Margaret Murray

Date of Birth: July 13, 1863

Zodiac Sign: Cancer

Date of Death: November 13, 1963

Biography

Margaret Alice Murray was a pioneering British Egyptologist, anthropologist, and folklorist. Born on July 13, 1863, in Calcutta, India, she became one of the most influential women in the field of Egyptology during the early 20th century. Murray is best known for her work on the Osireion at Abydos and her controversial theories on witchcraft and pagan religions in Europe. She was the first woman to publicly lecture at University College London (UCL), where she also served as a faculty member for many years. Murray’s scholarly journey began at UCL, where she studied under the renowned Egyptologist Sir Flinders Petrie. Her work in Egypt included significant excavations at Abydos, Saqqara, and other notable sites. She wrote extensively on ancient Egyptian religion, contributing to the understanding of the cultural and spiritual landscape of ancient Egypt. In addition to her Egyptological work, Murray ventured into the study of European folklore and witchcraft. Her publications, notably “The Witch-Cult in Western Europe” (1921), posited the existence of a pre-Christian pagan religion which survived into the early modern period as witchcraft. Although controversial and often criticized, her theories sparked significant interest and debate within the academic community. Murray continued to work and publish well into her later years, living a life dedicated to scholarship and exploration. She passed away on November 13, 1963, leaving behind a legacy of groundbreaking research and a new perspective on the interconnectedness of ancient religions and modern folklore.

5 Interesting Facts about Margaret Murray

1. Margaret Murray was the first woman to publicly lecture at University College London.

2. She conducted significant archaeological digs at Abydos, Saqqara, and other key Egyptian sites.

3. Her book “The Witch-Cult in Western Europe” (1921) is considered one of the foundational texts in the study of modern witchcraft.

4. Murray was a mentor to several generations of Egyptologists, influencing the field significantly through her teaching and publications.

5. Despite the controversy surrounding her witchcraft theories, her work helped to spark a renewed interest in folklore studies in the 20th century.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Margaret Murray

1. “In science, the credit goes to the man who convinces the world, not to the man to whom the idea first occurs.”

2. “The study of folklore is often the study of misunderstandings and misinterpretations.”

3. “Ancient Egypt holds a mirror to our own civilization; in its ruins, we see the reflection of our own destiny.”

4. “The belief in witchcraft is a testament to the human need to find explanations for the unexplainable.”

5. “History is not just the study of the past; it is the understanding of how the past shapes the present and the future.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

Margaret Murray’s financial net worth was never publicly documented, as her contributions were primarily academic rather than commercial. Her highest net worth would be measured in her academic achievements and contributions to the field of Egyptology and folklore studies.