Why were Ancient Egyptian magic wands shaped like boomerangs?

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AI – ‘Ancient Egyptian magic wands were shaped like boomerangs because they were derived from throwing sticks, a real-life hunting tool used for shooting birds. While these curved hunting tools are sometimes called boomerangs, they were primarily designed to fly in a straight path to hunt waterfowl. The magical, apotropaic wands were carved from hippopotamus ivory to symbolize the beast’s protective power against evil forces. They were used for apotropaic magic, which means warding off evil, and were especially associated with protecting women and children during birth and early childhood.  Origin of the Wand’s Shape 

  • Hunting Tool: The shape of the wand is based on a real-life hunting weapon called a throwing stick or non-returning boomerang.
  • Straight-Line Flight: These throwing sticks were designed to fly in a straight path, allowing hunters to shoot birds along the Nile.
  • Symbolism: The curved shape of the throwing stick, and later the wand, likely served as a visual reminder of this hunting practice.

Symbolic Significance

  • Hippopotamus Ivory: The wands were typically made from hippopotamus ivory. This is significant because hippos were considered dangerous and powerful creatures, and their ivory symbolically harnessed this power to fight evil. 
  • Protective Deities: The wands were often engraved with images of protective deities, such as Taweret (the hippopotamus goddess of childbirth) and the demon Bes. 
  • Warding off Evil: The combination of the hippopotamus ivory, which enlisted the beast’s support, and the engraved deities, was meant to ward off evil and chaos. 

Uses of the Wands

  • Protection in Birth: Many wands were used during childbirth and early childhood, a period when people were most vulnerable to evil forces. 
  • Amuletic Function: The wands could be worn as protective amulets or used to create magical shields and draw protective circles around a woman giving birth. 
  • Protection in the Afterlife: Apotropaic wands were also placed in tombs to protect the deceased and ensure their rebirth in the afterlife.’