Witchcraft in Ancient Mesopotamia and Egypt

Question 1

Who is Pazuzu?

Answer 1

A mesopotamian demon, known as the demon of the wind

Question 2

Why are pazuzu amulets worn?

Answer 2

to protect against Lamashtu, who was another demon that would steal/eat babies
it was also worn as a protector against plagues and spirits

Question 3

Who were the two types of magic practitioners in Ancient Mesopotamia?

Answer 3

Ashipu and Asu

Question 4

What is the Ashipu?

Answer 4

an exorcist/magician, later became highly regarded and worked in temples, turned incantation into prayers, reinforced temple themes and ideas

Question 5

What is the Asu?

Answer 5

a physician or herbalist, related to more practical and visible injuries, later gained a negative connotation

Question 6

What was the traditional Mesopotamian Witch?

Answer 6

early form was correlated with rural beliefs/practices from the Ashipu and Asu as they operated in harmony with each other and helped the community through magical ability and medical knowledge

Question 7

When did the division of magic in Mesopotamia occur?

Answer 7

After urbanization in Mesopotamia

Question 8

What did the division of magic in Mesopotamia lead to?

Answer 8

The Ashipu became involved in temples and states and the Asu became associated with witches and viewed as illegitimate magic practitioners
The ashipu and asu became opponents

Question 9

What was the gender divide in Mesopotamia?

Answer 9

witches were female practitioners while Ashipu were exclusively male

Question 10

What was a result of the gender divide in mesopotamia?

Answer 10

female healers became stigmatized by institutional male healers

Question 11

What is the kassapu?

Answer 11

the new mesopotamian witch, the word derives from Kispu which references black magic

Question 12

What are the two distinctions of the witch

Answer 12

1. a powerful supernatural malevolent force that can operate in the cosmos and challenge the gods
2. a superhuman who intrudes on the social order

Question 13

How did people in ancient mesopotamia view witches (kassapu)

Answer 13

they introduce chaos into the cosmos and the human realm
they can control/curse/influence victims through stolen objects from the person via contact magic

Question 14

How did people view the Ashipu

Answer 14

powerful and respectable people who were almost similar to the gods and could contain the chaos that the witch introduces

Question 15

What was the cause of many afflictions, illnesses and general problems?

Answer 15

Witches Curses

Question 16

What is an example of a witches curse in mesopotamia

Answer 16

economic breakdown, relationship problems, loss of rank

Question 17

What were curses held responsible for in Mesopotamia?

Answer 17

curses were held responsible for digestive tract issues/ issues with the lower part of the body/sexual dysfunctions (emphasis on food, drink, sex)

Question 18

How were Witches Curses counter-acted?

Answer 18

The Ashipu would provide counter curses and incantations, as well as amulets
victims of curses would bring their problem and accusations before a divine court and hope the gods would rule in their favour

Question 19

What is the Maqlu?

Answer 19

the largest Mesopotamian text against witchcraft

Question 20

What does the Maqlu include?

Answer 20

8 tablets with about 100 incantations and rituals against witches and witchcraft
descriptions of anti witchcraft rituals

Question 21

What were the 4 sections in the Maqlu?

Answer 21

1. judgement of the witches
2. victims liberation from the curse
3. extinguishes any leftover bad magic
4. disposal and exlusion of the witches body and spirit

Question 22

What would happen during the anti witch rituals performed by the ashipus?

Answer 22

was perceived to be in a cosmic setting
would burn figurines of the witches
counter the curse
purify the victim and place protection

Question 23

what was the goal of anti witchcraft ceremonies?

Answer 23

to protect the victim and expel the witch

Question 24

What were the two ways witches were destroyed?

Answer 24

1. physical destruction of their person
2. controlling/destroying their ghost from the cosmos

Question 25

How did the Ashipu physically destroy the witch?

Answer 25

punished and sentenced them to death by method of burning so their bodies couldnt be resurrected

Question 26

How did the Ashipu control/destroy the witches ghost?

Answer 26

1. denied the witches ghost entry to the netherworld, denying peace in death 2. later rituals were done to force the ghost into the netherworld which gave ashipus better control over them

Question 27

What were the three major periods in Ancient Egypt?

Answer 27

Old Kingdom, Middle Kingdom, New Kingdom

Question 28

How is the Old Kingdom of Ancient Egypt identified?

Answer 28

1. Time of great building and art, the last Pharaoh was Pepi ii 2. two classes of people emerged: Priests and Artisans

Question 29

How is the Middle Kingdom of Ancient Egypt identified?

Answer 29

1. initially a time of social turbulence 2. Egypt comes together at the end of this period after a time of instability 3. recovered from social disorder

Question 30

How is the New Kingdom of Ancient Egypt identified?

Answer 30

1. temples and priesthoods organize became more powerful and prevalent 2. most famous Pharaohs reigned during this period, construction and military conquests occurred

Question 31

How were magicians viewed in ancient egypt?

Answer 31

respected and found in temple, not seen as deceitful as only the Pharaoh could accuse a person of trickery

Question 32

What were the two types of magicians in Ancient Egypt?

Answer 32

1. trained priests from established temples 2. untrained people who used magic but weren't affiliated with an institution

Question 33

What were the classes of magicians?

Answer 33

High priest, middle priest, lower class priest

Question 34

Magician Priests (high priests)

Answer 34

defined hierarchy and designated by Pharaoh would officiate important ceremonies

Question 35

what were magician-priests responsible for in Egypt?

Answer 35

cared for oracles, temples, libraries, protected the Pharaoh and the community

Question 36

Who could perform miracles?

Answer 36

Magicians, the better the miracle the more powerful you were

Question 37

What did the middle class/specialized priests do?

Answer 37

they had specialized duties and roles, such as the priest of hours, performed rituals, astrologers

Question 38

What did the average magician priest do?

Answer 38

performed duties similar to specialized priests, usually helped the public

Question 39

Tale of Eucrates

Answer 39

think of fantasia or strega nona

Question 40

What did magician healers deal with

Answer 40

unseen illnesses such as fevers

Question 41

who were the Wabu

Answer 41

magician healers

Question 42

who performed magical ailments for unseen illnesses

Answer 42

Sekhmet's (god associated with medicine) priests

Question 43

What is an amulet?

Answer 43

an object worn or carried by a person for magical benefit

Question 44

What were amulets used for?

Answer 44

protection against practical concerns, evil spirits, other forms of magic outside of Egyptian magic

Question 45

what aspects were important in making the amulet work?

Answer 45

material and colour- got their power by invoking the gods

Question 46

Eye of Horus

Answer 46

most popular amulet in ancient egypt worn to maintain good health

Question 47

Life Amulet (Ankh)

Answer 47

most popular egyptian amulet today but wasnt popular then, symbolized continuing life

Question 48

The Scarab

Answer 48

symbolized continual life, likely related to the Khepri deity who represented continual existence

Question 49

Why were words seen as powerful in ancient egyptian magic?

Answer 49

words had magical association, saying something could make it become true

Question 50

What is the Rosetta Stone

Answer 50

stone with three languages, the greek on it helped people decode the hieroglyphs

Question 51

What is the Ba?

Answer 51

the mobile spirit of the person, retained their personality and character was the spirit that had to travel to the netherworld to get judged

Question 52

What is the Ka?

Answer 52

the spiritual double, let you walk, talk, smell, see,etc.. the ka separated from the body but stayed close by and needed food and drink to stay alive

Question 53

what are the death stages in ancient egypt

Answer 53

protection of the body journey to the netherworld judgement of the gods existence in the new world

Question 54

What is the book of the dead

Answer 54

a collection of papyrus scrolls that contained spells, incantations, prayers, hymns and ritual instructions

Question 55

What were wax figurines used for?

Answer 55

if you couldn't be mummified they would represent you rich people had one for everyday of the year so they wouldn't have to work