Ancient Egyptian Magic: A Hands-On Guide

by Christina Riggs

In the ancient world, if you needed a love charm, wanted to contact your dead wife, or needed the ability to fly like a bird, the magicians of Egypt were the ones who could make it happen. In Ancient Egyptian Magic, Christina Riggs explores how the Egyptians thought about magic, who performed it and why, and also helps readers understand why we’ve come to think of ancient Egypt in such a mystical way.


Readers will learn how to cure scorpion bites, discover why you might want to break the legs off your stuffed hippopotamus toy, and uncover whether mummies really can come back to life. Readers can also learn how to save a fortune on pregnancy tests—urinating on barley grains will answer that question— as well as how to use the next street parade to predict the future or ensure that an annoying neighbor gets his comeuppance.


Was magic harmless fun, heartfelt hope, or something darker? Featuring demons, dream interpreters, the Book of the Dead, and illustrations from tomb paintings and papyrus scrolls, Riggs breathes new life into ancient magic and uses early texts and images to illuminate the distinctions between magic, religion, and medicine.

Genres: Nonfiction, History, Egypt, Mythology, Egyptology, Witchcraft, Magic

208 pages, Hardcover

Published April 7, 2020

About the author

Christina Riggs is Professor of the History of Visual Culture at Durham University in the northeast of England. Her most recent book is Treasured: How Tutankhamun Shaped a Century (2021), an 'utterly original' account which Kirkus Reviews has described as 'an imaginative weaving of the personal and political into a fresh narrative of an archaeological icon.'

Riggs is a former museum curator who studied art history, archaeology, and Egyptology in her native United States before moving to the UK to complete her doctorate at Oxford University. She has held a number of prestigious fellowships, and her writing has appeared in Apollo, History Today, the Times Literary Supplement, the London Review of Books, and Italia magazine, the last reflecting her love of all things Italian. She lives between the north of England and the north of Italy – and wherever she is, she writes first thing in the morning, with a strong cup of coffee.

Reviews

[Cory · Rating 2 out of 5]

A bubblegum read, not very filling.

Then I get to the end and she insults the work of Graham Hancock and others. She vainly tries to discredit the scholarly work done on the dating of the Sphinx, throwing around scary words like pseudoscience and aliens!

If only academics could control their ego and understand that Egypt is a bag of mysteries and nothing is very certain.

I highly recommend considering the work of Robert Schoch, John Anthony West, Graham Hancock, and Randall Carlson. Don't be a closed minded academic like Riggs.

[Caitlin · Rating 5 out of 5]

ANCIENT EGYPTIAN MAGIC—A HANDS-ON GUIDE
What a fascinating read! I’ve avoided history and academic-style books because I’m out of practice of reading those style of writings, but what I picked up because of the cover turned out to be an un-put-downable page-turner.
I enjoyed the journey into Ancient Egypt’s magical history, and Riggs writes with an engaging tone. ANCIENT EGYPTIAN MAGIC—A HANDS ON GUIDE has reignited my passion for Ancient Egyptian history, although I’m still irrationally afraid of mummies. I’m looking forward to digging through the list of further readings for further exploration.

[❀ Diana ❀ · Rating 3 out of 5]

3,5 ☆
I kinda expected more of this book, so I would classify it as a beginner-level introductory work into Ancient Egyptian society and religious practices. The authors comprised some practices that included heka for both divinatory purposes and day-to-day life. A relaxing and easy read. Loved the photos! :)

[Bec · Rating 3 out of 5]

Weirdly positioned as a book about how to do the spells but it's more of a history book about magic and religion in Ancient Egypt, which is nice!

[Jesse · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have always been fascinated by ancient Egypt, and this book gave the perfect topic overview to peak my curiosity and want to know more! I loved the subtle sense of humour within the book coupled by a clear respect for the culture and history.

A few comments have stated that it’s an introductory level as if it’s a bad thing. I actually studied ancient Egyptian religions for a little while in school (though would never suggest I’m in any way an expert), and I would say that this books amazing success is that it’s accessible while still being very interesting to someone with some knowledge of the practices. I think accessibility is an under rated quality with no-fiction writing, and this book is a truly enjoyable read!

I would highly recommend this book to anyone that loves reading non-fiction, or anyone who wants to dip their toe into non-fiction with an engaging and fascinating read.

[Meg Bartlett · Rating 2 out of 5]

Definitely not a hands on guide and the author's tone is condescending and judgemental.

[Frank Merkx · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ancient Egyptian Magic by Christina Riggs is a fun book, only 200 pages long and well illustrated. It’s a stepping stone work that explains in 8 chapters the need and function of magic in ancient Egyptian times. Magic was part of the society and deeply interwoven with various aspects of daily and spiritual life. Magic was part of everything; life and death, birth and burial, but also in constructing a house or doing chores. Therefor it is very difficult to make divisions between actively envisioning things, manifestation techniques, magic, medicine and superstition. For us, readers of this book, it’s impossible to know how life must have been in Ancient times. We, contemporary people, long and sometimes need divisions. But he ancient Egyptians might have not even realised that there were differences within the powerful world of ‘heka’.

Riggs did a great job. She writes with humor and tries to bring some air and fun into a difficult topic. Writing about magic can be tricky due to all the connotations. It’s a thin line between being too whishy-washy and becoming too technical and / or boring (or unreadable if too many jargon is being used). I really liked this book and I really learned a great deal of things; so I’m very much triggered to dive deeper into this world of magic and invisible forces. So, I’ll be looking into more advanced works soon. If you are already more experienced and know the basics of this trade, then this book will probably bore you. Riggs explains the basics and points the way, but she deliberately excludes a great deal of knowledge. And that is ok. Otherwise the book would loose its function of a stepping stone work and would become dense and difficult.

And although I really liked reading this book, I kind of have the gut feeling that there is something weird with it as well. It’s like the book has been written with a certain scepticism, exoticism, a certain disbelief. I can not pinpoint it unfortunately… Maybe it is because of a certain use of words, or a specific style of writing… The author doesn’t believe in magic herself. She seems amused by it, and acknowledges its functions; but nothing more. And a reader you can feel that she doesn’t believe in the spells, the knots, the amulets, the magic. For me, that is somewhat of a pity. Because I like to believe in them myself. And when you feel that the Ancients believed in it, but the author of the book doesn’t, then one can get a bit of an unheimlich feeling. Whether magic is real or not, like Riggs pointed out herself, there is always a placebo effect. And placebos work. Only because of the placebo effect, magic in a sense is real. It is as real as you personally think it is. And maybe that is the power of magic, really believing in it, really hoping for something- until it manifests itself. Everything is already present. We only need to see it.

[Sean · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty interesting read.

[John Gates · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is almost superb...
I was going to give this book 5 stars and put it on my "Stands Above the Rest" list, but then I read the last chapter or so and it left a bad taste in my mouth about the author and true point of the book, which is generally summed up at the end - this book with with straggling sprouts needing pruned. Oh well.

With great wit and flow, Riggs leads you through a world filled with some of the most interesting and some of the most ridiculous... but then she can't help herself to dog a few people at the end. This has nothing to do with the title: Ancient Egyptian Magic. Whether we like it or not, we are all just rubbing our shoulders with one another. Christina is one of those persons who do not see it this way. She sees it as levels, like we are able to rise above one another in some way on this planet. Maybe you agree, but I find it naive. Regardless, the best part of her attempt at placing Bauval and Hancock in her "exemplary" shadow merely introduced their names to people who may have never heard of them. Funny how that works. An attempt to sabotage has merely created free advertisement for those individuals to anyone with an open mind. I am not saying in any way that I support anyone's work over the next, but each of us has a different perspective and from my experience listening to Graham, he seldom if ever states names. Again, this is hilariously childish. It brought me back to that terrible book The Triumph of Horus, where the author similarly cannot help, but press his heal into the hard work of others for whom he and his personal cult deem insignificant and apparently required to make his point - it jilted his work and should have been extracted as an appendix, as it did hold merit, however biased. Oh well.

In the word of Zero Wolf in Apocolypto...
"Almost."

The best author on Ancient Egypt is John Romer.

[James Flowerdew · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Just for fun, and good fuel for pissing off Golden Dawners".
I'm being generous here because it's evident that the author knows her stuff, and because I share some of her sentiments.
The actual content in the book is however in my possibly opinionated view, fairly sparse, and the tone is too visibly sarcastic, to the point where you find yourself thinking stuff like. "hang on a minute... I'm pretty sure that mummification gave the Egyptians some of the best anatomical knowledge of the time, and for millennia following, which is why greeks and hittites actually used thir stuff". "hang on a minute she's missed out on the fact that The priest of Thoth, Djehutyhotep, actually has named himself Djehutyispleased or thothispleased."
I'm a bit of an idiot when it comes to Egyptian magic and culture, no formal stuff, and I did get things here, I loved the cartouche being a wrapped cloth or knott as an eg. but alot felt vague, and sincerity felt lacking.
At the end of the book, you get the real agenda and one which I share. That the golden dawn and alien stuff is not very accurate, that people are too keen to see only what they want from this ancient culture, but I feel that she misses out on how interesting the Egyptians actually were, how well thought out a lot of what they did was, and in fact, what keen observers they were.
Instead, you get the impression that the book shows the same level of respect/lack of that it is actually attempting to shatter.
I have this horrible feeling that ten minutes actually with Christina Riggs herself would be about a thousand times more interesting and informative than her book is. It is clear that she knows what she is talking about, but she's sharing what she thinks of "hocus Pocus", and not what she knows about Egypt most of the time.

[Windy Ma’at · Rating 2 out of 5]

Beautifully made book externally! Wish I could say the same about the inside. I gave this book 2 stars simply for having no soul to it whatsoever compared to books from African and kemetic scholars such as Dr. Tony Browder, John Henrik Clark, Dr Ben, or Cheikh Anta Diop to name a few. This book shows exactly why Egypt is the most written about and also most misunderstood subject in the world. Very surface level and by the time you reach the end of the book they almost have you believing that magic isn’t real just placebo. If you don’t believe in real Egyptian magic or witchcraft just do some research into what happened to everyone involved in disturbing king Tuts burial.

[Marina Kozareva · Rating 4 out of 5]

4/5

Ancient Egyptian Magic: A Hands-On Guide

Christina Riggs offers a great introduction to the magic, medicine, and lore of ancient Egypt. The book is light, witty at times, and very easy to read, making it accessible even for complete beginners. I especially liked how she included examples of spells - not necessarily to try, but to give a sense of how the ancients thought about ritual and power.

While the book is called a “hands-on guide,” it’s more of a history lesson on how magic and medicine were practiced, with plenty of cultural and religious context. It gives you a feel for how magic was woven into everyday Egyptian life and beliefs.

That said, it is quite surface-level. If you’re looking for deep dives into mythology or detailed magical practices, you might be left wanting more. But as a starting point, or simply an enjoyable introduction to the subject, this book definitely delivers.

Overall, it was a fun, informative read that makes ancient Egyptian magic accessible to newcomers, and a solid first step for anyone curious about Egyptian religion, culture, and society.

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellent book for anyone interested in the history of Ancient Egypt, specifically looking at how Ancient Egyptians viewed magic, and how it was used in everyday life. Riggs breaks down the book into a very manageable and interesting read with her clear, and almost conversational, writing style. I’ve read some other books on the history/ mythology/ rulership of Ancient Egypt, so I was somewhat worried that this book would cover a lot of the other material I’ve read, but was pleasantly surprised by how much new info I learned! Thankfully there was no “ancient alien” (barf) nonsense. My one complaint is I wish the images could have been in color! All the mention of the beautiful blue and green faience had me wishing I could see it on the page.

[Summer Sums · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was a CHORE to read. It felt like the author had so many ideas and cool facts to share that were irrelevant that she just kept derailing and derailing and then mentioning the word "magic" sometimes to get back on track, and then derailing again. No organization to her thoughts, just a cluttered mess of everything she knows about Egypt. Run on sentences constantly. Everything was so jam-packed, it didn't flow, it was unnatural. You couldn't read this aloud. I love Egypt, but I wish this book was edited better. So I could actually absorb the information instead of an entire textbook being dumped on me in one go. My brain hurts.

[Paola Dunbar · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great introduction to the magick and lore of ancient egypt 🇪🇬 it was an easy and fun read. With some spells to be recited to get you involved, though some are not recommended to try. If you're a beginner to the subject I definitely think you'd benefit from this small but packed full of information book. Only negative is that its not a hands on guide, more an informational book.

[Emi Graffignano · Rating 4 out of 5]

De entretenida lectura, desconozco si se editó en español, ya que lo compré en Giza. Es la llave perfecta para entrar al lado más místico de la historia egipcia. Abre la puerta a las creencias, rituales y símbolos que daban sentido a la vida (y al más allá) en el Antiguo Egipto; una forma de comprender la espiritualidad de una de las civilizaciones más fascinantes.

[Serafina Pfalzgraff · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book has a lot of good basic information that is definitely worth knowing, however there is not much info on practical application. I shall continue my search to learn to apply Egyptian heka in a more practical fashion. This is an interesting book, just be aware that you will not learn how to apply Egyptian magical practices in detail here.

[August · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good introduction to Ancient Egyptian magic, religion, culture, and society, but it's very surface level. If you know nothing or very little, this is a good starter book to spark interest. It is a very easy read.

[Tara DeVincenzo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Would agree that this is beginner level, but that’s not to say even Ancient Egyptian enthusiasts might not find a tidbit or two they didn’t know before.

An easy read, a helpful guide, and of course a killer cover. Only wish is that there was a more in-depth look at magic beneath it.

[Lucy · Rating 4 out of 5]

其实是通过介绍古埃及魔法来间接了解古埃及文化社会的各方面，有趣可读，是逛met的意外收获。

[Amber · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting to learn about ancient Egypt. Not ‘a hands on guide’ more a history lesson on magic use in Egypt. Wished it was a little deeper on the mythology and magic side.

[Christine Ritchings · Rating 4 out of 5]

If your curious to Egyptian life this is the book for you. Explain their different beliefs and a little back story

[David Hambling · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great fun, a quirky and informative guide to magic in the great days of Egypt.
Not necessarily useful for animating mummies or summoning demons, but that may be for the best...

[Lotus_Dibbets · Rating 3 out of 5]

3,5 stars! Interesting book but it took me a long time to get through it

[Mitchell Stern · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a nice overview of Egyptian magic but the ‘hands on’ part I think is misleading. I was expecting more explanation of methods than was provided.

[Bradley · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was a little bit disappointed with this book. I thought it would be more of an Egyptian grimoire but it's really a historical book about Egyptian magic.

[Catia Neves · Rating 1 out of 5]

Uma seca, não acrescenta nada em termos de conhecimento

[Catherine Hayes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very witty at points. The humor allowed better understanding of the history of Ancient Egypt.

[Joana Diniz · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting book, focusing on magic and medicine in ancient Egypt. In the last chapther, the author criticizes some modern theories.

[EarthArchangel · Rating 4 out of 5]

An easy introduction read for Egyptian Kemetics. I found some useful tools in here that I should definitely implement more tbh. Fun & quick