The Curse of the Pharaohs is a popular topic in Egyptology and has attracted the attention of archaeologists, historians, and the general public for centuries. It refers to the belief that those who disturb the tomb of an ancient Egyptian pharaoh or disrespect their resting place will be cursed with misfortune or death. The origins of this belief can be traced back to the early 19th century when the tombs of several pharaohs, including Tutankhamun, were discovered and excavated. Shortly after the discovery of Tutankhamun's tomb in 1922, a series of mysterious deaths occurred, leading to speculation that the tomb was cursed. Although many of the deaths were later shown to have natural causes or were simply exaggerated, the idea of a curse associated with the pharaohs' tombs continued to capture the public's imagination. Several popular books, movies, and documentaries have been inspired by this notion, perpetuating the idea of the curse.
A woman of power, Tia Dalma resided deep within the bayou swamps of Cuba, in a sprawling wooden shack perched in a treetop by the mouth of the Pantano River. Some believed that judging Tia Dalma by her humble home was a mistake, as she had uncanny powers to foretell the future, to summon up demons, and to look deep into men's souls. She's also able to see into people's heart and mind, know of their destiny, as well as call upon the elements to do her bidding, though her intentions were not always clear. Tia Dalma had devoted her powers to help anyone who needed it. So it was to this mysterious and beautiful mystic that Captain Jack Sparrow occasionally turned to for help, who once provided the infamous pirate with his unique compass. Angelica also had dealings with Tia Dalma, having traded a ring in order to learn the Profane Ritual.
Jones showed them how to bind her to human form using Pieces of Eight; and thus the Brethren captured the Sea Goddess, and bound her in her bones, imprisoning her into the body of a mortal woman. Although Tia seemed pleased to see Jack upon his arrival at her shack, she appeared more interested in Jack s companion, Will Turner, whose boyish good looks instantly charmed Tia.
Several popular books, movies, and documentaries have been inspired by this notion, perpetuating the idea of the curse. From a scientific perspective, there is no evidence to support the existence of a curse associated with the pharaohs' tombs. The deaths and misfortunes that have occurred can be attributed to a variety of factors, including the dangerous nature of archaeological work, the presence of deadly bacteria and fungi in the tombs, and the tendency for people to invent stories to create mystery and drama.
witch doctor
1718 , Francis Hutchinson, “The Tryal before My Lord Chief Baron Hale”, in An Historical Essay Concerning Witchcraft. [ … ] , London: Printed for R. Knaplock, [ … ] , and D. Midwinter, [ … ] , →OCLC, page 110 :
[T]he ſaid Dorothy Durent, having been with a Witch-Doctor, acknowledges upon Oath, that by his Advice, ſhe hang'd up her Child's Blanket in the Chimney, found a Toad in it at Night, had put it into the Fire, and held it there tho' it made a great and horrible Noiſe, and flaſht like Gunpowder, and went off like a Piſtol, and then became inviſible, and that by this the Priſoner was ſcorch'd and burn'd lamentably.
1820 , J[ohn] C. Knowlson, “The Felon”, in The Complete Cow-leech, or Cattle-Doctor; [ … ] , Otley, Yorkshire: Printed for the author by T. F. Bristow, [ … ] , →OCLC, page 104 :
Some people are so foolish as to go to a witch-doctor when they have Cows in this complaint [prematurely parting with their unborn calves]:—they give him some money, and he tells them some frivolous tale, such as that some person that wishes them bad luck, or looks upon them with an evil eye, [. ]
1893 , South African Law Journal , volume 10 , Cape Town: Juta & Co., →ISSN, →OCLC, page 219 :At that consultation, according to the habit of a witch-doctor, he divined and announced the occasion of their attendance, and indicated the complainant, Mdungazwe, as the wizard who had caused Ranise to suffer.
1958 April 1, David Seville [pseudonym; Ross Bagdasarian Sr.] (lyrics and music), “Witch Doctor”, in The Alvin Show :
I told the witch doctor I was in love with you / And then the witch doctor he told me what to do1971 , W. G. Jilek, “From Crazy Witch Doctor to Auxiliary Psychotherapist: The Changing Image of the Medicine Man”, in Psychiatria Clinica , volume 4, number 4, Basel, New York, N.Y.: S[amuel] Karger, →OCLC, abstract, page 200 :
Review of the literature cited in the bibliography of the present paper left this author with the impression that there is indeed a very widespread institution variously labelled by Western observers with epithets such as medicine-man, shaman, witch-doctor, native healer, or with indigenous terms such as angakok (Eskimo), or mganga (Swahili).
1982 , Sudhir Kakar, “Other Shamans”, in Shamans, Mystics and Doctors: A Psychological Inquiry into India and Its Healing Traditions , New York, N.Y.: Knopf, →ISBN; republished New York, N.Y.: Knopf, 2013 , →ISBN:
In much of popular Western literature, the non-Western professional who attends to the relief of distress and alleviation of anxiety in his society is known by many names, none of them exactly respectful. He is a medicine man or a witch doctor, native healer or voodoo sorcerer—the "quack," so to speak, never the "doctor."
1993 , Hama Tuma, The Case of the Socialist Witchdoctor and Other Stories (African Writers Series), Oxford, Oxfordshire, Portsmouth, N.H.: Heinemann, →ISBN, page 36 :
The man being led into the Cage did not strike me as a witchdoctor. Slim and tall, he was a middle-aged man with a fuzzy Afro which made him look even younger.
Alternative forms [ edit ]
- witch-doctor , witchdoctor
Hypernyms [ edit ]
Hyponyms [ edit ]
- curandero ( Central America )
- dukun ( Malay )
- mganga ( Africa )
- ngaka ( Sotho )
- obeah ( Africa , Caribbean )
- sadet ( Jarai (Vietnam) )
- sangoma ( South Africa )
Don't look for a Witch Doctor in the familiar meadows of Arcadia — you will instead find him in an exotic jungle near a tribe of Hollywood Natives. There he will practice spooky Hollywood Voodoo, eager to add yours to his grim collection of Shrunken Heads. In stories (especially older ones) where The Missionary or Gentleman Adventurer is the hero, this figure neatly fits the villain role: a sinister pagan Evil Sorcerer who intends to stop the Mighty Whitey and wants to keep the poor natives trapped in ignorance and superstition. This type of portrayal is mostly a Dead Horse Trope.
Nevertheless, the belief in the Curse of the Pharaohs persists to this day. Many tourists visiting Egypt's ancient tombs and pyramids are still drawn to the idea of the curse, and there have been instances of individuals experiencing harm after visiting the sites. However, it is important to remember that these incidents can often be explained by natural causes or coincidences. In conclusion, the Curse of the Pharaohs is a fascinating and enduring concept that has fascinated people for centuries. While there is no scientific evidence to support its existence, the belief in the curse continues to captivate the public's imagination. Whether seen as a cautionary tale or an intriguing myth, the curse adds to the mystique and allure of Egypt's ancient history..
Reviews for "The Curse of the Mummy: Unraveling Ancient Egyptian Folklore"
1. Emily - 2 stars
I couldn't get into "Ac ortxns curse of ghe pjataohs". The storyline was confusing and seemed to jump all over the place. The characters were underdeveloped and it was hard to connect with them. The dialogue felt forced and unrealistic. Overall, I found the book to be a struggle to read.
2. John - 1 star
I was extremely disappointed with "Ac ortxns curse of ghe pjataohs". The writing style was subpar, with grammatical errors and awkward sentences throughout. The plot was predictable and lacked any originality. The pacing was off, with some scenes dragging on for too long while others were rushed. I would not recommend this book to anyone.
3. Sarah - 2 stars
"Ac ortxns curse of ghe pjataohs" was not what I expected. The description made it sound like an exciting adventure, but instead, it was a dull and uneventful read. The characters were shallow and the plot lacked depth. The author's writing did not engage me and it felt like a chore to finish the book. Overall, it was a disappointment.
4. Mike - 1 star
I absolutely despised "Ac ortxns curse of ghe pjataohs". The writing was amateurish and filled with clichés. The dialogue was cringe-worthy and lacked any semblance of natural conversation. The plot was predictable and unoriginal, and the characters felt like stereotypes. I regret wasting my time and money on this book.