Exhibitions: Magic in Ancient Egypt: Image, Word, and Reality

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    Egyptian Art, European Paintings
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    Contemporary Art, Decorative Arts, Elizabeth A. Sackler Center for Feminist Art
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    Luce Center for American Art

On View: Group Statuette

In the Thirteenth Dynasty, statues of "middleclass" Egyptians such as minor bureaucrats, servants, and artists frequently showed their subje...

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    Magic in Ancient Egypt: Image, Word, and Reality

    • Dates: December 22, 2006 through October 18, 2009
    • Location: This exhibition is no longer on view in Special Exhibitions Hall, Egyptian Galleries, 3rd Floor
    • Description: Magic in Ancient Egypt: Image, Word, and Reality. [12/22/2006 - 10/18/2009]. Installation view.
    • Citation: Brooklyn Museum Digital Collections and Services. Records of the Department of Digital Collections and Services. (DIG_E_2006_Magic)
    • Source: born digital
    • Related Links: Main Exhibition Page
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      October 2006: Ancient Egyptian Magic: Manipulating Image, Word, and Reality, an exhibition of twenty objects from the Brooklyn Museum’s world-famous ancient Egyptian art collection, explores how the Egyptians, known throughout the ancient world for their expertise in magic, addressed the unknown forces of the universe.

      In ancient Egypt there was no distinction between religion and magic. The gods could use a divinely created force known as Heqa, personified as the son of the solar creator Atum, to control and sustain the universe. Through the manipulation of written words, images, speech, and ritual, humans could also use Heqa to influence the world and solve problems.

      Included in Ancient Egyptian Magic are a relief depicting a son of Ramesses II, Prince Khaemwaset, who became a legendary sage and magician; a bronze of the Goddess Isis (shown holding a divine cobra), considered to have great magical powers; a magical healing stela inspired by myths of Isis healing Horus from scorpion stings and snakebites; and a headrest with images of Bes and Tawaret, deities believed to protect the dead and the living.

      The exhibition also examines the close links between magic and medicine, including the idea that a cure could be achieved by swallowing a liquid over which a spell had been recited, and the use of magic after death through such objects as shabtis: funerary figurines created to do any work the gods might demand of the deceased in the afterlife.

      Ancient Egyptian Magic: Manipulating Image, Word, and Reality is organized by Richard Fazzini, Curator Emeritus and Head of the Museum’s excavation at the Temple Precinct of the Goddess Mut in Egypt.

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      The Brooklyn Museum Archives maintains a collection of historical press releases. Many of these have been scanned and made available on our Web site. The releases range from brief announcements to extensive articles; images of the original releases have been included for your reference. Please note that all the original typographical elements, including occasional errors, have been retained. Releases may also contain errors as a result of the scanning process. We welcome your feedback about corrections.
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