When studying Africa, attention is often focused on Egypt because of its powerful civilization and magical achievements. The Egyptian Empire had a well-organized bureaucracy and a standardized form of writing that allowed for meticulous records. However, this concentration on Egypt often takes a backseat to other parts of Africa, where information is more difficult to obtain or has been lost over time. Although there are many other civilizations in Africa with interesting magic and traditions, the lesson will focus on the use of magic in Egypt. It is clarified that the full subject of African history and magic will be covered in future courses.

HEKA

When talking about magic in Egypt, there are two main themes: "heka", the concept of magic in ancient Egyptian culture, and the use of script-based spells. "Heka" was seen as a mystical force that created the universe and the gods, and controlling it allowed the Egyptians to become more powerful and control the gods. Those belonging to the priesthood and higher classes were likely considered magical and had access to practice heka.

Magical objects used in Egypt, such as ivory amulets, were considered magical foci that allowed sorcerers and wizards to focus their magic. To freely practice heka, "purity" was required, and ivory items were worn by members of the priesthood to symbolize their purity and ability to command the gods.

Ancient magic in Egypt was powerful and dangerous, as evidenced by the nature of hieroglyphics. In addition to "heka", spells based on scripts were also practiced in Egypt, a type of magic that will be explained by Professor Wessex, an expert in Ancient Runes.

HIEROGLYPHICS

Professor Wessex, Ancient Runes instructor, explains that Egyptian hieroglyphics are considered runes, which are marks or letters with mysterious or magical meaning. Unlike wand-based magic or the individual power of the mage, the power of the runes lies in their ability to focus and their inherent strength. Runes reinforce each other and complement their effects when combined in an enchantment. Rune magic is remarkably long-lasting and permanent once enchanted, and can only be disabled by other spells or destruction of the item the runes are inscribed on.

Knowledge about runic magic and other secrets of powerful ancient magic will be further explored in the second year of study.

SECRETS AND LIES

The secret played an important role in the development of Egyptian magical practices, as well as in many other countries in North Africa, the East, and the Middle East. In ancient Egypt, the priests developed a system of secret words that accompanied rituals and were passed down from master to apprentice. The rituals were recorded, but the writings were vague, allowing imagination to fill in the blanks. Priests could create books with rituals and spells specific to their trade and pass them on to an apprentice, but they had to be detailed enough for the apprentice to understand, but vague enough to prevent competing priests from using them if they found the book.

BREAKING BUSINESS CARE

The most dangerous but often underestimated magical profession is the curse breaker. These brave historians risk their lives to prove theories and recover important artifacts, unlocking the secrets of ancient wizards and contributing to the development of better modern magic. Curse breakers explore dangerous locales, like dusty tombs and underwater palaces, and many focus on the rich history of ancient Egypt due to its importance and long use of magic. This career requires a lot of study but offers great satisfaction and has been pursued by students interested in archeological and defensive magic at Hogwarts and beyond.

THE END

Despite Egypt's importance and power, it eventually collapsed and was conquered by the Greeks and then the Romans. Around 500 CE, during the control of the Roman Empire, the "International Magical Communication Summit" was held in Constantinople, where it was decided that Latin would be the common language for casting spells, leading to a decline in the use of Egyptian spells and other languages and civilizations. Although the practice of magic did not stop completely, the decision had a significant impact on the development and evolution of magic in the Western world.