Mummies are preserved human or animal bodies, often associated with ancient Egypt. The process of mummification involved removing internal organs, drying the body, and wrapping it in linen bandages. Mummies were believed to ensure the deceased’s safe passage to the afterlife. In addition to their religious significance, mummies have also been objects of fascination and … Read more
In some ancient Egyptian communities, a suspected adulteress was subjected to an ordeal involving sulfurous water mixed with dust and lamp oil. This concoction, known as the Chalice of Suspicion, was believed to cause unbearable pain if the woman was guilty. This practice illustrates the cultural anxieties surrounding female fidelity and the use of ritualistic … Read more
The ibis is a bird of Egypt, resembling a stork but with a slightly curved beak. Aelian (c. 175 – c. 235 AD), a Roman author and teacher of rhetoric, noted that when the ibis tucks its head and neck under its wings, its shape resembles the human heart. Some claim the ibis introduced the … Read more
Cynocephalus are monkeys revered by Egyptians in their temples to predict the conjunction of the sun and moon. It was believed that during this event, the animal became blind and refused all nourishment. Their image on clepsydras was purely hieroglyphic, and it was thought that the cynocephalus would cry exactly at each hour of the … Read more
Camephis is one of the oldest gods in Egyptian mythology, revered as a triple deity embodying grandfather, father, and son. This triadic nature symbolizes the continuity and cyclical aspects of life and the cosmos. Camephis played a significant role in ancient Egyptian religion, representing the interconnectedness of different generational aspects within the divine hierarchy. His … Read more
The Sacerdotal Art, according to some adepts, was the name given by the Egyptians to alchemy. This art, whose secrets were supposedly written in hieroglyphs and guarded under penalty of death, was only communicated to priests after long initiations and trials. This association of alchemy with Egyptian priesthood and hieroglyphic writing reinforces the mystique surrounding … Read more
Apis, or better Hapi, is the bull that the Egyptians worshiped. He had to be black and have a square white spot on his forehead. As soon as he had reigned for twenty-five years in his two stables, which were two temples, he was drowned, and a replacement was sought. It is believed that this … Read more
Amasis (Ἰαχμῶσις, *Iahmoses* in Greek), a king of Egypt, is mentioned by Herodotus (Ἡρόδοτος). Herodotus recounts an incident where Amasis suffered from l’aiguillette nouée, a magical binding causing impotence. The text explains that solemn magical incantations were required to break this spell. This practice of magical binding, often referred to as ligatures (see Ligatures entry), … Read more