Freethought & Rationalism Archive

Toto · 01-29-2007, 07:42 PM

I would be interested in your take on the implications of this:

A magic spell to keep snakes away from the tombs of Egyptian kings, adopted from the Canaanites almost 5,000 years ago, could be the oldest Semitic text yet discovered.

Quote:

The Egyptians' use of the magic spell demonstrates the close relations they had at the time with the Canaanites. While Egyptians considered their culture and religion superior to that of their neighbors to the north, they were willing to do anything to protect the mummies of their kings from the poisonous snakes.

Believing that some snakes spoke the Semitic language of the Canaanites, Egyptians included the magic spells in inscriptions on two sides of the sarcophagus in an effort to ward them off.

"Come, come to my house," reads one section in the Semitic language that is supposed to be the snake's mother speaking, trying to lure him out of the tomb. In another passage, the snake is addressed as if he is a lover with "Turn aside, O my beloved."

S.C.Carlson · 01-29-2007, 09:04 PM

Jim Davila at PaleoJudaica has the wrap, including a skeptical Egyptologist.

Ben C Smith · 01-30-2007, 05:53 AM

Quote:

"Come, come to my house," reads one section in the Semitic language that is supposed to be the snake's mother speaking, trying to lure him out of the tomb. In another passage, the snake is addressed as if he is a lover with "Turn aside, O my beloved."

Shades of Harry Potter, parselmouth.

Ben.

gstafleu · 01-30-2007, 09:10 AM

Does anyone know if the complete text of the spell is available anywhere?

Gerard Stafleu

Savagemutt · 01-30-2007, 09:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gstafleu

Does anyone know if the complete text of the spell is available anywhere?

Gerard Stafleu

Got an infestation, huh?

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01-29-2007, 09:04 PM	#2
S.C.Carlson Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: USA Posts: 1,307	Jim Davila at PaleoJudaica has the wrap, including a skeptical Egyptologist.

01-30-2007, 09:10 AM	#4
gstafleu Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: London, Ontario, Canada Posts: 1,719	Does anyone know if the complete text of the spell is available anywhere? Gerard Stafleu

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