Tuesday, December 22, 2009

A spell from the Ebers Papyrus

Mix brain-of-tortoise with honey. Place on the eye and say: 
There is a shouting in the southern sky in darkness, There is an uproar in the northern sky, The Hall of Pillars falls into the waters. The crew of the sun god bent their oars so that the heads at his side fall into the water, Who leads hither what he finds? I lead forth what I find. I lead forth your heads. I lift up your necks. I fasten what has been cut from you in its place. I lead you forth to drive away the god of Fevers and all possible deadly arts. 
The Ebers Papyrus, a massive scroll from ancient Egypt (circa 1550 BC), contains remedies for a variety of medical ailments. The spell above is for the treatment of cataracts.

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