The Resurrection of the Mummy: Its Myth and Meaning in Our Time
2018; Taylor & Francis; Volume: 61; Issue: 2 Linguagem: Inglês
10.1080/00332925.2018.1461500
ISSN1556-3030
Autores Tópico(s)Paranormal Experiences and Beliefs
ResumoMummies are not simply relics from an ancient past. From curiosity to horror, they arouse widely varying emotions and captivate the attention of everyone from archeologists to movie audiences around the world. This article ventures far behind the scenes and uses an alchemical perspective to understand the ancient Egyptian goal of transmuting dead flesh into an eternal body. This sacred ritual was carefully guarded with magical spells and the so-called mummy's curse. Tales of the ancient Egyptian lunar god Osiris and the solar god Aten provide a mythological framework that contextualizes the meaning, purpose, and function of the mummy and mummification. Taking us far beyond initial emotional reactions, the “resurrection” of the mummy in modern times offers a priceless opportunity to reawaken us to a lost wisdom tradition, and in so doing transform our profane culture of technology into a sacred science.
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