Splash Magic Northumberland Park is a popular tourist destination located in Northumberland, England. It is a water park that offers a wide range of exciting and thrilling water-based activities for people of all ages to enjoy. The park features various water slides, pools, and play areas, ensuring that there is something for everyone. Whether you are looking for adrenaline-pumping rides or a relaxing day at the pool, Splash Magic Northumberland Park has got you covered. One of the highlights of the park is its collection of water slides. From high-speed slides that will leave your heart racing to more gentle slides suitable for younger children, there is a slide to suit every thrill-seeker.
Just as today, the future was a source of concern in antiquity. This anxiety was mitigated by the use of a number of divinatory practices, including consultation with seers, oracles, and other specialists in predicting the future and interpreting signs and omens. In ancient Rome, astrologers, who read the movements of stars and constellations to determine the destiny of individuals, were commonly grouped with magicians as magical practitioners. Their power, derived from knowledge of the future, rendered them dangerous, with the result that they were frequently expelled from Rome throughout antiquity. In most societies from the ancient Mediterranean whose laws survive, offensive magic such as placing a curse was regarded as a crime. However, the legality of various divinatory practices changed according to time and culture.
Detail of jackal-headed canopic jar.
Museum Object Number(s): 29-87-510
From the Nebuchadnez-zar I period 1146 1123 BCE , this stone contains a drawing of the eld that was marked, along with curses that forbid anyone from interfering with the land owner, appropriating the land, or removing the boundary stone. To ensure the continuation of their good health, patients cured by Asklepios dedicated votive statues of their healed body parts in his temples, the most famous of which was in Epidauros on the Greek Peloponnese.
From high-speed slides that will leave your heart racing to more gentle slides suitable for younger children, there is a slide to suit every thrill-seeker. The park also offers various water play areas, equipped with features like sprays, fountains, and dumping buckets, to keep kids entertained for hours. In addition to the slides and play areas, Splash Magic Northumberland Park boasts several pools.
Secrets of Ancient Magic
In ancient Egypt, Mesopotamia, Greece, and Rome, practitioners of magic exploited symbolic words, images, and rituals to achieve desired outcomes through supernatural means. Using magical acts, they attempted to control supernatural powers— gods, demons, spirits, or ghosts—to accomplish something beyond the scope of human capabilities. The exhibition Magic in the Ancient World, now at the Penn Museum, illuminates how different cultures used magic as a way of managing or understanding the present, controlling supernatural agencies, and seeing the future. This exhibition features objects from the Museum’s rich collections of the Near East, Babylonian, Egyptian, and Mediterranean sections.
Professors Robert Ousterhout and Grant Frame, curators of Magic in the Ancient World
Protective figurine of Humbaba or Pazuzu. The striations around the face of this demon are either the entrails of an enemy, worn by Humbaba, or the whiskers of Pazuzu’s lion-like face. Both demons were among a number of apotropaic images that warded off evil. H. 3.9″,
Museum Object Number(s): 33-35-252
To the modern mind, the word “magic” likely conjures up images of Hogwarts and other fantastical and exclusive realms. Yet in the ancient world, magic was not only a perceived reality, but was also accessible to many people. Surviving literature and archaeological remains from ancient societies surrounding the Mediterranean, including those of Egypt, the Near East, Greece, and Rome, reveal the extent to which magic pervaded most aspects of life in antiquity.
Magic, often overlapping with what today might be considered science or religion, was a resource for mediating one’s interaction with society and the world. It was a source of protection; a means for healing; a method for ensuring success in business, love, and reproduction; and a platform for predicting the uncertain future. It even lay at the root of many funerary practices. Thus, from birth until death, magic touched all stages of human life.
Known as “the one who keeps enemies at a distance,” Tutu was a sphinx-like protective god with a human head, lion body, bird wings, and a snake for a tail. He appears surrounded by knives and scorpions, possibly as protection for a tomb or temple. Egypt, ca. 30 BCE–624 CE. H. 10″.
Museum Object Number(s): 65-34-1
Protection
Ancient practitioners employed both helpful, defensive magic and harmful, offensive magic, which might be thought of in modern terms as “white” or “black” magic. The former includes apotropaic, or protective, magic. Apotropaic magic was predicated upon a belief that certain depictions, texts, or practices shielded the user from harm. For example, thousands of phallic-shaped amulets, which warded off evil and misfortune for the wearer, survive from antiquity.
Terracotta rider with gorgon shield. This votive was found at a Sanctuary of Apollo on Cyprus (late 4th century BCE). A gorgon’s head was an apotropaic symbol thought to ward off other evils by terrifying them. H. 6.7″.
Museum Object Number(s): 54-28-69
Male sexual imagery symbolized power and violent force, whereas female sexual imagery symbolized reproduction and fertility, in accordance with ancient gender roles. Additionally, the powers of demons, monsters, and gods, who were harmful by nature, could be harnessed through their depictions on amulets, armor, and buildings. These images would then provide protection against natural and supernatural threats.
Apotropaic demons included the Near Eastern Pazuzu and Humbaba, who fought off other malevolent forces such as Lamashtu, a demon harmful to pregnant women and children. In ancient Greece and Rome, a Gorgon’s head, placed on armor and above entryways, provided the user with luck and protection. The head of the Gorgon Medusa also adorned the shield of the Greek warrior goddess Athena. In Egyptian culture, images of the goddesses Sekhmet and Taweret played apotropaic roles. Both goddesses had violent or savage forms: Sekhmet, who protected against disease, was part lion; Taweret, who watched over mothers and children, was part hippopotamus.
Aramaic incantation bowl from Nippur dating to before the 7th century CE. A similar bowl (B2963A) contains a charm against a murderous spirit. Part of the inscription reads: “Designated is this spell…for the sealing of the household of this Ardôi bar Hormizdûch, that from him may depart and remove the evil Demon and the evil Satan.” Diam. approx. 6.9″.
Museum Object Number(s): B2965A
The Penn Museum houses a substantial collection of another form of ancient protective magic, the incantation bowl or “demon bowl.” Decorated with a spiraling incantation and, typically, an illustration of a chained demon, these bowls were buried upside down around the boundaries of a property or the thresholds of a room. Used well into late antiquity (ca. 2nd to 8th or 9th century CE) and found throughout the ancient Middle East, such bowls trapped evil spirits and denied them access into one’s home, constituting an ancient magical security system.
There is a large main pool where visitors can swim and cool off. For those looking for a more relaxing experience, the park also offers a lazy river, where you can float along on an inflatable tube, enjoying the peaceful surroundings. Safety is a top priority at Splash Magic Northumberland Park. The park has a team of trained lifeguards who are always on duty, ensuring the safety of all visitors. Additionally, there are strict rules and guidelines in place to ensure that everyone can have a fun and safe experience. The park also offers various amenities and facilities to enhance visitors' experience. There are changing rooms and lockers available for guests to store their belongings. Additionally, there are food and beverage options on-site, so visitors can refuel after a day of splashing around. Overall, Splash Magic Northumberland Park is an exciting and enjoyable water park that offers plenty of fun and entertainment for the whole family. Whether you are a thrill-seeker looking for an adrenaline rush or someone who just wants to relax and have fun in the water, this park has something for everyone. So grab your swimsuit and head over to Splash Magic Northumberland Park for a day of water-based adventure!.
Reviews for "Exploring Northumberland's Hidden Waterfalls: The Magic of Splash"
1. John - 1 star: I was really disappointed with my experience at Splash Magic Northumberland Spa. I booked a massage and facial package but the quality of the treatments was subpar. The massage was rushed and lacked any real technique, and the facial left my skin feeling greasy and uncomfortable. Additionally, the spa facilities were not well-maintained and seemed dirty. Overall, I would not recommend this spa to anyone looking for a relaxing and enjoyable experience.
2. Sarah - 2 stars: I visited Splash Magic Northumberland Spa with high expectations, but unfortunately, I was let down. The staff at the reception was unprofessional and unfriendly, which immediately put me off. The treatment itself was mediocre at best, with the therapist seeming uninterested and going through the motions. The ambiance of the spa was also lacking, as it felt crowded and noisy. I expected more from this supposedly luxurious spa and would not consider returning.
3. Emma - 1 star: My experience at Splash Magic Northumberland Spa was far from magical. The treatment I received was rushed and lacked any personalization. The therapist seemed disinterested and simply went through the motions. The spa facilities were also disappointing, with outdated and worn-out amenities. The overall atmosphere was underwhelming and not what I expected from a spa that claims to offer a luxury experience. I would advise looking elsewhere for a truly relaxing and enjoyable spa day.
4. Mark - 2 stars: I was quite unimpressed with my visit to Splash Magic Northumberland Spa. The treatment I had was average and didn't meet my expectations. I felt like I was just another customer on their conveyor belt, and there was no effort to make the experience personalized or special. The facilities were also lacking, with limited options and a lack of cleanliness. Overall, I wouldn't recommend this spa for anyone looking for a top-notch experience.