Throughout history, many diverse cultural interpretations have given rise to the mystery and fascination of dreams. Egypt in antiquity was hardly an exception. This society, renowned for its sophisticated philosophical and theological systems as well as its high level of civilization, acquired a profound knowledge of dreams, their significance, and their power. This essay explores the concept of dreams in ancient Egypt, their significance, their use in magic, and their appearance in Egyptian mythology.
Egyptian Dreams
In ancient Egypt, people interpreted dreams as important messages or predictions from the gods. It was thought that these were messages from God that required careful interpretation, usually by priests or professional dream interpreters. Dream interpreters had a highly esteemed profession and relied on a variety of reference materials, including the Dream Book—a papyrus text from the New Kingdom period, which spans 1550–1070 BC—to identify frequent dream motifs and their interpretations.
Depending on the meanings associated with various symbols and occurrences, we can classify dreams as either positive or negative. For instance, it was considered auspicious to see oneself in a dream with a more lovely face than one actually possesses, while seeing a cat could signify betrayal. The interpretations, which were frequently symbolic, were to offer direction, caution, or forecasts regarding what would happen in the future.
The ancient Egyptians deeply believed in the power of dreams as a direct line of communication from the gods. Pharaoh-related dreams were considered particularly significant and profound within this intricate web of dream interpretation. People widely believed that these dreams were messages from above, sent by the gods themselves.
Pharaohs
People considered Pharaoh-related dreams to be especially significant because they believed them to be direct messages from the gods.
In Egyptian mythology, Pharaohs were considered god-kings because they had a special bond with the gods and served as a bridge between the divine and human worlds. As a result, dreams about these hallowed emperors were considered extremely important and may have provided access to angelic counsel or assistance.
People saw such spectacular dreams about pharaohs as a contact with holy entities that existed outside of their mortal bodies, rather than as just any ordinary nighttime experience. When a pharaoh appeared in a dream, it was considered a summons to heavenly domains with deep mysteries hidden within its imagery.
Dream Magic
Ancient Egyptians saw dreams as an active form of magic, not just as passive experiences or divine messages. We call this dream magic. People used dream spells and rituals to manipulate dream content, evoke dreams, or use dreams for divination. Dream incubation was also common: a ritualistic preparation and prayerful process to receive a dream from a god.
These rites frequently used spells, incantations, and amulets. A few Egyptians slept on dream beds crafted from sacred materials and arranged in symbolic shapes to help them achieve specific dreams or establish relationships with specific deities. As a result, they actively incorporated dreams into their magical and spiritual rituals, using them for heavenly instruction, healing, and communication.
Found in the ancient Egyptian Book of the Dead, the Spell for Dream Interpretation is one of the most well-known dream magic spells. With the use of this spell, the dreamer was able to speak with their deceased ancestors and ask for advice and insight while in a trance-like state.
Egyptian Mythology
In Egyptian mythology, dreams were important and frequently acted as major story points in tales of gods and heroes. Dreams were considered to be extremely potent divination and prophecy instruments that may influence the path of events in the material world. In the well-known tale of the god Osiris, his brother Set assassinates him and takes the throne for himself. Isis, the wife of Osiris, uses her magical abilities to learn the truth about her husband’s death and sets out to get revenge. In a dream, Osiris meets Isis, telling her his fate and pleading with her to give him life again.
Dreams are also present in enchanted stories, such as the Story of Sinuhe, in which the god Anubis visits Sinuhe in a dream and gives him advice to go back to Egypt.
Anubis appears in front of Sinuhe’s sleeping consciousness at this crucial juncture to offer advice and wisdom. The god gives him some very wise advice: “Go back to his beloved Egypt as soon as possible.” These kinds of dream interactions between gods and mortals were prevalent in Egyptian mythology; they are very mysterious and significant.
Dreams played an important role in Egyptian history, too. Pharaoh Thutmose IV‘s dream is among the most famous. Thutmose, so the myth goes, dreamed that the Sphinx promised him the kingdom of Egypt in exchange for cleaning the sand that covered it while he was sleeping beneath it. Thutmose kept the vow he made in his dream after ascending to the throne.
Another well-known story involves the pharaoh Ramses II, who reportedly dreamed that the goddess Hathor appeared to him, promising him victory in war. Ramses II, seeing this dream as a harbinger of good fortune, went on to become one of the most successful pharaohs in Egyptian history, winning numerous significant battles.
The dream of Pharaoh’s chief cupbearer and baker from the biblical tale of Joseph in the Book of Genesis serves as another illustration. In this story, Joseph interprets their dreams and predicts the execution of the baker and the reinstatement of the cupbearer, a prophecy that ultimately came to pass.
Pharaoh legends also made extensive use of dreams. Egypt’s chosen monarch interpreted dreams as divine gifts, granting them legitimacy to reign. Pharaohs frequently sought advice from dream interpreters before making crucial decisions about military operations or the meaning of omens.
Conclusion
The significance of dreams in Egyptian mythology bears witness to the ancient Egyptians’ profound regard and veneration for the enigmatic and unknown. Dreams were considered a means of bridging the gap between the world of the gods and the world of humans, offering a special insight into the operations of the cosmos and divine will.
A rich and complex dream world entwined itself with ancient Egyptian mythology, magical rituals, and religious beliefs. They viewed dreams as an essential component of their mythology, a way to communicate with the divine, and a kind of sorcery. The profoundly symbolic and spiritual nature of this ancient society is evident in their reverence, pursuit, and careful decipherment of dreams. The way the ancient Egyptians perceived dreams provides us with a fascinating window into their unique reality and perception of the afterlife.
References
Ahmed, H. M. M. (2020). The motivating drives behind dreams and nightmares in ancient Egypt according to Freud’s theory. Bulletin of the Center Papyrological Studies, 37(2), 527-545.
Hughes, J. D. (2000). Dream interpretation in ancient civilizations. Dreaming, 10(1), 7-18.
Oppenheim, A. L. (1956). The interpretation of dreams in the Ancient Near East. With a Translation of an Assyrian Dream-book. Transactions of the American Philosophical Society, 46(3), 179-373.
Szpakowska, K. (2001). Through the looking glass: Dreams in ancient Egypt. In Dreams: A reader on religious, cultural, and psychological dimensions of dreaming (pp. 29-43). New York: Palgrave Macmillan US.
Tribl, G. G. (2011). Dream as a constitutive cultural determinant–The example of ancient Egypt. International Journal of Dream Research, 24-30.
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