Representation of magic rituals from Ancient Egypt with 3D technologies

Abstract

This thesis explores the application of interactive 3D environments to the study and reconstruction of ancient Egyptian magic rituals. Drawing from the interdisciplinary framework of the MagArt project, the research aims to enhance the understanding of ritual practices through digital technologies. Specifically, it proposes a modular 3D representation system that allows for the flexible reconstruction of ancient rituals, using the Healing Ritual with the Cippi of Horus as a case study. The system is designed to be both reusable and accessible, enabling users to easily customize and adapt ritual scenarios to different research questions or interpretive hypotheses. Through the use of a multi-sheet workbook for parameter input, the system allows users to define scene elements in a familiar, tabular format, ensuring historically informed ritual reconstructions with both accuracy and ease. Additionally, the system supports variability in ritual performance, accommodating changes in structure depending on contextual factors such as the severity of of the client's illness. This thesis contributes to digital humanities and Egyptology by showing how virtual environments can be used not only to visualize ancient rituals but also to analyze and interpret them, supporting a more comprehensive understanding of both their material and intangible aspects.