Ancient Egyptian Magic [Paperback]

Bob Brier (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 16, 1998

Ancient Egyptian Magic is the first authoritative modern work on the occult practices that pervaded all aspects of life in ancient Egypt. Based on fascinating archaeological discoveries, it includes everything from how to write your name in hieroglyphs to the proper way to bury a king, as well as:

• Tools and training of magicians

• Interpreting dreams

• Ancient remedies for headaches, cataracts, and indigestion

• Wrapping a mummy

• Recipes for magic potions and beauty creams

• Explanations of amulets and pyramid power

• A spell to entice a lover

• A fortune-telling calendar

These subjects and many more will appeal to everyone interested in Egyptology, magic, parapsychology, and the occult; or ancient religions and mythology.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"[A] dazzling array of age-old mysteries." -- Dallas Morning News

About the Author

Bob Brier is a world-famous Egyptologist who has conducted research on pyramids and tombs in fifteen countries. A senior research fellow at the C.W. Post campus of Long Island University, he is the author of seven books, including The Murder of Tutankhamen, and hosted the Great Egyptian series for the Learning Channel.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: William Morrow Paperbacks (December 16, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0688007961
• ISBN-13: 978-0688007966
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (22 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #691,186 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

34 of 38 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Touch Sensational, but Pretty Good Nonetheless, June 2, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Ancient Egyptian Magic (Paperback)

The reader who gave this book a bad review probably didn't understand the nature of Egyptian magic in the first place, which could explain why nothing "worked" for him or her. Without the guidance of God behind it, Egyptian magic truly is nothing more than a few odd herbs and some mumbled phrases and it is indeed true that if you want to perform your heka without the touch of the source behind it, then you would do best to avoid this book.

For historical purposes, this is a very useful tome. For others, you may find this of some use as well. Brier is a touch sensational -- as always -- but he has a fondness of Egypt that comes through quite clear in his writing style and it's rather obvious that he loves the land of the pharaohs even if he himself does not completely understand it....

49 of 62 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars a fairly dismissive account, October 28, 2001

By 

L. Blumenthal "lynn" (Chicago, IL USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Ancient Egyptian Magic (Paperback)

Brier, who wrote the wonderful MURDER OF TUTANKHAMEN, has written a book that is clearly dismissive of the religions and high culture of Egypt. In Brier's eyes, Egyptian religion was nothing but a silly lot of superstition. In fact, there is a highly symbolic nature to a great deal of Egyptian spritual thought that goes beyond a literal meaning of the hieroglyphs. Indeed, sounds were believe to hold vibratory magic, and anyone with sensitivity can read this in the hieroglypic texts. To read Brier, one would think that all they did was wear amulets to prevent illness and prepare disgusting mixtures for miraculous healing.

Surely, there were a large number of Egyptians who believed in all sorts of superstions, but Brier does not balance this fact with any of the many graceful, beautiful prayers that adorn the tombs. Surprisingly, good old Sir Wallis Budge summarizes Egyptian magic much better in his EGYPTIAN MAGIC. Budge has been considered outdated for many years, but his work still forms the basis of modern Egyptology.

All in all, this book was disappointing.

Lynn

14 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Most excellent and informative!, May 16, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Ancient Egyptian Magic (Paperback)

If you're looking for a "New Age Spell book," you'd best look elsewhere. If you are interested in an accurate and non-sensationalized accounting of the actual spiritual beliefs of Ancient Egypt, this book is well worth the money. Fascinating.