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How was magic used in ancient Egyptian religion?
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ancient Egypt
Side view of the Sphinx with the Great Pyramid of Khufu (Cheops) rising in the background, Giza, Egypt.
In ancient Egyptian civilization, there was no meaningful distinction between religion and magic; rather, magic was an integral, pervasive force believed to have existed since the beginning of creation. Personified as the god Heka, magic was considered a primordial power essential for maintaining the natural order of the world.123
Magic was used in several key ways:
- Official Cult Practice: Magic was incorporated into the official state religion and temple rituals. It was often invoked by "lector priests," who held privileged access to sacred texts and performed rites to ensure the benevolence of the gods.1
- Protection and Preservation: It was generally viewed as a positive force used to counteract misfortune and achieve goals where unseen help was required. A vast corpus of funerary texts, such as the Pyramid Texts, were essentially magical in character, designed to protect the deceased and ensure their sustenance in the afterlife.14
- General and Personal Use: Beyond the state cult, magic was practiced by common people through various means, ranging from the use of protective amulets to the recitation of spells. While often benign, magic could also be employed for antisocial purposes.1