The Mystery of Magic in Ancient Civilizations

In class we discussed the various religions (or cultural ideas like Confucianism) in ancient China, India, and Greece. However, these discussions made me curious about another phenomenon that became an enormous part of ancient culture. Magic influenced the daily lives and rituals of people in ancient civilizations and is still present today. Where did the word “magic” come from? How was it utilized in ancient cultures? How did it connect with the religions of these societies? What rituals did it involve? I found an interesting website that addresses these questions. Magic and religion coexisted with little tension in the ancient civilizations through ideas like astrology, rituals, and material items.

Thoth, the Egyptian god of magic

The word “magic” originated in the Asyro-Babylonian civilizations. The highest priests, called Magi (from a tribe name), practiced a “religion” later called magic. They worshiped fire and claimed to control it and nature's lightning.

In Asyro-Babylonian civilizations, ideas like astrology and use of magic by gods made magic relevant in religion. Astrology became extremely important to religion. For example, the Assyrians made the Zodiac, 12 signs, that predicted one’s fortune based on star alignment. Also, every being, including gods, used magic. The main god, Marduk (sun god) practices magic and so related to Asallunhi, the god of Magic. The magical philosopher Zarathustra became the prophet of Ahura Mazda (literally “Sage god”), and Ahriman (evil) also existed. Zarathustra’s book of verses, "Awesta", gained him reputation as a magician. They called him "the father of magic."

In Egypt, religion and magic also coincided through the use of rituals and dreams. Dawn became the most important time to use magic rituals (along with dancing and singing) and potions, and one had to be spiritually clean. Individuals mainly used magic to heal, not curse, although some curses existed. (For example, one drew a picture of one’s enemy on a pot and then broke the pot). Through the magic ritual “words of power”, individuals controlled gods. These “words of power” meant that one knew the “true name” of the god, and, controlled him or her by calling them this name. Finally, unlike other civilizations at this time, the Egyptians focused on the interpretation of dreams, which they considered messages from the gods.

Egyptians used amulets, in the form of gods, animals, or royal symbols, as material items associated with magic. A source of power, amulets protected their wearer. Individuals wore them daily for luck, good health, wealth, and safety. They used amulets as physical cures for diseases as well. In burials, priests, the main magicians at this time, placed amulets and “sacred stones” around the body to give it good fortune in the next life.

The Greeks and Romans used magical ritually and with material goods. Influence of surrounding cultures, such as the Greeks and Eturians (later brought into Roman society), affected Rome’s religions and magical ideas. From the Eturians, the Romans learned to tell the future based on sacrificial animals’ liver. They experienced miracles through the magician Apollonius. Another magician, Apuleius, taught them to divide magic between “good magic” and “bad magic".

Therefore, one can easily see that religion and magic lived side-by-side in ancient civilizations. Priests, important religious leaders, practiced magic. The use of ideas like astrology, rituals, such as “words of power", and material items like the amulet, proved that magic and religion connected in ancient civilizations.