Ancient Egypt

This page displays a 'pterygoma' or wing-shaped magical arrangement of Greek letters, a characteristic feature of ancient magical papyri. The diminishing lines of text were intended to focus or dissipate magical energy, serving as a visual component of a spoken or written incantation.

This vibrant illustration is a facsimile from the Papyrus of Ani, a version of the Egyptian Book of the Dead. It depicts the critical 'Weighing of the Heart' ceremony, where the deceased's heart is balanced against the feather of Maat (truth and justice) to determine their eligibility for the afterlife. The scene features the deceased and his wife entering the Hall of Judgment, overseen by a tribunal of gods and the jackal-headed Anubis at the scales.

This illustration depicts the 'Akephalos' or headless deity, a powerful figure frequently invoked in ancient magical rituals for protection, exorcism, or divination. The figure's body and the surrounding space are inscribed with magical names and symbols, demonstrating the essential role of visual diagrams in the performance of Greco-Egyptian magic.

This plate displays a segment of the Papyrus of Ani, an exquisite example of the Egyptian Book of the Dead dating to approximately 1250 BCE. The columns of hieroglyphs shown here comprise a hymn to the sun-god Ra at his rising, intended to assist the scribe Ani in his journey through the Duat, or underworld. Such manuscripts were essential funerary equipment for the elite, providing the spells and knowledge necessary to achieve eternal life.