Now, lets move on to the second lesson. This is the first real lesson of Ancient Studies. I am going to go through some notes that I suggest you write down, some quotes from the lesson, and more:

• "That said, even though magic existed before the dawn of this civilization, Egypt has often been attributed a foundational role in the development of magic, and has even been called the “mother of magicians” by Clement of Alexandria, a well-traveled philosopher and theologian from the 3rd century CE."


• Magicians were normally celebrated and respected and given high government positions. Some of these great positions include being a priest or pharoah


• Priests were specialized based on the diety they worshipped


• Highest priest in temple of Anubis was Hery Seshta, or “the chief of mysteries or secrets." These would be mini pharoahs


• Priests were not all magical, but it would be easier to become one if they were one


• Magic is known as heka


• Heka is the catalyst of the magic, not the magic itself


• There are many parts of the idea of Ancient Egyptian magic. Below is a list:


• Heka - catalyst


• Heka then breaks down into:


• Sia - divine knowledge


• Hu - divine utterance


• Seperate from these ideas is akhu - the action/result of the magic


• Heka is an abstract idea of magic


• These ideas of heka, sia, hu, and akhu still exist in modern magic (may be an assignment today...?)


• "In fact, heka was tied to almost every aspect of ancient Egyptian civilization. Through magianthropology, magiarcheology, and the research of magihistorians, we can see evidence of the implementation of several different forms of magic regularly throughout Egyptian history. In particular, charms, transfiguration, and divination were heavily used in this culture."


• Magic and medicine were very intertwined


• Hekau defines how the magic is expressed from an individual. Either the magic is spilling out of them or the magic was dormant within them. People who had the magic spilling out of them would be priests or dieties or pharoahs, and then the dormant people would have the magic activated at some point in their life


• The god Heka was a secondary god but was the embodyment of magic


• Many cults worshipped Heka, and they mainly resided in Heliopolis, Memphis, and Esna


• Heka normally is shown holding two snakes


• Weret Hekau is the great enchantress goddess


• She would either be seen as a lion or a cobra


• "Perhaps the strongest belief in ancient Egyptian magical circles was that of the power of words and images. The knowledge of an object or deity’s “true name” was absolutely essential for any magic to prove effective. So great was the belief in the power of names and associations, that quite often magical spells invoked the name of a god or goddess who had survived a trial similar to the current crisis being addressed, especially in cases where protection from harm was sought. For example, a magical spell might invoke the name of the god Horus in order to ward off and protect from scorpions and snakes, as Horus had survived a significant trial involving these deadly creatures."


• "What were some of the objects used? Well, I’m glad you asked. In addition to the ubiquitous wand, there were also amulets, figurines, ivory clappers, scrolls, and rods. Whatever your preferences, objects of power were of great significance in ancient Egypt, which is why we have such a vast knowledge of their beliefs and practices."


• Amulets were the main thing used in Ancient Egypt


• Wands were also used in Ancient Egypt, though

Obviously, you actually have to read through the whole lesson to get a good grade on the assignment. This just takes some short notes in a specific area to help. For the assignments this week, there are three. First, there is a quiz, but I can't help you with that. 

The next is an essay called Practical Magic, where you have to explain the way five spells could be defined in the ideas of Ancient Egyptian magic. You have to explain five spells in the ideas of heka, hu, sia, and akhu. Think willpower, concentration, incantations, wand movements, and more.  

For the third assignment, Ancient Egyptian Concepts, you have to use a creative way of your choice to explain five of the following concepts: heka, hekau, sia, hu, akhu, Heka, Weret Hekau, and Hery Seshta. Just try to make it creative and interesting and use correct facts and you will get a good grade!