{"product_id":"magic-in-ancient-egypt","title":"Magic in Ancient Egypt by Geraldine Pinch","description":"\u003ch2\u003eMagic in Ancient Egypt by Geraldine Pinch\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp data-path-to-node=\"5\"\u003ePinch systematically breaks down the history of Egyptian magic, moving from abstract theology to the physical artifacts found in tombs and domestic ruins. The text balances archaeological data, translations of magical papyri, and cultural analysis.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-path-to-node=\"6\"\u003eThe handbook's structural journey is organized into several primary investigative areas:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 data-path-to-node=\"7\"\u003e\u003cb data-path-to-node=\"7\" data-index-in-node=\"0\"\u003e1. Defining \u003ci data-path-to-node=\"7\" data-index-in-node=\"12\"\u003eHeka\u003c\/i\u003e: The Cosmic Engine\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp data-path-to-node=\"8\"\u003eThe book begins by introducing \u003cb data-path-to-node=\"8\" data-index-in-node=\"31\"\u003eHeka\u003c\/b\u003e, both a concept and a personified deity. Pinch explains that magic was not considered sinful, unnatural, or heretical. Instead, it was an essential gift from the gods to humanity, acting as a defensive weapon to ward off bad fortune, disease, and chaotic cosmic entities like Apophis, the great serpent of darkness.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 data-path-to-node=\"9\"\u003e\u003cb data-path-to-node=\"9\" data-index-in-node=\"0\"\u003e2. The Practitioners of the Craft\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp data-path-to-node=\"10\"\u003ePinch dispels the myth of the lone, secretive witch or wizard hiding in a cave. In Egypt, the primary magicians were highly educated, elite state officials:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul data-path-to-node=\"11\"\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp data-path-to-node=\"11,0,0\"\u003e\u003cb data-path-to-node=\"11,0,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\"\u003eLector Priests (\u003ci data-path-to-node=\"11,0,0\" data-index-in-node=\"16\"\u003eKher-heb\u003c\/i\u003e):\u003c\/b\u003e The guardians of the temple libraries, who alone possessed the literacy to read the sacred, powerful spells written on ancient hieroglyphic rolls.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp data-path-to-node=\"11,1,0\"\u003e\u003cb data-path-to-node=\"11,1,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\"\u003eMagician-Physicians (\u003ci data-path-to-node=\"11,1,0\" data-index-in-node=\"21\"\u003eSwnw\u003c\/i\u003e):\u003c\/b\u003e Medicine and magic were entirely integrated. A doctor would set a broken bone or administer an herbal remedy while simultaneously reciting a spell to drive out the spiritual demon causing the affliction.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp data-path-to-node=\"18\"\u003ePinch guides the reader past the exoticism of the artifacts to understand the underlying psychological and practical motivations of the people who used them:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 data-path-to-node=\"19\"\u003e\u003cb data-path-to-node=\"19\" data-index-in-node=\"0\"\u003e1. Mythological Precedent (The Principle of Analogy)\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp data-path-to-node=\"20\"\u003eA primary mechanism of \u003ci data-path-to-node=\"20\" data-index-in-node=\"23\"\u003eheka\u003c\/i\u003e was invoking the past actions of the gods to heal or protect a human in the present. For example, if a child was bitten by a scorpion, the magician would recite a spell recounting how the goddess Isis successfully healed her infant son, Horus, from a similar deadly sting. By stepping into the cosmic roles of Isis and Horus, the human magician and patient re-enacted a divine victory, forcing the physical poison to leave the body.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 data-path-to-node=\"21\"\u003e\u003cb data-path-to-node=\"21\" data-index-in-node=\"0\"\u003e2. Defensive Material Culture (Amulets and Wands)\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp data-path-to-node=\"22\"\u003ePinch dedicates substantial analysis to everyday defensive items. She explores the widespread use of \u003cb data-path-to-node=\"22\" data-index-in-node=\"101\"\u003eamulets\u003c\/b\u003e—such as the \u003ci data-path-to-node=\"22\" data-index-in-node=\"121\"\u003eEye of Horus\u003c\/i\u003e (Wedjat) for wholeness, the \u003ci data-path-to-node=\"22\" data-index-in-node=\"162\"\u003eScarab\u003c\/i\u003e for rebirth, and the \u003ci data-path-to-node=\"22\" data-index-in-node=\"190\"\u003eDjed Pillar\u003c\/i\u003e for stability—worn by both the living and wrapped inside the bandages of mummies. She also highlights curved \"magic knives\" or wands carved from hippopotamus ivory, which were used to draw protective circles in the dirt around sleeping mothers and infants to ward off malicious night-demons.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLanguage: English.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGenre: Mythology.\u003cspan class=\"BookPageMetadataSection__genreButton\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBinding: সেলাই করা বাইন্ডিং\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eQuality: Premium Quality Books.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePrinting: High Quality Printing.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePaper: Eye Friendly paper (Cream White)\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCover: Matt cover (Paperback).\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Royal Books BD","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47274862248121,"sku":null,"price":450.0,"currency_code":"BDT","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0780\/0874\/6169\/files\/804466.jpg?v=1779475537","url":"https:\/\/royalbooksbd.com\/products\/magic-in-ancient-egypt","provider":"Royal Books BD","version":"1.0","type":"link"}