Product Description

The Egyptians were famous in the ancient world for their knowledge of magic. Religion, medicine, technology, and what we would call magic coexisted without apparent conflict, and it was not unusual for magical and "practical" remedies for illness, for example, to be used side by side. Everyone resorted to magic, from the pharaoh guarding his country with elaborate magical rituals to the expectant mother wearing amulets to safeguard her unborn child. In this book, Geraldine Pinch examines the connections between myth and magic and the deities--such as the goddess Isis, and the protective lion-demon Bes--who had special magical importance. She discusses the techniques of magic, its practitioners, and the surviving magical texts, as well as the objects that were used in magic: figurines, statues, amulets, and wands. She devotes a chapter to medicine and magic and one to magic and the dead. Finally, Dr. Pinch shows how elements and influences from Egyptian magic survived in or were taken up by later societies, right down to our own century.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #633085 in Books
• Published on: 1994
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 191 pages

Review
"...this work is a splendid introduction." C.C. Lamberg-Karlovsky, Harvard University, Choice "...a thorough and thoughtful treatment of a world in which science, magic and religion coexisted." Bob Brier, Natural History 'Egypt was the mother of magicians' - Clement of Alexandria"

About the Author
GERALDINE PINCH is a former lecturer in Egyptology at Oxford University. She is the author of numerous books on ancient Egypt.

Customer Reviews

Egyptian magic= Egyptian religion
A wonderful book on how the people of ancient Egypt viewed the world around them and the ways they sought to cope. Religion and magic are intertwined in the ancient world, as were magic and medicine. A good book for both the casual reader and the researcher. Full of fascinating bits of information, yet easily understandable. If you're interested in life in ancient Egypt, this book belongs on your bookshelf!

Magic in Ancient Egypt
I found this book very informative and interesting.As a practioner of Egyptian Magic and an Anthropology/Archology student,I found it easy to read,and it covers all aspects of Egyptian Magic. Ms.Pinch uses different texts to back up what she writes about.If you are looking for written ritual it's not in the book,but the information is there for you to write your own if you wish.I highly recomend this book to any one interested in Egyptian Magic.Ms.Pinch shows Egypt as it was a civilization which showed no distinction between everyday life and magic.

Great pictures, good writing, easy to understand
Pinch delivers a solid book explaining the practical aspects of Ancient Egyptian magic. The book is written so that both an academic and a "normal" ;-) person can easily understand the thought behind the magic.
Check out the terrifying love spell!