Marrakech Archives - M.A. Guglielmo http://maguglielmo.com/tag/marrakech/ Writer. Neurosurgeon. Single Mom. Chocolate Lover. Tue, 03 May 2016 18:11:41 +0000 en hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.0 Supernatural in the Souk http://maguglielmo.com/black-magic/supernatural-in-the-souk/ Sun, 20 Oct 2013 18:07:54 +0000 http://maguglielmo.com/?p=60 Deep in the heart of the souk of Marrakech, small shops sell darker goods than colorful sandals and clanging tea sets.  The stall pictured above has items for sale to aid in the casting of magic spells, both light and dark.  In the middle right of the photograph, small leather necklaces are designed to be […]

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]]> Deep in the heart of the souk of Marrakech, small shops sell darker goods than colorful sandals and clanging tea sets.  The stall pictured above has items for sale to aid in the casting of magic spells, both light and dark.  In the middle right of the photograph, small leather necklaces are designed to be hung around the neck of children suffering from nightmares and other ailments of supernatural origin.  On the back of the talisman, a small phrase from the Quran protects the wearer from harm.

The hanging skins of animals, from zebra pelts to the box of dried hedgehogs seen below, can be used to bring back a wayward lover or get revenge for a love affair gone wrong.  They can be strung up or burnt as a version of animal sacrifice.

Woven baskets hold large quantities of dried plants used in traditional rural medicine.

Next, I’m off to the Sahara to listen to some ghostly tales around a night fire.

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]]> Magic in Marrakech http://maguglielmo.com/magic/magic-in-marrakech/ Sun, 20 Oct 2013 17:39:08 +0000 http://maguglielmo.com/?p=56 Koutubia mosque View of the Koutubia mosque from the roof-top restaurant of our hotel. The hand of Miriam This is a beautiful example of a Jewish Hamsa, in an ancient synagogue in the traditional mellah, or Jewish quarter, of Marrakech.  The Star of David, not an  eye, is centered in the palm.  Our guide told us […]

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]]> Koutubia mosque

View of the Koutubia mosque from the roof-top restaurant of our hotel.

The hand of Miriam

This is a beautiful example of a Jewish Hamsa, in an ancient synagogue in the traditional mellah, or Jewish quarter, of Marrakech.  The Star of David, not an  eye, is centered in the palm.  Our guide told us that although the small Jewish community of Marrakech resides largely in the ‘French’ quarter these days, every Saturday the local rabbi holds services in this ancient temple.  The box these were in also held polished animal horns:

Sometimes the Evil Eye itself can be a positive symbol, as seen in this close-up of a hand-knotted rug below.  Although we enjoyed the dramatic presentation of the rugs and the delicious mint tea, we didn’t give into temptation and buy a carpet.  But we still have a free shopping day in Marrakech at the end of the trip….

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