'Green Magic' Protected Egyptian Child Mummies

[Adsos Letter]

Source: Discovery News
Jennifer Viegas

Feb. 5, 2009 -- A rare mummified child from the early period of Egyptian history was discovered buried with a bright green amulet stone once believed to hold magical powers, according to a new study.



The finds help to explain why hieroglyphics and historical texts record that Egyptian children wore green eye makeup. It also adds to the growing body of evidence that ancient Egyptians thought color itself held sacred energy that could help or hurt individuals.

Lead author Raffaella Bianucci explained that the first Egyptian colored amulets occurred as early as the predynastic Badarian period, from 4500 to 3800 B.C. The recently analyzed child mummy, containing the remains of a 15- to 18-month-old toddler, dates to 4,700 years ago.

"Even in limited forms and materials, these earliest amulets give a good indication of the dangerous forces that the early Egyptians felt were present in their world and needed to be harnessed by magical means," said Bianucci, a scientist in the Department of Animal and Human Biology at Via Accademia Albertina in Turin, Italy.

http://dsc.discovery.com/news/2009/02/05/child-mummy.html

[XemaSab]

1. Interesting that green is also the sacred color for Islam

I'm sure in an arid region spotting a patch of green on the horizon meant the difference between life and death. :shrug:

[Chulanowa]

3. Yup, that's pretty much it

Back in ancient egypt, they regarded green, the color of the Nile valley - and red, the color of the surrounding deserts, to be the "polar opposite" colors, much as how we view white and black. The association was naturally green with life and vibrancy, and red with war and death and isolation.

Interestingly green was also the color of the afterlife - Whether this is just because of the hue mummies likely tool on after a while, or due to the symbolism noted above, I have no clue

[KakistocracyHater]

4. black was associated with strength

red was associated with power & strength too, the earliest words for green & blue were identical. Green eye paint=wadju, black=mesdemet. Red is also the color of blood & life while blueish/green is corpse-like.

[Adsos Letter]

5. Isn't Osiris often depicted with green flesh?

[Adsos Letter]

7. I "danged you to heck" XemaSab....

in response to this post: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x5001187#5001567

:D :hi:

[napoleon_in_rags]

2. Interesting when you consider the jade burial suits in China.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jade_burial_suit

I wonder if its a sign of cultural communication.

[XemaSab]

6. Not to mention

the jade pieces that Mayan (and probably other mesoamerican) bodies were buried with.

Or maybe jade is universally a happenin' stone. :D

[KakistocracyHater]

8. jade IS very valued by both groups & yes

Osiris was quite often painted a greenish blue; Indian Gods are a little more blue, Osiris looks more turquoise to me;) Then we have turquoise valued by North American Indians. They still line the eyes of their children in some parts of Afghanistan, I think I saw that in the National Geographic.