The Mystery of Egyptian Voodoo Dolls (7 photos)

We used to think that rag dolls pierced with pins - this is a relatively recent phenomenon, perhaps 200 or 300 years old.





But, in fact, mysterious objects called "dolls Voodoo" are part of much more ancient magical and religious traditions practiced by the Greeks and Egyptians thousands of years ago...

Amulet

In general, the true purpose of Voodoo dolls is slightly different. from the one seen in popular culture. There they are usually pierce with something sharp, hoping in this way to cause harm a certain person.



Louisiana/New Orleans Voodoo dolls now sold as tourist souvenirs

But traditionally, these dolls were not intended at all. as "transmitters" for curses. In fact, they performed in the role of peculiar amulets, where after a certain rite should instill the spirit of love, wealth and so on to help the owners these figurines.

But when the spirit or deity settled inside the doll, then the owner of the figurine with a needle can try to make him do what he needs. But Louisiana voodooists seriously "modernized" cult, and there is little left of the traditional faith. Including they started using voodoo dolls against people.

"Colossus"

With the modern purpose of voodoo dolls, more or less It's clear. How have they been used in the past? In ancient times the Greeks called similar ritual dolls "colossus" (kolossoi). In the 5th-2nd century BC they were quite popular both in the Roman Empire and in Egypt.

To keep things simple, I'll refer to them as "voodoo dolls" from now on. although this is wrong, because to the modern Voodoo cult they do not have no relationship.



Colossus in the "coffin", the lid of which is written inside and outside with spells. Found in Keramikos. Now stored in Royal Museum of Art and History of Brussels

Due to several dozen discoveries made during excavations in the region of Upper Egypt, archaeologists concluded that such figurines were very popular. Moreover, the figurines had a series of common features, always meeting at least two of the criteria list:

the arms or legs of the doll had to be intertwined behind the back;

the doll had to be pierced with nails or pins;

the head, legs or upper body of the doll had to be turned forward;

the doll had to be sealed in a container/coffin;

the name of the victim or the deity whose image she took was to be engraved on the doll;

the doll was to be buried in a grave or chapel.



"Voodoo doll" (colossus) and her "coffin", found near Athens. Dated around 400 BC.

The most curious thing is that in the past "voodoo dolls" were used about the same as they are now used by modern New Orleans voodooists: the figurine had to convey a curse or a spell to the one who she portrayed.

Usually they were made of lead, bronze or clay, but sometimes from wax. Very often, tablets are found next to the figurines, on which a prayer or a curse is written. And almost always "voodoo dolls" buried in places associated with death. Because it was believed that The "activation" of the rite of black magic needs a connection with the afterlife.

"Ayas, daughter of Gorigen"

In more detail, I want to talk about one of the most famous "Voodoo dolls" of Ancient Egypt, which looks somewhat intimidating. This clay figurine is now kept in the Louvre in Paris, it can be seen in hall dedicated to ancient Egypt.



Egyptian "voodoo doll" found in Thebes

The "doll" was found in a clay vessel along with lead a tablet on which the spell was engraved. Estimated archaeologists, the figurine dates back to the 3rd or 4th century BC. Although the figurine was found during excavations near Thebes, it has Greek origin, as indicated by the inscription on the plate.

The figurine, as you can see, is kneeling, her legs and arms tied behind the back. As if that wasn't enough, she got stabbed 13 needles: one on the crown, one in the mouth, one in each of the eyes and ears, one in the chest, one in the palms, one in the feet and two more in ... well, you understood. It seems quite logical that this figurine was usedwhether for curses.

But, if we read the inscription on the tablet, it turns out that "doll" was used for ... a love spell. Here's what the caption says made in Greek:

- Great Ptolemais, let Ayas love me, daughter Gorigen. Do not let her eat or drink until she comes to me and let her meet with other men, except for me alone. do with her anything until she agrees to be only with me. While I alive, she must obey me, love me and always tell the truth.



Egyptian voodoo doll in the Louvre

The translation I found may be incomplete or a bit inaccurate, because Ptolemais is not a deity, but a city (therefore something does not add up here, and if you know what was meant here, then please write in the comments).

In any case, the meaning is clear: the spell has been cast a man who passionately loved a girl who probably didn't even suspected it. In fact, such words in conjunction with needles look alarming, so I hope that if the "spell" of the secret admirer did not work, then he did nothing with this poor girl.

Theophilus and the voodoo doll

The age of such finds tells us that such practice (making dolls-copies of a person to give him a curse or subjugation of the will of another person) appeared long before the Voodoo cult.

By the way, it is also worth mentioning that such curses, according to the surviving texts, it could have been neutralized. Eg, Sophronius of Jerusalem, who lived in the 6th century from the birth of Christ, in one from his writings tells how Theophilus of Alexandria was "paralyzed by a spell cast on him by enemies."



Egyptian voodoo doll

Enemies envied him, so they called on the goddess Hecate to she "fettered his limbs." But Theophilus had a dream that was against him used a "voodoo doll" and then hid it in the sea.

So he hired a fisherman who, with the help of nets, caught a small lead box with a figurine. When the "doll" depicting Theophila, was found, it turned out that in each of her limbs were hammered nails. As soon as they were taken out, the man immediately recovered.