Magic in North Africa
The hand of Fatima, Amazigh and Gnawa healing, Egyptian heka and Hermetic lore, and the Maghrebi books of magic. 69 entries on EveryJaadu so far.
Places of magic
Thebes 7Abydos 5British Museum 5Memphis 3Saqqara 3Siwa Oasis 3Buto 2Heliopolis 2Luxor 2Amarna 1Avaris 1Behbeit el-Hagar 1Béni Abbès 1Boston Museum of Fine Arts 1Byblos 1Cancho Roano 1Cynopolis 1Djoser's Step Pyramid complex 1El-Lahun 1Ephesus 1Esna 1Essaouira 1Fez 1Ghirza 1Hathor temple 1Kairouan 1Karnak 1Koptos 1Lake Tritonis 1Leiden University Library 1
Rites of the region
The zar possession ceremonyThe Gnawa lilaHenna nightBkhour, the Moroccan fumigationHeka, Egyptian ritual powerThe Book of the DeadAmazigh protective tattoos
Countries
PurposeProtectionHealingSeeing and foretellingLuck and prosperityLove and attractionCursing and harmCleansing and purificationSpeaking with spirits and the deadChange and initiationBinding and oathsPower and authorityWonder and entertainment
WhoShamansFolk healersPriests and ritual specialistsWitches, sorcerers and cunning folkDiviners and readersMediums and the possessedCeremonial magicians and alchemistsHouseholds and ordinary peopleStage magiciansScholars and sceptics
BeliefHindu and TantricBuddhistJainMuslim and SufiJewishChristianSikhZoroastrianShinto and TaoistIndigenous and shamanicAfrican and Afro-diasporicPagan and NeopaganEsoteric and occultFolk and village customSecular and stageOther traditions
🇪🇬 Egypt and 1 moreEye of Horuswḏꜣt
A stylized eye symbol in ancient Egypt representing healing and cosmic orderCharm · Protection · Healing Historical
🇪🇬 EgyptHekaḥkꜣw
The ancient Egyptian deification of magic, medicine, and primordial creative powerBeing · Healing · Protection Historical
🇪🇬 EgyptAnubis𓇋𓈖𓊪𓃣
The jackal-headed god who guides souls and oversees mummification in ancient Egypt.Being · Protection · Speaking with spirits and the dead Historical
🇩🇿 Algeria and 1 moreAhmad al-Buniأحمد البوني المالكي
A medieval Sufi scholar known for works on letter mysticism and talismansText · Power and authority · Seeing and foretelling Historical
🇪🇬 Egypt and 1 moreShen ring
An ancient Egyptian symbol of eternal protection, shaped like a rope looped around a stick.Charm · Protection Historical
🇪🇬 Egypt and 2 moreAnkh
Ancient Egyptian hieroglyph for life and the amulet that carries its meaningCharm · Protection · Power and authority Historical
🇪🇬 EgyptPapyrus of Ani
A decorated Egyptian scroll for the afterlife, held in LondonText · Protection · Speaking with spirits and the dead Historical
🇪🇬 Egypt and 4 moreScarab
An ancient Egyptian amulet and seal shaped like a dung beetleCharm · Protection · Luck and prosperity Historical
Photo credits on this page
The small pictures above come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences. Some are cropped to fit.
- Ankh: Soutekh67, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Anubis: Hunefer, Public domain, source
- Ahmad al-Buni: Khalili Collections, CC BY-SA 3.0 igo, source
- Shen ring: Rama, CC BY-SA 3.0 fr, source
- Scarab: Rama, CC BY-SA 2.0 fr, source
- Papyrus of Ani: Photographed by the British Museum; original artist unknown, Public domain, source
- Eye of Horus: Tangopaso, Public domain, source