Date: 2012, 28 July


Ancient Egyptian Demonology Project: Second Millennium BC

Academic Supervisor: Dr Kasia Szpakowska; Swansea University, Wales


Two fully-funded PhD studentships form part of a three-year research project funded by the Leverhulme Trust entitled Ancient Egyptian Demonology Project: Second Millennium BC.

Demons abound in the media today-from tales of possession to the labeling of political policies as demonic, to the channelling of spirits for healing. Some of the most prevalent rituals in the ancient and modern world are those designed to target demons and those that call upon their superhuman power for benefit. But thus far, there has been no comprehensive systematic study of benevolent and malevolent demonic entities in Ancient Egypt. This project, Demonology 2K, applies Second Millennium AD technology to create a classification and ontology of those supernatural entities we will call demons, and the means used to harness their powers in Ancient Egypt during the Second Millennium BC. The approach combines archaeological, iconographic, and philological analysis of specific material, representational, and textual evidence. The research is data-driven, and includes the development of an interactive collaborative database and website. This project illuminates the darker and more private side of Ancient Egyptian religion that impacted daily lives, driving individuals to perform rituals and to access divine beings, with or without priestly assistance.

see ref:  ESSWE news

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Dear John ,

          I am not very familiar about Egyptian Demonology and its intricacies - but do have a smattering of an Idea of Indian Demonology ,Depiction,Textual references and other things. In popular belief it comes under the more western concept of ''Black Magic" - here it is tackled (from even ancient times ) under two main groups which are considered as "perverted" branches of a good science - strangely enough the white science (if I may put it so) is the science of the soul (it has been considered a science here in ancient times and is still considered a science by some adherents ). The two spin off branches or Black Arts (as it is known in a composite) from its main stream (the white one ) are as below (I hope it helps - I really do not know anything about how the Ancient Egyptian Priests or populace viewed these things ) 

1. Superstitions

2. Deification for edification (revenge , or mildly pitting it as "righting a perceived wrong ' )'

      In the above two the first ie. Superstition used to have two sub divisions - Infinite Psychosis and Definite Psychosis.

Infinite psychosis is where vast tracts of people are afllicted by the same wrong belief  (say media etc in the modern context , old wives tales and thou shall not type of moralities - as seen in autocracies). Definite Psychosis related to an individual only.

     The second one required a smattering of the lower levels of knowledge of the science of the soul and most of its practitioners were (considered) fallen aspirants (which is wrong reasoning since they would not have known the self correctly if they were to indulge in such activities ).

Of this second alternative a knowledge of Deification was necessary , teleology was also invoked.

There were few remedies for the first type it was more of knowledge and more difficult since it involved the beliefs of a caste , community, age etc and was left alone for the state or individual or the using of a counter superstition in the name of gods etc who were endowed with kindly and benevolent qualities. It was more a societal process of rectification taking time and with the added problems of it resurfacing at later periods in various forms .

Of the second - remedy was mantras for ''deconstructing'' the evil deity by the reverse process of deification - was esoteric and required good knowledge of the mind and Intellect and principles of materialization - there were two approaches to this , one was to compassionately liberate the spirit that had possessed its victim or was desecrating his abode and the other was to send it back directly to its maker who had conjured it. 

An essential and efficient person in the white arts would have had deep knowledge  gained from years of spiritual practice

and a complete understanding of words (or Rk ) and shadows and how to dispel them .

Demons and spirits and other malevolent entities were dispelled by the use of Sound and Light (not physical)  as they were only shadows .......

 

Interesting. Thanks!

The main thing we are doing in this Forum Topic is to keep people informed if the Academic Programs, Studies, Seminars etc.

Hence - people wanting to obtain degrees in these areas can find them.

The revolution in Esotericism and Theosophy, starting around 1990, is propagating throughout Academia and around the world. Peer-reviewed Journals exist etc.

Our site uses the definitions of Theosophy and Esotericism which exists in Academia. These have replaced the prior confusion in the subjects and uses a typological approach. i.e. Esotericism and Theosophy are defined by a typology with characteristics and with Theosophy as also a typology and/or process.

This has allowed our site considerable and expanded freedoms.

Dear Joe ,

       Thanks for saving me , I am sorry I misread Johns original and stuck to the word Demonology - a faux pas from my end . I re read today and yes I did slip up - I never thought that degrees and funding for such studies were being done . It escaped me , anyway your post does vindicate me to an extent . I will read more closely before replying in future .

Well. This Category is more about announcements and articles concerning educational programs, or funding etc.

you may want to start a discussion under categories for Theosophy or Religion...other ?

Hi Jessica!

(sorry for late reply)

I have been thinking how to best reply. The various sites active in activities of this sort are actually getting a bit large. Also - there are "Call for Papers" for various conferences during the year as well. Another item is the Phoenix Rising Academy is looking for Instructors, but they do have academic requirements. The academic requirements are Masters degrees in related disciplines or actual degrees in Esotericism etc.

I will try to pull together information to put up.

Finding funded positions for grad-school (or even Bachelors degrees) does come up. Those opportunities people usually are not aware of.

John

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