypt</st1:place></st1:country-region>, these objects are known as 'corn-brides'. They are plaited in traditional shapes from the first corn of the harvest. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">After being placed on the winnowed heaps of grain, they are hung up in houses and shops to bring good luck and prosperity until the next harvest.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">The Ancient Egyptian 'corn-brides' were probably used in a similar way.<span dir="RTL" lang="AR-EG"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">Only a few spells relating to crop production have survived. This isprobably because most of the magic used by peasants in the fields belonged to an oral tradition. The rubric to one short spell describes how to set up a 'scarecrow' consisting of a cake stuck on a branch.<iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=egyoffline-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=B00063M3BK&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe> <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">The words summon Horus to frighten off plundering birds. Two spells to be cast over a field invoke a group of deities, including a divine herdsman, the Canaanite god Hawron, to protect cattle from attacks by wild animals.<span dir="RTL" lang="AR-EG"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-WYiEl1U0Ofe24Y1WeQvdRElNajSGZaPZJlZh63l-zcJYtmeUbkcpFNPewEs-Z7pdN6oV66Vtsk9K_7J-y5gYJR11EnWO-SRMbRJX6uK081P8ob-E6X9ANMuLfMJjdGdjA7hn9eUsfPo/s1600/2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-WYiEl1U0Ofe24Y1WeQvdRElNajSGZaPZJlZh63l-zcJYtmeUbkcpFNPewEs-Z7pdN6oV66Vtsk9K_7J-y5gYJR11EnWO-SRMbRJX6uK081P8ob-E6X9ANMuLfMJjdGdjA7hn9eUsfPo/s320/2.JPG" width="174" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed;"><b><span style="color: blue; mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">Funerary stela of Taimhotep, wife of the High Priest of Ptah at <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Memphis</st1:place></st1:city>, 1st century BC. The inscription relates how she and her husband prayed to the god Imhotep for a son. She is shown (top right) adoring six deities: Sokar-Osiris, Apis-Osiris, <st1:place w:st="on">Isis</st1:place>, Nephthys, Horus and Anubis.</span></b></div></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">Spells to help and protect animals are better attested than those concerned with crops. A veterinary papyrus of around 1900 BC is mainly concerned with diseases of cattle. Its remedies are chiefly of a practical nature, but herdsmen seem to have had something of a reputation for magic. A story in which a chief herdsman meets a goddess or demon beside a lake refers to the herders' knowledge of 'water charms'. Simple spells for getting cattle safely across water and 'warding off the crocodile by the herdsmen' are recorded in some tombs of the third millennium<span dir="RTL" lang="AR-EG"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">BC.<iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=egyoffline-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=0292722621&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe><span dir="RTL" lang="AR-EG"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">Tomb scenes which show cattle being taken across a canal can include a figure making a special protective hand gesture. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">The gesture some-rimes has a caption explaining 'This is protection'. It is also made in scenes of animals giving birth <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">In desert hunting scenes of the late third and early second millennia BC, the same gesture is made by the man handling the hunting dogs. In each case, the gesture seems intended to protect animals in time of crisis. The hand gesture was no doubt reinforced by a simple spoken formula. Amulets based on this gesture were worn in the third millennium BC, so it was used to protect humans in crisis too.<span dir="RTL" lang="AR-EG"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">An enigmatic tomb relief featuring a masked-figure with a hand- shaped wand may show a rite to protect children at the crisis-point of puberty. The masked figure, who is holding a scourge as well as a hand-wand, is probably playing the role of the lion-dwarf later known as Aha or Bes. A few canvas Bes masks have survived <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">The person playing Bes stands in the middle of a group of dancing children.<span dir="RTL" lang="AR-EG"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">He is shown as the same size as the children, but may have been an <span style="color: black;">adult</span> dwarf. First in line come girls wearing kilts and long pigtails. Next are five naked boys waving sticks or plants of some kind <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">At the end of the row a group of boys is trying to escape from a hut.<span dir="RTL" lang="AR-EG"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">This hut game has been interpreted as a puberty ritual, similar to those found in some recent African cultures. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">The scene has also been viewed as the prelude to a circumcision ceremony. The circumcision of young men is shown in a few tombs of this period. Others assume that there must be a connection with the reaping scene immediately below and identify the event as a fertility dance taking place during a harvest festival.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">These ideas need not be contradictory. The protection of children and crops were both in the sphere of the harvest goddess, Renenutet. A ceremony to prepare boys for life as <span style="color: black;">sexually mature adults</span> could well have been planned to coincide with harvest time.<span dir="RTL" lang="AR-EG"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">The fertility of crops, animals, and humans were of equal and inter- locking importance.<iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=egyoffline-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=0140262520&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe> <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">The ancient Egyptian peasant hoped that his fields would produce enough crops to feed his family, that his livestock would reproduce themselves to provide meat, milk and working animals, and that he would have enough sturdy children to help work his land and look after him in old age. These were literally matters of life and death to the poorest sector of the population.<span dir="RTL" lang="AR-EG"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">Most official Egyptian texts play down the importance of the family and emphasize the role of king and state in caring for everyone. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">In reality, ancient <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Egypt</st1:place></st1:country-region> was not a welfare state and the family was a vital economic unit. Instruction Texts mention the moral duty to look after dependent relatives and the importance and prestige of having many children. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">The artisans at Deir el-Medina, who lived in a community which was supported by the state to a remarkable degree, gave great prominence to fertility deities, symbols and amulets in their homes. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">In agricultural communities, human fertility is likely to have assumed even greater importance. Even the poorest peasant would probably have tried to purchase magical assistance in the crisis of infertility.<span dir="RTL" lang="AR-EG"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">Nowadays, we tend to think of infertility in terms of failure to conceive, or to carry a child to term. In ancient times, death in childbirth and infant mortality were even greater threats to fertility. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">Human fertility encompassed the successful conception, birth and rearing of children.<span dir="RTL" lang="AR-EG"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">Much effort was directed at achieving this goal. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">According to Clement of Alexandria, one of the six books of medicine kept in Egyptian temples dealt with gynaecological problems. This is confirmed by the fact that a surprisingly high proportion of all the surviving <span style="color: black;">magic medical papyri</span> either include, or consist of, gynaecology and obstetrics.<span dir="RTL" lang="AR-EG"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">The oldest such collection dates to around the nineteenth century BC.<span dir="RTL" lang="AR-EG"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">The magico-medical papyri contain pregnancy tests and remedies for impotence, sterility, miscarriage and difficult labour, as well as spells to promote milk supply and protect newborn babies. Even family planning is included, which fits with the general concern for the health of the mother shown in these papyri.<span dir="RTL" lang="AR-EG"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">The threats to human fertility mentioned in the magico-medical papyri are of four kinds. The first is natural causes; that is, anything not attributed to a specific supernatural being or force. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">Failure to conceive and difficult labour are often mentioned without any cause being given.<span dir="RTL" lang="AR-EG"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">The second threat is from deities and demons. Among deities, Seth was associated with miscarriage and abortion. Many demons were held to be dangerous to a pregnant woman or a small child. One spell is designed to prevent a female demon from creeping in at night and kissing a young child. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">The implication is that the demon's kiss would kill the child. The third threat is from the dead <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">One spell promises to control any male or female dead person who might give a woman mastitis and prevent her from feeding her child. Female ghosts seem to have been particularly feared. It may be that women who had died in childbirth, or without having any children, were thought to be jealous of successful births.<span dir="RTL" lang="AR-EG"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">The fourth source of threat is ill-disposed living persons. Foreign sorcerers and sorceresses are listed as potential dangers, but it is some-times explained that they are demons in disguise. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">A few spells mention protection against any noble or common women who might harm a newborn child. It is not certain whether this refers to female ghosts, to demons masquerading as humans or to ordinary women who possessed the Evil Eye. In modern <st1:country-region w:st="on">Egypt</st1:country-region> and <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Sudan</st1:country-region></st1:place>, <span style="color: black;">protection from the Evil Eye</span> is one of the main reasons given for keeping a mother and child in isolation for up to forty days after the birth.<span dir="RTL" lang="AR-EG"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">A supernatural threat called for a response that invoked or manipulated supernatural powers. For problems which seem to be attributed to natural causes, a range of options was available. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">One might be described as the 'medical option'. Herbal remedies, such as taking honey and fenugreek to 'loosen a child in the womb', were often resorted to.<span dir="RTL" lang="AR-EG"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">Practices such as testing a woman's fertility by placing a cut onion in her vagina and then trying to smell it on her breath may sound bizarre, but were based on what the Egyptians believed to be the facts of anatomy.<span dir="RTL" lang="AR-EG"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">They thought that in a fertile woman there was a link between the mouth and the 'open womb'.<span dir="RTL" lang="AR-EG"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">As well as the medical option, there were the 'religious' and the 'magical options'. These are often difficult to distinguish. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">The religious option involved supplication to a deity, and perhaps a visit to a temple and the dedication of offerings. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">The magical option might also involve deities and lesser supernatural beings, but treated them in a different way. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">Divisions between religion, magic and medicine which seem obvious to us would not necessarily have been meaningful to ancient Egyptians. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">It was not essential to choose only one of these options.<span dir="RTL" lang="AR-EG"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">Many Egyptians will have utilized the resources of religion, magic and medicine during their attempt to raise a family.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">Most marriages in ancient <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Egypt</st1:place></st1:country-region> were probably arranged between the parents of the young couple. However, the sexes were not strictly segregated and some marriages seem to have been based on mutual attraction. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">Several anthologies of love poetry survive from the later second millennium BC. In these poems the lovesick often appeal to the goddess Hathor to grant them their beloved. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">The favour of this goddess is obtained by prayer and offerings in the conventional religious manner, but magic is also mentioned. In the poems, the power of love is compared with the power of heka.<span dir="RTL" lang="AR-EG"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">A poem written on a pot (Cairo Vase) describes how a young girl's love acts as a water-charm to keep her suitor safe as he swims across a crocodile-infested river to meet her. A poem on papyrus describes lovesickness as a condition that doctors and magicians are powerless to cure. <o:p></o:p></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2390300748592588913.post-78460065872701476882011-05-12T03:48:00.000+01:002011-05-13T21:53:09.091+01:00NOTABLE ARCHAEOLOGISTS George Andrew Reisner (1867–1942)<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed;"><b><span style="color: blue; mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">NOTABLE ARCHAEOLOGISTS George Andrew Reisner (1867–1942)<span dir="RTL" lang="AR-EG"><o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm9_mh-xYwcbzyAT88tO93XCQj_aYSf-FdJJ1bzyPtGLLGDPvxfRQVDGSb4uiElUo9YbIWjd5tN0JUDXdFLb2QIO4HWDtqu3u3uFrFaL5h58Lu7_TybA2_Nugn7MUAUxdxPuVaqO73_bM/s1600/George+Andrew+Reisner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm9_mh-xYwcbzyAT88tO93XCQj_aYSf-FdJJ1bzyPtGLLGDPvxfRQVDGSb4uiElUo9YbIWjd5tN0JUDXdFLb2QIO4HWDtqu3u3uFrFaL5h58Lu7_TybA2_Nugn7MUAUxdxPuVaqO73_bM/s1600/George+Andrew+Reisner.jpg" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">A leading twentieth-century archaeologist, Reisner, an American, excavated at <st1:city w:st="on">Giza</st1:city> where he uncovered the Old Kingdom nobles’ tombs, the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placetype w:st="on">Valley</st1:placetype> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Temple</st1:placetype></st1:place> in Mycerinus’s pyramid complex, and the intact tomb of Queen Hetepheres. He also led the Archaeological Survey of Nubia (1907–1908), established a basis for Nubian prehistory, and explored the pyramids and sites in the <st1:country-region w:st="on">Sudan</st1:country-region>, thus expanding knowledge of the Kushite rulers who conquered <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Egypt</st1:place></st1:country-region> in Dynasty <span dir="RTL" lang="AR-EG"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">He worked at the <st1:placename w:st="on">Egyptian</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Museum</st1:placetype> in <st1:state w:st="on">Berlin</st1:state>, and later held the professorship of Egyptology at <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Harvard</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">University</st1:placetype></st1:place> (1914–1942). He was also curator of Egyptian antiquities at the <st1:placetype w:st="on">Museum</st1:placetype> of <st1:placename w:st="on">Fine Arts</st1:placename>, in <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Boston</st1:place></st1:city>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2390300748592588913.post-37231575746373452002011-05-12T03:47:00.000+01:002011-05-13T21:53:08.993+01:00NOTABLE ARCHAEOLOGISTS William Matthew Flinders Petrie (1853–1942)<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed;"><b><span style="color: blue; mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">NOTABLE ARCHAEOLOGISTS William Matthew Flinders Petrie (1853–1942)<span dir="RTL" lang="AR-EG"><o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">Petrie, who received no formal education, was taught surveying and geometry by his father.<span dir="RTL" lang="AR-EG"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">He first visited <st1:country-region w:st="on">Egypt</st1:country-region> in 1880 to survey the Great Pyramid at <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Giza</st1:place></st1:city> and then excavated for the Egypt Exploration Fund from 1884 to 1886. His considerable talent and ability were recognized by the novelist Amelia B. Edwards, one of the founders of the Egypt Exploration Fund (now known as the Egypt Exploration Society). <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><a name='more'></a><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">She endowed the first chair in Egyptology in <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Britain</st1:place></st1:country-region>, which was held by Petrie from 1892 until 1933.<iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=egyoffline-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=B004AUGJ88&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe><span dir="RTL" lang="AR-EG"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">Petrie developed the principles of scientific archaeology and made many famous discoveries, including the existence of a predynastic culture in <st1:country-region w:st="on">Egypt</st1:country-region>, the royal jewelry of the Middle Kingdom, and Tell el-Amarna, the capital city of <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">King Akhenaten</st1:place></st1:city> (Amenhotep IV).<span dir="RTL" lang="AR-EG"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">Petrie was the author of more than 1,000 books, reviews, and articles.<o:p></o:p></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2390300748592588913.post-3746870026447920702011-05-12T03:45:00.000+01:002011-05-13T21:53:09.051+01:00NOTABLE ARCHAEOLOGISTS Giuseppe Passalacqua (1797–1865)<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed;"><b><span style="color: blue; mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">NOTABLE ARCHAEOLOGISTS Giuseppe Passalacqua (1797–1865)<span dir="RTL" lang="AR-EG"><o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicUGSD7gjylRnBXnXiIFb4A9FPlXElPksxVyWUNdvwGW6dsXxM0pcfKQ_iMODVUKDzCzFFzfRfTvlf15xYN3YahCrEq5cvM96Rl57CcZTXXE1uz8B4CviDrT_40uXQZ-W6yLaAK5ignkI/s1600/Giuseppe+Passalacqua.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicUGSD7gjylRnBXnXiIFb4A9FPlXElPksxVyWUNdvwGW6dsXxM0pcfKQ_iMODVUKDzCzFFzfRfTvlf15xYN3YahCrEq5cvM96Rl57CcZTXXE1uz8B4CviDrT_40uXQZ-W6yLaAK5ignkI/s1600/Giuseppe+Passalacqua.jpg" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">Born in <st1:country-region w:st="on">Italy</st1:country-region>, Passalacqua became an excavator and a collector after an unsuccessful stint as a horse dealer, the business that had originally taken him to <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Egypt</st1:place></st1:country-region>. His excavations at Deir el-Bahri, on the west bank of <st1:city w:st="on">Thebes</st1:city> (<st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Luxor</st1:place></st1:city>), from<span dir="RTL" lang="AR-EG"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span dir="LTR"></span><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;"><span dir="LTR"></span>1822 to 1825, revealed the tombs of priests and priestesses of Amun.<span dir="RTL" lang="AR-EG"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">When he offered to sell his collection, drawn from <st1:city w:st="on">Thebes</st1:city> and other sites, to the French government, it was rejected, but most of it was then acquired by Frederick William IV, ruler of <st1:country-region w:st="on">Prussia</st1:country-region>, for <st1:state w:st="on">Berlin</st1:state>’s <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Egyptian</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Museum</st1:placetype></st1:place>. Passalacqua became conservator of the Egyptian collections at the <st1:state w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Berlin</st1:place></st1:state> museum in 1828 and spent the rest of his life there, organizing the material he had excavated.<span dir="RTL" lang="AR-EG"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2390300748592588913.post-52539932491336186642011-05-11T10:40:00.002+01:002011-05-11T10:40:28.828+01:00NOTABLE ARCHAEOLOGISTS Gaston-Camille-Charles Maspero (1846–1916)<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed;"><b><span style="color: blue; mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">NOTABLE ARCHAEOLOGISTS Gaston-Camille-Charles Maspero (1846–1916)<span dir="RTL" lang="AR-EG"><o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnx7noQ42uSC1DQutF-KoFjdxF1JttNKDLHJeGZSEVbqpzfX3X6tWS54RKgrFy64xbH-ZdveajiRy3juOCvvUnV0vjw649EyEUEAzIgnQ_XM0oF9UhZfyMqGBdQozgHWOV3Z1Snx5BUkc/s1600/Gaston-Camille-Charles+Maspero.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnx7noQ42uSC1DQutF-KoFjdxF1JttNKDLHJeGZSEVbqpzfX3X6tWS54RKgrFy64xbH-ZdveajiRy3juOCvvUnV0vjw649EyEUEAzIgnQ_XM0oF9UhZfyMqGBdQozgHWOV3Z1Snx5BUkc/s1600/Gaston-Camille-Charles+Maspero.jpg" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">A French Egyptologist of Italian parentage, Maspero first led an archaeological expedition to <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Egypt</st1:place></st1:country-region> in 1880. The next year, he succeeded Auguste Mariette as director of both the <st1:placename w:st="on">Egyptian</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Museum</st1:placetype> in <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Cairo</st1:place></st1:city> and the National Antiqui-ties Service. He further developed Mariette’s work, expanding the excavation and temple restoration programs and continuing the organization and cataloging of the collections in the <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Cairo</st1:place></st1:city> museum. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">He is particularly noted for publishing the first edition of funerary spells known as the Pyramid Texts.<o:p></o:p></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2390300748592588913.post-20381025815255415862011-05-11T10:39:00.002+01:002011-05-11T10:39:41.729+01:00NOTABLE ARCHAEOLOGISTS François-Auguste-Ferdinand Mariette (1821–1881)<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed;"><b><span style="color: blue; mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">NOTABLE ARCHAEOLOGISTS François-Auguste-Ferdinand Mariette (1821–1881)<span dir="RTL" lang="AR-EG"><o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigv-0rRI-Wa6zKUyNbNL7-ZP-r3_SHxSS4DbB__wP_b5j3MoTqDEhoY-ZyxSmIF0csQNyTJOjNeWvON36_22D-MD8_byPTqxlh-dTl65lB5RkHyU4JzJC7cJt2HW54CjTJe13NwgR6GpM/s1600/Fran%25C3%25A7ois-Auguste-Ferdinand+Mariette.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigv-0rRI-Wa6zKUyNbNL7-ZP-r3_SHxSS4DbB__wP_b5j3MoTqDEhoY-ZyxSmIF0csQNyTJOjNeWvON36_22D-MD8_byPTqxlh-dTl65lB5RkHyU4JzJC7cJt2HW54CjTJe13NwgR6GpM/s1600/Fran%25C3%25A7ois-Auguste-Ferdinand+Mariette.jpg" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">Mariette became professor of Egyptology in <st1:city w:st="on">Boulogne</st1:city>, <st1:country-region w:st="on">France</st1:country-region>, in 1843 and first went to <st1:country-region w:st="on">Egypt</st1:country-region> in 1850 in order to obtain manuscripts for the Louvre in <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Paris</st1:place></st1:city>. On this visit, he became interested in archaeology and made the spectacular discoveries at <st1:place w:st="on">Saqqara</st1:place> that launched his career as an excavator. In total, he uncovered some 7,000 principal monuments.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span dir="RTL" lang="AR-EG" style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><a name='more'></a><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">He persuaded the Egyptian ruler, Sa‘id Pasha, to establish the world’s first National<span dir="RTL" lang="AR-EG"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">Antiquities Service and a national museum, and became director of both institutions.<iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=egyoffline-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=1141764342&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe> <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">This first museum became the nucleus of the purpose-built <st1:placename w:st="on">Egyptian</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Museum</st1:placetype> in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Cairo</st1:city></st1:place> (opened in 1902), where in 1904, as a mark of honor, Mariette’s own sarcophagus was eventually moved to a final resting place in the forecourt. His career marked the end of indiscriminate treasure seeking, and he is credited with establishing the basis of modern archaeology in <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Egypt</st1:place></st1:country-region>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2390300748592588913.post-82132090213855650002011-05-11T10:38:00.000+01:002011-05-11T10:38:22.383+01:00NOTABLE ARCHAEOLOGISTS Walter Bryan Emery (1903–1971)<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed;"><b><span style="color: blue; mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">NOTABLE ARCHAEOLOGISTS Walter Bryan Emery (1903–1971)<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt0Ipz5ZQ3ozybJCuYyZZpPpsiqb6kjXbLhMsEpXfx4tiI8haGlU3gHRkV4anqHKXmYIYbtKpLrMxy8dzCCbYnhsMQCZDbyBJAScjWP_m3eUtk5Hqc1r6Gm02m9Offh2X8_ZWC4sEbLUg/s1600/Walter+Bryan+Emery.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt0Ipz5ZQ3ozybJCuYyZZpPpsiqb6kjXbLhMsEpXfx4tiI8haGlU3gHRkV4anqHKXmYIYbtKpLrMxy8dzCCbYnhsMQCZDbyBJAScjWP_m3eUtk5Hqc1r6Gm02m9Offh2X8_ZWC4sEbLUg/s320/Walter+Bryan+Emery.jpg" width="237" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">Inspired as a youngster by public lectures given in <st1:city w:st="on">Liverpool</st1:city>, <st1:country-region w:st="on">England</st1:country-region>, by the Egyptologist John Garstang (1876–1956), Emery first went to <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Egypt</st1:place></st1:country-region> in 1923. He became the director of excavation at <st1:place w:st="on">North Saqqara</st1:place> in 1935 and there under- took one of his major projects, the almost complete excavation of the site’s Dynasty 1 cemetery. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">This was of great significance because until then, only William M. Flinders Petrie and Emile Amélineau (1850–1916) had carried out any major studies of this important period. Emery’s work revealed new information about the art, architecture, and technology of these early times.<iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=egyoffline-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=0064451755&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe><span dir="RTL" lang="AR-EG"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">He was appointed to the Edwards Professor-ship at University College London in 1951. As field director of the Egypt Exploration Society, he resumed excavations in the Archaic necropolis at <st1:place w:st="on">Saqqara</st1:place> in 1952. In 1964, he began an unsuccessful search for the tomb of Imhotep, architect of the Step Pyramid, but discovered a series of vast catacombs that contained the burials of thousands of mummified animals.<o:p></o:p></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2390300748592588913.post-74317971368989485652011-05-11T10:37:00.000+01:002011-05-11T10:37:06.833+01:00NOTABLE ARCHAEOLOGISTS Bernardino Michele Maria Drovetti (1776–1852)<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed;"><b><span style="color: blue; mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">NOTABLE ARCHAEOLOGISTS Bernardino Michele Maria Drovetti (1776–1852)<span dir="RTL" lang="AR-EG"><o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTJGFQD7QQEQJ_i4cpd4BQcvU50DXVoAXIghllcTVPpPJWinYOycUkEDB7RBj9mho7CyYynWeI-S0g_QTPNVd2wTI4MBPBM-lS8CnqMjMRIQQFAlh9qYIl6QDBq7LPklXtsd7YzE9-2E4/s1600/Bernardino+Michele+Maria+Drovetti.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTJGFQD7QQEQJ_i4cpd4BQcvU50DXVoAXIghllcTVPpPJWinYOycUkEDB7RBj9mho7CyYynWeI-S0g_QTPNVd2wTI4MBPBM-lS8CnqMjMRIQQFAlh9qYIl6QDBq7LPklXtsd7YzE9-2E4/s1600/Bernardino+Michele+Maria+Drovetti.jpg" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">An Italian diplomat who fought in Napoleon Bonaparte’s army in <st1:country-region w:st="on">Italy</st1:country-region>, Drovetti rose to become French consul general in <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Egypt</st1:place></st1:country-region> (1811–1814). An interest in Egyptology led him to build up an impressive collection of antiquities, employing local agents to excavate sites or purchase objects from other excavators.<span dir="RTL" lang="AR-EG"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">His first collection, rejected by the king of <st1:country-region w:st="on">France</st1:country-region>, was bought instead by the king of Sardinia and entered the <st1:placename w:st="on">Egyptian</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Museum</st1:placetype> of <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Turin</st1:place></st1:city>. His second collection was bought for the Louvre in <st1:city w:st="on">Paris</st1:city>, and <st1:state w:st="on">Berlin</st1:state>’s <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Egyptian</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Museum</st1:placetype></st1:place> acquired his third collection.<iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=egyoffline-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=B001D8062K&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe> <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">Difficult and sometimes unscrupulous, Drovetti was often in conflict with the contemporary collector Henry Salt, whose agent, Belzoni, managed to remove part of a massive statue of Ramesses II from Luxor to the British Museum in London, despite the attempts of Drovetti’s agents to foil the plan.<o:p></o:p></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2390300748592588913.post-47720175343248345982011-05-11T10:35:00.002+01:002011-05-11T10:35:25.585+01:00NOTABLE ARCHAEOLOGISTS Howard Carter (1874–1939)<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed;"><b><span style="color: blue; mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">NOTABLE ARCHAEOLOGISTS Howard Carter (1874–1939)<span dir="RTL" lang="AR-EG"><o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDUxV-fC0DiRujm8fmOtlWJ04DZVPyL4uJwP3m_GslQTrdprgMyK5YQqKFbqso2EGCM9pyt3KBmrSwYAko4YfLdC-XA3erxBTRlmhlSHt0mNaYYUo3cizl0xD1gIBHM3To38oQFlC1Ybk/s1600/Howard+Carter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDUxV-fC0DiRujm8fmOtlWJ04DZVPyL4uJwP3m_GslQTrdprgMyK5YQqKFbqso2EGCM9pyt3KBmrSwYAko4YfLdC-XA3erxBTRlmhlSHt0mNaYYUo3cizl0xD1gIBHM3To38oQFlC1Ybk/s1600/Howard+Carter.jpg" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">An English artist who received his archaeological training from William M. Flinders Petrie, Carter first worked in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Egypt</st1:country-region></st1:place> in 1891. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">He was engaged at various sites by the Egypt Exploration Fund, and from 1904, he supervised Theodore Davis’s excavations in the <st1:place w:st="on">Valley of the Kings</st1:place>. In 1909, he began to work in the Theban necropolis for Lord Carnarvon, and from 1917, he explored the <st1:place w:st="on">Valley of the Kings</st1:place> on behalf of his patron, searching for an intact royal tomb. He was unsuccessful until November 1922 when he discovered the virtually complete tomb belonging to King Tutankhamun.<span dir="RTL" lang="AR-EG"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">Carter and his team took ten years to prepare, pack, and transport the spectacular tomb contents to the <st1:placename w:st="on">Egyptian</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Museum</st1:placetype> in <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Cairo</st1:place></st1:city>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2390300748592588913.post-40870576511886725912011-05-11T10:34:00.002+01:002011-05-11T10:34:43.937+01:00NOTABLE ARCHAEOLOGISTS Giovanni Battista Belzoni (1778–1823)<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed;"><b><span style="color: blue; mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">NOTABLE ARCHAEOLOGISTS Giovanni Battista Belzoni (1778–1823)<span dir="RTL" lang="AR-EG"><o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigr0VFTsURYLFs7iXlSN3k30cci5i-FIK5pdH3AfXJLoj8JicIuex_WSPme3hz8_buECZZhXvFlEhU6ZCq7HjtNxDF-w7wK6zihYZy_JxBvAp1DzMvJSpHXWcPi-ouJIrp1_sgmuPQSXg/s1600/Giovanni+Battista+Belzoni.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigr0VFTsURYLFs7iXlSN3k30cci5i-FIK5pdH3AfXJLoj8JicIuex_WSPme3hz8_buECZZhXvFlEhU6ZCq7HjtNxDF-w7wK6zihYZy_JxBvAp1DzMvJSpHXWcPi-ouJIrp1_sgmuPQSXg/s1600/Giovanni+Battista+Belzoni.jpg" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">An Italian sailor who traveled to <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">England</st1:place></st1:country-region> where he became a weight lifter at Sadler’s<span dir="RTL" lang="AR-EG"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">Wells Theatre in <st1:city w:st="on">London</st1:city>, Belzoni also designed hydraulic displays for public entertainment in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">England</st1:country-region></st1:place>. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">Later, on his travels in Europe, he was encouraged to take his expertise to <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Egypt</st1:country-region></st1:place> to construct irrigation equipment. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">Although this venture was unsuccessful, he came to the notice of the diplomat and collector of antiquities, Henry Salt, who employed him to augment his collection.<span dir="RTL" lang="AR-EG"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">Belzoni enjoyed a spectacular and successful career as an archaeological excavator. Among the important monuments he discovered was the Tomb of Sethos I. A full-scale reproduction of two of the tomb chambers, a large model of the complete tomb, and associated antiquities were displayed to the public in the Egyptian Hall in Piccadilly, <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">London</st1:place></st1:city>, in 1821.<span dir="RTL" lang="AR-EG"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">A controversial excavator, with scant regard for careful methodology, Belzoni nevertheless made some notable discoveries that entered major museum collections in <st1:place w:st="on">Europe</st1:place>. His talent for publicity also introduced Egyptology to a new, wider audience.<o:p></o:p></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2390300748592588913.post-77610789584136219202011-05-11T02:42:00.000+01:002011-05-11T02:42:52.512+01:00How to use ancient Egypt magic Amulets part 7/7<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed;"><b><span style="color: blue; mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">How to use ancient <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Egypt</st1:place></st1:country-region> magic Amulets part 7/7<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUuOH7qvU_Hkkb2siZJ9Ri2iuHYQHe_aJQdVnLijaUjjmAp-LMhQ5Mx2_8D_3yrBIwX4-MCTHBg9IpITGlmD0hzfJS_FQ7fiYmtkSxcoGD4n5rZ42MhHI2fL2DBQp0UvG62XsAkZlGIJA/s1600/8.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUuOH7qvU_Hkkb2siZJ9Ri2iuHYQHe_aJQdVnLijaUjjmAp-LMhQ5Mx2_8D_3yrBIwX4-MCTHBg9IpITGlmD0hzfJS_FQ7fiYmtkSxcoGD4n5rZ42MhHI2fL2DBQp0UvG62XsAkZlGIJA/s1600/8.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed;"><b><span style="color: blue; mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">Gold cylindrical pendant with granular decoration, c. 1900—1800<span dir="RTL" lang="AR-EG"><o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed;"><b><span style="color: blue; mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">BC. These containers were used to hold written amulets or small objects used in protective rituals.</span></b></div></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">Amulets continued to be extremely</span><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;"> popular with the living and the dead while <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Egypt</st1:country-region></st1:place> was under Greek rule. These amulets are purely Egyptian in type but are found in a greater range of materials. Some of the finest specimens are in glass <span dir="RTL" lang="AR-EG"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">In Roman Egypt, precious and semi-precious stones were frequently used to make amulets and many foreign motifs were introduced<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">Written amulets, in a variety of languages, were very popular. Some were long and complex; others consisted of a few divine names.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">A simple anti-headache remedy was to write the sacred name Abrasax on a piece of red parchment and apply it like a plaster to the head. Abrasax or Abraxas is a common divine name on amuletic gemstones. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">He was a solar deity found in Gnostic texts and is usually depicted with snakes for feet and the head of a cock. Many other divine beings from a whole range of cultures appear on these gems<iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=egyoffline-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=1567181309&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe> <span dir="RTL" lang="AR-EG"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">These gems might be used on their own or set in jewellery. Some spells in the Graeco-Egyptian papyri describe the procedures for dedicating an amuletic ring. An amulet had to be 'consecrated' like a holy statue. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">A ring for gaining success and favour was to be made with a heliotrope engraved with a device of a scarab shown inside a snake swallowing its own tail. This snake is known as Ouroboros and was symbol of totality. The names of the divine scarab and snake were to be written in hieroglyphs on the reverse of the stone.<span dir="RTL" lang="AR-EG"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">The consecration involved reciting a complex invocation to Egyptian, Greek and Jewish deities. This was to be done three times a day for fourteen days, while pouring libations and perfumes. On the last day a black cock was to be sacrificed and cut open and the engraved gem left inside it for twenty-four hours. All this would finally result in the amuletic gem being 'made alive'.<span dir="RTL" lang="AR-EG"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">The Graeco-Egyptian papyri also describe the type of temporary amulet to be worn by a magician during dangerous rites. A complex spell for invoking and controlling a deity advises the magician to take a linen cloth from a temple statue of Harpocrates. This may mean a piece of linen soaked in water poured over a Horus cippus or other magical temple statue.<iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=egyoffline-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=B0001DMXJC&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe> <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">The magician was to write on the cloth in myrrh ink a formula which identified him with Horus. Then he must take a long-lasting herb, roll the cloth round it, and tie it seven times with threads of Anubis. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">This amulet was to be worn around the neck during the rite to protect the magician's whole body.<span dir="RTL" lang="AR-EG"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">In a Demotic spell to summon the dead, it is the child medium who is protected by an amulet consisting of four white, four green, four blue, and four red threads woven into a band. This was stained with the blood of a hoopoe and attached to a winged scarab wrapped in fine linen.<span dir="RTL" lang="AR-EG"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">Amuletic bracelets of multicoloured threads are still worn in <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Egypt</st1:place></st1:country-region> today. A knotted leather string with a few scarabs and shapeless amulets may not look impressive sitting in a museum case, but it could be the only tangible remains of a complex rite.<o:p></o:p></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2390300748592588913.post-55572659342568738562011-05-11T02:40:00.000+01:002011-05-11T02:40:16.574+01:00How to use ancient Egypt magic Amulets part 6/7<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed;"><b><span style="color: blue; mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">How to use ancient <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Egypt</st1:place></st1:country-region> magic Amulets part 6/7<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8gmzLWUcIVQ17tiroLcvLson6CRYzlaEBu_QIlZJjML4leuWhIN_nhcofPAqrEar8rcbQYJjvuX4C4WzYWtIFpnv9oQodnGixxfoJ37OXos2Ust0BoouKAxe948YcLgcPI_EBtT5Y-TY/s1600/7.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8gmzLWUcIVQ17tiroLcvLson6CRYzlaEBu_QIlZJjML4leuWhIN_nhcofPAqrEar8rcbQYJjvuX4C4WzYWtIFpnv9oQodnGixxfoJ37OXos2Ust0BoouKAxe948YcLgcPI_EBtT5Y-TY/s320/7.JPG" width="225" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed;"><b><span style="color: blue; mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">Necklace from a burial at Hu, c. 2000—1800 BC. Among the amethyst and carnelian beads are several amulets, including two small hippopotamus heads in<span dir="RTL" lang="AR-EG"><o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed;"><b><span style="color: blue; mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">felspar and a carnelian snake's head pendant.</span></b></div></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">The amulet may be</span><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;"> linked to menstrual blood and its place in the creation of human life. Spell mentions the power of the blood of <st1:place w:st="on">Isis</st1:place>, but promises general protection for the deceased. The spell is to be said over a red jasper tyet amulet anointed with the sap of a particular herb, strung on a pith cord, and placed at the throat of the deceased. The magic of <st1:place w:st="on">Isis</st1:place> will then protect his limbs and the ways through the underworld will be open to him. The text ends with a warning that the spell should be kept secret and a promise that it really works. Such endorsements are common in the magico-medical papyri.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span dir="RTL" lang="AR-EG" style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><a name='more'></a><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">Spell, for protecting the deceased in the bark of the sun god, claims to be a very secret text originally written by Thoth for Osiris. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">This text, which may have been adapted from a temple ritual, was to be copied in ink made from myrrh and burned tamarisk onto a strip of the finest linen. This was to be placed as an amulet at the throat of the deceased. Written amulets have occasionally been discovered on mummies dating from the first millennium BC. A scrap of papyrus inscribed with a spell from The Book of the Dead was found at the throat of a High Priest of Amun buried at <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Thebes</st1:place></st1:city>.<iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=egyoffline-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=1843832054&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe><span dir="RTL" lang="AR-EG"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">The use of divine decrees as amulets is peculiar to the late second/early first millennia BC. These decrees were issued in the name of deities who gave oracles <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">When a child was born, a god or goddess might be asked to declare its fate in life. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">The result was recorded in writing. The papyrus was rolled up and placed in an amulet case or bag to be worn by the recipient. The children named in the decrees are more often female than male, which fits the general pattern of woman needing amulets more than men.<span dir="RTL" lang="AR-EG"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">The surviving divine decrees are all similar in wording and uniformly favourable.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">The child is promised long life, good health and ample possessions. Such things might be requested of a god in any religious text, but the amuletic decrees also portray the dark and dangerous aspects of the Egyptian pantheon. They promise to protect the child against harmful manifestations of deities such as Isis and Thoth, as well as against demons, foreign sorcerers and the Evil Eye. <span dir="RTL" lang="AR-EG"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">Particularly dreaded were Sekhmet and her son Nefertem. The amuletic decrees claimed to be able help their owners to cheat fate. Any divine messengers coming to kill or injure the owner of the amulet would be persuaded or tricked into attacking a substitute.<span dir="RTL" lang="AR-EG"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">Among the favours promised by the divine oracles is the provision of sa amulets. One decree for a boy from the <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Memphis</st1:place></st1:city> area promises an amulet to protect his body on any kind of journey. Another decree, probably from <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Thebes</st1:city></st1:place>, promises a girl sa amulets for her physical protection. Amulets could probably be bought from temple workshops and blessed by the gods to charge them with divine heka.<iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=egyoffline-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=0271027231&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe> <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">An Instruction Text of the late first millennium BC (Papyrus Insinger) avers that amulets and spells only work through the hidden power of god acting in the world.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">Figures of deities, divine symbols and objects used in temple rituals dominate the amulets of the later first millennium BC <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">The bizarre composite deities illustrated in magical papyri also occur in the form of faience amulets. Some amulets, particularly those with feline elements, seem to have been given as New Year gifts. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">Charming faience cats and kittens evoke Bastet as the bestower of fertility <span dir="RTL" lang="AR-EG"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">The popularity of other feline amulets, such as figures of the lioness- headed goddess Sekhmet , was probably linked to an increasing fear of the 'Demon Days' and 'The Books of the End of the Year' <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">It is not always easy to deduce the specific use of an amulet in magic.<span dir="RTL" lang="AR-EG"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">Lions have no connection in myth or reality with killing snakes, yet a first millennium BC spell to close the mouths of snakes is to be said over a faience lion threaded on red linen. This amulet was to be applied to a man's hand and served as a protection for his bedroom. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">The strength and ferocity of the lion made it a general symbol of protective power which might be used in a variety of specific ways.<span dir="RTL" lang="AR-EG"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">Amulets played an increasing role in funerary religion during the first millennium BC;. Decorated tombs were rare for much of this period, but elite burials had elaborate coffins and large numbers of specially-made amulets. These amulet sets carried out many of the functions of grave goods. <o:p></o:p></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2390300748592588913.post-62049131307854589592011-05-11T02:37:00.000+01:002011-05-11T02:37:36.701+01:00How to use ancient Egypt magic Amulets part 5/7<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed;"><b><span style="color: blue; mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">How to use ancient <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Egypt</st1:place></st1:country-region> magic Amulets part 5/7<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAIiyLa7GUitWXYjFTuuPezrz3IaV7H2E36jaOdhhdY_12tVNeSNf3tW_SgJA_f8txmfWGLMgXR0UyjOctXXR-d-8Rx7qQq_Y2Bgd_EaLLWDTeX7Q9Ej1zFHMslET7nnbevacNlY3DG74/s1600/5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAIiyLa7GUitWXYjFTuuPezrz3IaV7H2E36jaOdhhdY_12tVNeSNf3tW_SgJA_f8txmfWGLMgXR0UyjOctXXR-d-8Rx7qQq_Y2Bgd_EaLLWDTeX7Q9Ej1zFHMslET7nnbevacNlY3DG74/s320/5.JPG" width="310" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed;"><b><span style="color: blue; mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">Amuletic bangle in gold and silver, c. 2000-1800 BC. The protective symbols include wedjat eyes, djed pillars and ankh signs. Also shown are a turtle, snakes, baboons, falcons, hares and the horned mask of the goddess Bat.</span></b></div></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">The first half</span><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;"> of the second millennium BC saw a great expansion of amulet types. Much amuletic jewellery of fine quality survives from this period. Cylindrical cases just large enough to hold a folded scrap of papyrus were made in precious materials These may have contained written amulets to be hung at the throat to perpetuate a spell.<span dir="RTL" lang="AR-EG"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">Solid 'dummy' cases are also known. The shape alone was presumably enough to evoke the power of written magic.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span dir="RTL" lang="AR-EG" style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><a name='more'></a><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">Texts of this era begin to describe the use of specific amulets. Some of the passages in The Coffin Texts which mention amulets seem to be adapted from everyday magic. A papyrus now in <st1:state w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Berlin</st1:place></st1:state> describes how to make an amulet (wedja) for a baby. The spell is to be said over gold and garnet beads and a seal with the image of a hand and a crocodile.<iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=egyoffline-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=B00063M3BK&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">Such seals do survive. The hand and the crocodile will slay, or drive off, any hostile spirits who approach the baby. The seal and the beads are to be strung on linen thread and hung at the baby's throat. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">Many of the strings of beads and seals found in children's graves had probably been used in a spell of this sort, but with tragic lack of success.<span dir="RTL" lang="AR-EG"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">A concern for the safety of pregnant women and young children is also apparent in the jewellery of royal and court ladies of this era. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">Gold reef-knot bangles and gold and amethyst 'cowrie shell' girdles were precious versions of the fertility charms of ordinary women. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">The difference in status between a princess and peasant was unimportant compared with the shared joys and dangers of producing children.<span dir="RTL" lang="AR-EG"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">Some amuletic jewellery of this era shows the same range of creatures and symbols as the apotropaic wands. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">A gold and silver ornament, perhaps designed to be placed around a child's neck, is decorated with baboons, hares, hawks, snakes, a turtle, two finger amulets, the symbol of the goddess Bat, wedjat eyes and ankh and djed signs <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">Its purpose was probably to place the wearer within a protective circle.<span dir="RTL" lang="AR-EG"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">From the late eighteenth to the early sixteenth centuries BC, <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Egypt</st1:country-region></st1:place> underwent another period of political disunity.<iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=egyoffline-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=B004I1AWPU&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe> <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">The north of the country came under foreign rule. A few foreign motifs find their way onto the bases of scarabs and seals of this date, but jumbled hieroglyphs are more characteristic. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">These seals were probably worn on cords around the neck when not in use. Animals, particularly lions, leopards and cats, are very prominent in the amuletic jewellery of this period.<span dir="RTL" lang="AR-EG"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">By 1500 BC, <st1:country-region w:st="on">Egypt</st1:country-region> was united again and had acquired an empire in the <st1:place w:st="on">Near East</st1:place>. During the prosperous two hundred years that followed, most jewellery seems less amuletic than before. Taweret was as popular as ever, and Bes amulets might show him dancing and playing musical instruments. Amuletic rings in cheap materials were produced on a large scale. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">A gold ring of the fourteenth century BC has a bezel in the form of a frog <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">This probably represents Heqet, a goddess of birth. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">The scorpion incised on the base may be to protect a child against real scorpions, or may represent the scorpion goddess Serqet who helps the Divine Mother and her child in magical texts.<span dir="RTL" lang="AR-EG"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">From the twelfth century BC onwards, <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Egypt</st1:country-region></st1:place> faced difficulties abroad and ordinary people were probably less prosperous.<iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=egyoffline-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=B0029ZBHPG&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe> <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">Evidence for every-day magic increases at this period Amulets of gods in human or semi-human form become more common. Protective headrests and cippus amulets suggest that people felt insecure even in their own homes. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">A spell of this period for dispelling night-terrors is to be recited over a drawing of various deities made on linen. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">This linen amulet was to be applied to the sleeper's throat until it calmed him.<span dir="RTL" lang="AR-EG"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">Some of the finest illustrated copies of The Book of the Dead date between the thirteenth and eleventh centuries BC <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">The passages in The Book of the Dead which deal with the use of amulets are rather different in character from most of the text. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">They are similar to spells from everyday magic which concern the application of amulets against diseases or as night protection. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">The amulets mentioned in The Book ofthe Dead consist of objects in particular materials, or of drawings or writings on linen or papyrus. Spell<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>is for a tyet amulet <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">This type of amulet is associated with <st1:place w:st="on">Isis</st1:place>. Its shape and colour are both relevant to its meaning. <o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-EG; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">The shape has been interpreted as a girdle tie or as a sanitary towel. It is normally made in a red stone such as carnelian or jasper. </span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2390300748592588913.post-20125050169410730082011-05-11T02:34:00.000+01:002011-05-11T02:34:38.561+01:00How to use ancient Egypt magic Amulets part 4/7<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed;"><b><span style="color: blue; mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">How to use ancient <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Egypt</st1:place></st1:country-region> magic Amulets part 4/7<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbkIWbrLmMXsxv4UqY5LuM3kpePiWx-eRmN_OqF7wzNtylC3Ok3p3DeZYDn3O-RKCMKSX-egdXlfzsk5uzk8l4U7SlAPxRaRpABiGD5WDXRR-MahNr0cYvmibIH0tHRlfr5R_o9tyKSfw/s1600/4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="273" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbkIWbrLmMXsxv4UqY5LuM3kpePiWx-eRmN_OqF7wzNtylC3Ok3p3DeZYDn3O-RKCMKSX-egdXlfzsk5uzk8l4U7SlAPxRaRpABiGD5WDXRR-MahNr0cYvmibIH0tHRlfr5R_o9tyKSfw/s320/4.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed;"><b><span style="color: blue; mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">Multiple wedjat eye amulet in green and black faience, mid 1<sup>st</sup> millennium BC. The two pairs of divine eyes are separated by papyrus columns which symbolize growth and vitality.</span></b></div></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">Amulets were important</span><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;"> to the Egyptians at all periods, but fashions in amulets changed. The use of amulets in <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Egypt</st1:place></st1:country-region> goes back to the time before literacy. Around 4000 BC;, objects which archaeologists have classed as amulets start to occur in graves. It is impossible to be sure what such objects meant to the grave-owner. Among the earliest man-made amulets are small hippopotamus pendants in shell, ivory or stone<span dir="RTL" lang="AR-EG"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">In later times, the female hippopotamus was a common amulet associated with the protection of pregnant women and young children.<span dir="RTL" lang="AR-EG"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><a name='more'></a><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">At this early period, the aggressive male hippopotomi were still hunted for meat and ivory, so it is just as likely that the pendants were charms to secure success and safety in the hunt.<span dir="RTL" lang="AR-EG"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">Graves of the late fourth millennium BC contain a slightly greater variety of amulets in a much wider range of materials.<iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=egyoffline-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=029270464X&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe> <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">These include bird, lion and claw shapes. The unification of <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Egypt</st1:place></st1:country-region> around 3100 BC, and the creation of a court culture, does not seem to have had an immediate effect on everyday beliefs. The same range of amulets continued in ordinary graves, but animal pendants in fine goldwork have survived from elite burials of the early third millennium BC. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">Inscribed seals became more important as literacy spread.<span dir="RTL" lang="AR-EG"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">During the Pyramid Age (c..2700—2200 BC), there was a great flowering of Egyptian sculpture. Magnificent statues were made and detailed reliefs were carved to decorate royal burial complexes, temples of the sun god and the tombs of favoured officials. Few of the people depicted in these statues or reliefs wear much in the way of amulets. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">The full range of amuletic jewellery is not in fact shown in painting or relief at any period. Art in tombs and temples was intended to evoke a perfect world in which there would be none of the crises or terrors that required the use of amulets.<span dir="RTL" lang="AR-EG"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">If the scenes of daily life in tombs of the third millennium BC are taken at face value, you would imagine a culture with few religious observances or superstitions. The contents of humbler graves, on the other hand, suggest a complex system of beliefs in which amulets were highly important.<iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=egyoffline-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=B002VECQJ6&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe> <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">Women and children of this period were buried with cords strung with beads, seals and amulets. <span dir="RTL" lang="AR-EG"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">These amulets are often tiny, but they are made in a wide range of materials, including gold, glazed steatite, alabaster and carnelian. They may be in the form of parts of the human body, such as a leg, a fist or an open hand; or of creatures such as falcons, frogs, scorpions and ibises <span dir="RTL" lang="AR-EG"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">It is unclear if these creatures should be interpreted so early as the animal forms of deities. A scorpion amulet might be either the goddess Serqet, or simply an image of a venomous insect used to repel danger.<span dir="RTL" lang="AR-EG"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">The ibis is more likely to be a form of Thoth, and some amulets of this period definitely show supernatural beings, such as the Heh gods and the Aker. In Egyptian myth, the Heh gods helped Shu to separate the earth and sky <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">A Heh figure was used in the hieroglyphic script to write the word for a 'million' or 'very many'. This amulet was worn to procure many years of life, on earth and in the hereafter. The Aker was an earth god, usually shown as a double lion or sphinx <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">This god guarded the entrance to the underworld and is frequently mentioned in The<span dir="RTL" lang="AR-EG"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">Pyramid Texts and The Coffin Texts. People who were not wealthy or important enough to own funerary texts in hieroglyphs still wore amulets derived from them. This suggests that Egyptian theology reached beyond the court elite.<iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=egyoffline-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=B0033H013I&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe><span dir="RTL" lang="AR-EG"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">In the twenty-second century BC, the country broke up under rival dynasties. This momentous political change does not seem to have had much economic or cultural effect on the lives of ordinary people.<span dir="RTL" lang="AR-EG"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">Amulets in precious materials were still common. The number of amulet types definitely based on the iconography of Egyptian gods increased. The composite form of Taweret, the mask of the goddess Hathor and the type of lion-dwarf later known as Bes are the most notable of these.<span dir="RTL" lang="AR-EG"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">Amuletic strings still included models of parts of the body. The standard explanation is that these amulets were to ensure the continued use of various limbs and organs in the afterlife.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">Since many of these strings were worn in life, they may also have had a function in everyday magic. The fist, hand, and finger amulets probably derive from magical protective gestures. It is possible that the foot amulet was associated with trampling enemies <span dir="RTL" lang="AR-EG"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2390300748592588913.post-84896316381805991672011-05-11T02:31:00.000+01:002011-05-11T02:31:59.631+01:00How to use ancient Egypt magic Amulets part 3/7<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed;"><b><span style="color: blue; mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">How to use ancient <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Egypt</st1:place></st1:country-region> magic Amulets part 3/7<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtBuB03JhwhnnZuGT1DlQCTvPZj7l0AoKwz5bPw1eLwW7z7Uf_2zSiUkyFc4cEr6Up_t85th-tFrxZWVrYwY0FHCvqR4LfypWqMIXu9-PPR5VP7vKi4_fuLlBg2hQt5pZ_U9ooux-bsUs/s1600/3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtBuB03JhwhnnZuGT1DlQCTvPZj7l0AoKwz5bPw1eLwW7z7Uf_2zSiUkyFc4cEr6Up_t85th-tFrxZWVrYwY0FHCvqR4LfypWqMIXu9-PPR5VP7vKi4_fuLlBg2hQt5pZ_U9ooux-bsUs/s320/3.JPG" width="135" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed;"><b><span style="color: blue; mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">Steatite figure of a young girl holding a kohl pot, 19th-18th centuries BC. She wears a cowrie-shell girdle and has a fish amulet suspended from her plait.</span></b></div></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">Many amulets</span><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;"> are closely related to the hieroglyphic script. This script is made up of signs which represent sounds (logograms), and signs which represent ideas (ideograms). <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">The ankh sign writes the word for life. The ankh as an amulet bestows or lengthens life. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">The origins of this famous symbol are much debated. One suggestion is that it represents a penis sheath.1 If this is correct, the meaning of this symbol would be derived from the image itself. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">Others maintain that the ankh represents a sandal strap, an object whose name happened to resemble the word for life. If this is the true explanation, the power of this symbol as an amulet would derive entirely from its written meaning.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span dir="RTL" lang="AR-EG" style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><a name='more'></a><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">An abbreviated writing of the standard Egyptian wish for 'life, prosperity, health' appears on pendants and scarabs. It had achieved the status of an amuletic formula. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">A jumbled selection of common hieroglyphic signs often appears on the base of scarabs and other types of seal. At least among the illiterate, the hieroglyphic script was thought to have an amuletic power in itself, distinct from its specific meaning.<iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=egyoffline-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=1594773580&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe><span dir="RTL" lang="AR-EG"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">Many seals inscribed with royal names and titles were used as amulets. Some were old seals from documents, jars or boxes; others were specially made to be strung as beads. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">The reused seals may have been valued because they had been in contact with a royal document or object. Anything associated with royalty would have heka and the name was a powerful aspect of the personality. This was particularly true of a king's prenomen or throne name, which acted as a kind of declaration of policy. The throne names of certain famous kings, such as Menkheperra (Thutmose III) and Usermaatra (Ramses II) were used on amuletic jewellery long after their deaths.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">Some Egyptian amulets, particularly those worn as a temporary protection during a magical rite, consisted simply of the names of divine beings. These might be written on linen or papyrus or, in later times, on thin sheets of metal or the leaves of certain plants. Amulets consisting of extracts from sacred texts are sometimes called phylacteries.<iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=egyoffline-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=0271027231&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe> <span dir="RTL" lang="AR-EG"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">The ancient Egyptians did not have one official holy book, but extracts from compilations such as The Book of the Dead were sometimes used as amulets. Spells from everyday magic might also be written down and worn at the neck as an amulet<span dir="RTL" lang="AR-EG"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">The neck seems to have been considered a special point of vulnera-bility by the Egyptians. Tomb curses warn trespassers that an akh will wring their neck as if it were a bird's. Choking fits, which can lead to sudden death, might be the origin of this belief. Rubrics to everyday magic often specify that an amulet is to be applied to the neck. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">Some strings of amulets are too small to fit round even a baby's neck. They could have been bracelets, but it is equally possible that they were originally put in linen or leather amulet bags and worn at the neck.<span dir="RTL" lang="AR-EG"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">The pelvis was a danger point for women, so amuletic girdles were popular <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">The stomach was held to be the seat of the emotions and a person or deity's heka was said to be in their stomach.<span dir="RTL" lang="AR-EG"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">The amuletic belt clasps worn by men, usually just below the navel, may have been intended to bind in and keep an individual's magic where it belonged. The stomach was still deemed to be vulnerable to demon attack. They were probably thought to enter through the navel.<span dir="RTL" lang="AR-EG"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">Broad collars were owned by both sexes, but women were more likely to wear amuletic bracelets and anklets than men. Earrings were also mainly for women and children. Spells refer to the vulnerability of the ears to demon attack. Few earrings have much obvious amuletic decoration, but ear-piercing may have been thought to bestow some sort of protection in itself. Rings were not common before the seventeenth century BC, and do not feature much in magic until the Graeco-Egyptian papyri. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">Magico-medical texts make it clear that temporary amulets might be applied to any part or orifice of the body.<span dir="RTL" lang="AR-EG"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2390300748592588913.post-30791216045285684692011-05-11T02:27:00.000+01:002011-05-11T02:27:53.306+01:00How to use ancient Egypt magic Amulets part 2/7<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed;"><b><span style="color: blue; mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">How to use ancient <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Egypt</st1:place></st1:country-region> magic Amulets part 2/7<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicnmYe5_hjB849vbwI3U1pphIK2l4QdXTCWxeKRqPgYKZ4Gdn3lL3tx3sWOp5MtDrpfsIpsVW_csd6eOWICEGz-zE8LRvuEEwRTVjrdhhUtb77bNs3rGt2M6z0ge4FSa4595EzZmR5zGs/s1600/2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="305" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicnmYe5_hjB849vbwI3U1pphIK2l4QdXTCWxeKRqPgYKZ4Gdn3lL3tx3sWOp5MtDrpfsIpsVW_csd6eOWICEGz-zE8LRvuEEwRTVjrdhhUtb77bNs3rGt2M6z0ge4FSa4595EzZmR5zGs/s320/2.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed;"><b><span style="color: blue; mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">Part of The Book of the Dead of Ankhwahibre, c.6th century BC. It shows the main amulets used on a mummy and the spells that went with them. Next to the mummy (far right) are the djed pillar and the tyet knot. Thoth (left) is opening the gates of the underworld to let in the four winds.</span></b></div></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">Most amulets</span><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;"> were intended to transfer to the wearer a particular quality of the being or object portrayed.<span dir="RTL" lang="AR-EG"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">Some pendants in the form of deities may have been worn by pious people who wished to express their devotion to a particular god or goddess, but amulets use the power of a divine image in a more specialized way. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">The gods and goddesses who were popular as amulets were not necessarily those who dominated the cult temples. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">The most benevolent divine forms were portrayed in temples, but for protective amulets more formidable manifestations might be desirable. The alarming composite form of Taweret is one of the earliest recognizable deities used as an amulet. She continued to be popular in amuletic jewellery right down to Roman times.<span dir="RTL" lang="AR-EG"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">Amulets with mythical resonance are particularly characteristic of Egyptian culture. Many can be associated with creation myths. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">A lotus pendant might evoke the image of the infant sun god, born from the primeval lotus, and thus symbolize the hope of rebirth.<iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=egyoffline-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=1892062712&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe> <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">The best known of all Egyptian amulets, the scarab beetle, was an image of Khepri, the regenerated sun at dawn . As god ofbecoming, Khepri embodied the continuous process of creation. Scarabs were produced in millions for use as beads and seals. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">The Egyptian word for seal sometimes means 'amulet' and sealing was a standard magical technique <span dir="RTL" lang="AR-EG"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">An amulet as common as the scarab might be expected to lose its significance, but <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Egypt</st1:place></st1:country-region> was such a symbol-conscious culture that this does not seem to have happened. The scarab remained a powerful image in magical texts as late as the fourth century AD.<span dir="RTL" lang="AR-EG"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">To the Egyptians</span><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">, the archetypal amulet was the wedjat eye, from which one of the general words for amulet was derived. Rubrics often mention that a wedjateye should be drawn on linen or papyrus for use as a temporary amulet. Thousands of examples in more permanent materials survive <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">A whole complex of myths lies behind this symbol. A tiny gold pendant in the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">British</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Museum</st1:placetype></st1:place> shows Thoth holding a wedjat eye <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">Thoth was held to be the general provider of amulets for the living and the dead<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">It was Thoth who restored the damaged lunar eye of Horus , making it into a symbol of wholeness and health. The eye of the sun, which was pacified and brought back from <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Nubia</st1:country-region></st1:place> by Thoth , could also be shown as a wedjat eye. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">The two eyes were often combined in Egyptian imagery, so a wedjat eys amulet might have the healing power of the 'sound eye' of Horus, and the protective power of the fearsome goddess who was the Eye of Ra.<iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=egyoffline-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=B0029ZAS5G&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe><span dir="RTL" lang="AR-EG"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">The wedjat eye was ceremonially offered to the gods in major temples. Some other amulets are based on objects used during the daily cult or at religious festivals. These include the loop sistrum, a kind of sacred rattle, and the Osirian amulet known as the djed pillar <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">The mummy of Osiris was held to be the model for all human mummies, so this god was the original wearer of protective amulets. Several myths recorded in PapyrusJumilhac tell of attempts by Seth and his followers to steal the objects that gave magical protection to the body of Osiris. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">In origin, the dyed may have been a corn sheath or some kind of temporary column raised in a harvest ceremony. By the era of The Coffin Texts, it was interpreted as the backbone of Osiris and symbolized stability or endurance. Rituals of raising the djed pillar are known from <st1:city w:st="on">Memphis</st1:city> and <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Abydos</st1:place></st1:city>.<span dir="RTL" lang="AR-EG"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">Miniature forms of magical objects, such as cippi, also occur as amulets. These were for the protection of a particular individual rather than for group use. Cippus amulets show the main divine figures and may be inscribed with very simple versions of the elaborate spells found on the full-size objects. On a ctppus, both image and word are important for the magical effect, but the power of other amulets resided chiefly or entirely in their inscriptions.<o:p></o:p></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2390300748592588913.post-5163065074866559412011-05-11T02:24:00.000+01:002011-05-11T02:24:47.014+01:00How to use ancient Egypt magic Amulets part 1/7<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed;"><b><span style="color: blue; mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">How to use ancient <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Egypt</st1:place></st1:country-region> magic Amulets part 1/7<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjkVOYyqZ1oFY5J-cqm36jS5zo_TBVCl4EnQsqUYqHeYdwyDPMzcu7ChFpJF7HFYm_elxu3VZVWMwt3ttKt6fj80AysWmyWRqMuUJpzhopG_1RSYJ90W1L1yeXp9w3cRqAXwtYc1pC6oY/s1600/1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjkVOYyqZ1oFY5J-cqm36jS5zo_TBVCl4EnQsqUYqHeYdwyDPMzcu7ChFpJF7HFYm_elxu3VZVWMwt3ttKt6fj80AysWmyWRqMuUJpzhopG_1RSYJ90W1L1yeXp9w3cRqAXwtYc1pC6oY/s320/1.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed;"><b><span style="color: blue; mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">Part of The Book of the Dead of Ankhwahibre, c. 6th century BC. It shows the main amulets used on a mummy and the spells that went with them.Next to the mummy (far right) are the djed pillar and the tyet knot. Thoth (left) is opening the gates of the underworld to let in the four winds.</span></b></div></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">The use of amulets is probably the most famous aspect of Egyptian magic. Egyptian amulets were exported or copied all over the ancient world. Huge numbers survive. One catalogue divides them into 275 main types, but that is probably an underestimate. Burials of the Egyptian elite include specially made amulets in precious materials<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">The function of some of these amulets is described in funerary literature such as The Coffin Texts and The Book of the Dead</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">The amulets found in humbler graves are more likely to be those worn by the deceased in life <span dir="RTL" lang="AR-EG"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">They could go on helping and protecting the deceased in the afterlife. As with other intimate possessions, such as cosmetic kits and hairpieces, these amulets were probably considered too personal to be passed on to anyone else.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">Amulets have also been recovered from houses and from temples or shrines where votive offerings were made. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">The use of amulets in daily life has been much less studied than their funerary role. Their ubiquity at Egyptian sites implies that amulets were considered a necessity of life, even by the poorest members of society.<span dir="RTL" lang="AR-EG"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">An amulet is generally defined as a powerful or protective object worn or carried on the person. In <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Egypt</st1:place></st1:country-region>, this definition might be extended to include some larger objects, such as headrests, which also worked through physical contact. A distinction is sometimes made between amulets and talismans.<iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=egyoffline-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=B001E3XG44&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe> <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">The purpose of an amulet is to protect, while the purpose of a talisman is to enhance a quality in the wearer or to promote success. The Egyptian words sa and mkt do mainly seem to be specific to protective amulets, but another Egyptian term for amulet —wedja - is used for objects which both protect the wearer and bestow desirable qualities such as health and vitality.<span dir="RTL" lang="AR-EG"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">Some amulets were used on a temporary basis in crisis situations; others were worn on a regular basis for permanent protection or benefit.<span dir="RTL" lang="AR-EG"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">The types of situation which might require temporary amulets included childbirth, an illness or a dangerous journey. In a magical rite to resolve a crisis, both the patient and the officiant might wear amulets.<span dir="RTL" lang="AR-EG"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">Permanent amulets were likely to be in the form of jewellery. It is hardly an exaggeration to say that most Egyptian jewellery had amuletic value. How conscious the wearers were of the symbolism of their ornaments is a more difficult question. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">Temporary amulets were probably always reinforced with spoken magic, but it is not clear how often this would have been done with amuletic jewellery. Some types of amulet were peculiar to the temporary category; others could serve as temporary or permanent. It is chiefly the permanent amulets that survive.<span dir="RTL" lang="AR-EG"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">Amulets of the kind worn in life are more often found in the burials of women and children than in those of adult men<iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=egyoffline-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=B002VECQJ6&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe>. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">It is easy to understand why children should have been thought to need amulets. They were genuinely more at risk from disease. There also seems to have been a belief that the dead were jealous of new life. Women faced considerable risks in childbirth and were thought to need intensive protection at this time <span dir="RTL" lang="AR-EG"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">In many cultures, the danger to women in childbirth was balanced by regular danger to men in hunting and warfare. This would originally have been true of <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Egypt</st1:place></st1:country-region> too. In the fourth millennium BC, dangerous animals were hunted to provide food and raw materials, and warfare was frequent among tribal groups. By the end of the fourth millennium BC, hunting had become much less important than agriculture and there was greater political stability. For much of the third millennium BC, Egyptian soldiers were more likely to be involved in trading, mining and quarrying expeditions than in wars. In the second millennium BC, when the Egyptians were fighting large-scale wars, they employed numerous foreign mercenaries. This may explain the scarcity of specifically masculine amulets in Egyptian culture and the absence of spells for protection in battle. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">The most risky masculine activities were probably desert quarrying expeditions and anything that involved working on water.<span dir="RTL" lang="AR-EG"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">Spells associated with these activities are well attested.<span dir="RTL" lang="AR-EG"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">When men had accidents or became ill, temporary amulets might form part of the treatment, but women and children seem to have been the main wearers of permanent amulets. This may be because women and children were thought to be more at risk from supernatural dangers.<iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=egyoffline-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=0670877611&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe><span dir="RTL" lang="AR-EG"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">Many spells from the second millennium BC emphasize the danger of the dead taking possession of young children. In the Graeco-Egyptian papyri, young boys are used as spirit mediums. Some evidence for women serving as mediums has already been mentioned <span dir="RTL" lang="AR-EG"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">What the Egyptians saw as the ritual impurity of menstruation may have been held to attract ghosts and demons. If purity gave protection, impurity presumably meant vulnerability.<span dir="RTL" lang="AR-EG"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">Women were probably perceived as being weaker and more emotional than men. In some Egyptian texts, violent emotions seem to be attributed to the influence of spirits, demons or the bau of deities.<span dir="RTL" lang="AR-EG"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">Instruction Texts lay great stress on the control of the heart, that is, the emotions. The prevalence of amulets in female graves tells us quite a lot about Egyptian attitudes to women.<span dir="RTL" lang="AR-EG"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">The distinction between the sexes broke down in certain circumstances. All the calm, rational advice of the Instruction Texts could not protect the Egyptian male from the chaotic world of dreams. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">A fear of night-terrors seems to have been characteristic of the Egyptians. Some amulets are described as a 'protection of the bedchamber.' One of the functions of headrests decorated with magical images<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>was to keep away nightmares. Demons were more powerful at night and each sleep was a miniature descent into the underworld. In death, both sexes had equal need of amulets, because the deceased was actually entering the realm of demons and spirits.<iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=egyoffline-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=B0029ZAS5G&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe><span dir="RTL" lang="AR-EG"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">Amulets can be natural or manmade objects. The power of a natural amulet might derive from its shape, its material, its colour, its scarcity or any combination of these properties. Heka was thought to reside in rare or strange objects. Shells from the <st1:place w:st="on">Red Sea</st1:place> came into this category and were used as amulets as early as the fourth millennium BC. River pebbles were common objects, but specimens that naturally resembled the male genitals or a pregnant woman could be used as fertility amulets.<span dir="RTL" lang="AR-EG"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">Another natural object prized for its resemblance to something else is the cowrie shell. Cowries have been used as amulets against the Evil Eye in many cultures, and they were popular in ancient <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Egypt</st1:country-region></st1:place>. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">Their shape has been thought to resemble the female genitals as well as the eye. The<span dir="RTL" lang="AR-EG"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">Egyptians often strung cowries to make girdles <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">They were probably worn in the pelvic region to protect a woman's fertility, as is still done today in parts of <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Sudan</st1:place></st1:country-region>. A few girdles made of real shells strung on leather have survived, but imitation cowries in faience, silver or gold are more common. Natural amulets such as shells or claws were often translated into precious jewellery and worn to bring permanent benefits.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">Other amulets were made of transitory natural materials. These might be herbs or parts of animals, such as hairs from a cat. Ingredients of this kind were usually wrapped up together in linen. Such amulets rarely survive from ancient times, but they are described in magico-medical texts. Their contents sometimes sound too bizarre for belief, but comparisons with recent magical practices suggest that it would be wrong to be sceptical.<iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=egyoffline-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=B004E74UHY&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe> <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">Writing about village <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Egypt</st1:place></st1:country-region> in the early twentieth century AD, Winfrid Blackman described a pair of amulet bags worn to protect a pregnant woman. These contained the head of a hoopoe, a snake's fang, parts of the lip and ear of a donkey, a camel's tooth, a dried chameleon, seven silk threads and a written charm.<span dir="RTL" lang="AR-EG"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">We tend to think of an amulet as a single object, but the Egyptian words for amulet have a less restrictive meaning. The word sa can mean a group of objects, the cord they were strung on, or the bag that contained them, and the words and gestures needed to 'activate' them. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">One of the hieroglyphic signs used to write the word sa depicts a looped cord. The cord, which was usually of linen thread or leather, was always important and sometimes served as an amulet in itself. Surviving examples have a series of knots which were probably tied by a magician in the course of a rite to bind evil forces.<span dir="RTL" lang="AR-EG"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">A spell from the late second millennium BC describes deities, such as Isis, Nephthys and Hedjhotep, spinning and weaving the linen cord of an amulet of health, which the goddess Neith then ties knots in.<span dir="RTL" lang="AR-EG"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">Hedjhotep was a god of weaving and amulets. The two are associated, not only through linen cords and amulet bags, but because pictures drawn on linen were a common form of temporary amulet. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">In the Graeco-Egyptian papyri, knotted cords are described as Anubis threads.<span dir="RTL" lang="AR-EG"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">Anubis presided over all the stages of mummification, including the bandaging of the corpse, so he was much concerned with wrapping and tying knots. As early as the late third millennium BC, the reef knot was a popular element in amuletic jewellery when translated into precious metals<iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=egyoffline-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=B00452V9OA&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe> <span dir="RTL" lang="AR-EG"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">Manmade amulets include pendants in the form of deities, demons, animals, plants, parts of the human body, furniture, tools and ritual objects. Some of these are simply miniature models of things which the deceased needed or desired in the afterlife. Such models have more in common with funerary figurines than with amuletic jewellery. <o:p></o:p></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0