Heka | ||||||||
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Name in hieroglyphs | Egyptian: ḥk3w
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Major cult centre | Esna | |||||||
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Ancient Egyptian religion |
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Heka (/ˈhɛkə/; Ancient Egyptian: ḥkꜣ(w);[1] Coptic: ϩⲓⲕ hik;[2] also transliterated Hekau) was the deification of magic and medicine[3] in ancient Egypt. The name is the Egyptian word for "magic". According to Egyptian literature (Coffin text, spell 261), Heka existed "before duality had yet come into being." The term ḥk3 was also used to refer to the practice of magical rituals.[4]