Event: Keep it Secret! Keep it Safe! Hidden Magic and Coffin Construction in Ancient Egypt

Caroline Arbuckle MacCleod, Ph.D. Fellow, University of British Columbia
Wednesday July 22, 2020 – 1:00pm

In ancient Egypt, the wooden coffin was considered one of the fundamental elements of a burial for wealthier individuals. It was a magical vessel that protected the deceased, and ensured that the owner could be transformed into a divine being in the afterlife. Due to the importance of these objects, potent magical talismans and symbols were placed around and in the coffin, and were often included in the decoration. Magical spells and rituals were also performed throughout the burial ceremony. In this talk, a new layer of ritual and magic is considered, hidden within the invisible joints of wooden coffins. In these areas, secret spells and magical red paint were added during construction. This may suggest the presence of educated carpenter priests, trained in the rituals needed to prepare the wood, as the first step in the creation of these potent vessels for the dead.

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Please note, the talks will start at 1:00pm PT during the summer.