Incantation

Hector Barbossa preparing an incantation to release Calypso.

"Perhaps merely possessing the parchment is not enough. Perhaps there is some sort of magic spell or incantation written upon it."

―Fitzwilliam P. Dalton III

An incantation or enchantment was a charm or spell created using words. An incantation may take place during a ritual, either a hymn or prayer, and may invoke or praise a deity. In magic, occultism, and witchcraft it was used with the intention of casting a spell on an object or a person and may employ the use of pharmakeia. The term derives from Latin "incantare" (tr.), meaning "to chant (a magical spell) upon," from in- "into, upon" and cantare "to sing".

In medieval folklore and fairy tales, enchantments were charms or spells. The term was loaned into English since around 1300 AD 1300. The corresponding native English term being "galdor" "song, spell". It has led to the terms "enchanter" and "enchantress", for those who use enchantments.

History

Quest for the Sword of Cortés

"Jack, don't ye realize what's happened? The pirates' stories lacked a wee detail! The incantation brought back the Sword's owner! This is the spirit of Hernán Cortés, risen from the dead!"

―Arabella Smith to Jack Sparrow

When the infamous pirate Left-Foot Louis obtained the Sword of Cortés, he discovered that he needs to speak the magical incantation that would unlock the full power of the legendary blade. The incantation was written on the piece of paper in possession of a man he killed some time earlier, Francois, so he had to find his corpse. Louis and his men invaded Isla Fortuna, and excavated Francois' corpse from the local graveyard, but they were attacked and defeated by the young adventurer Jack Sparrow and his crew. Jack and his friends found the paper inside Francois' coat, but since the incantation was written in Latin, they couldn't understand a single word. Nonetheless, they read the inscription, and accidentally summoned the spirit of the Sword's first owner, the infamous conquistador Hernán Cortés.

Davy Jones

"Davy Jones...we, the Pirate Lords of the Brethren Court, call you. By our alliance giving us power over the sea, binding the queen in her bones, we entreat you. Come to us, Davy Jones. We summon you. We summon you. We summon you."

―Eduardo Villanueva, Ching, Edward Teague, and Rafael

A few years later, when the Pirate Brethren found itself endangered by the actions of the mysterious rogue pirates, who were breaking the Code of the Pirate Brethren by slaughtering their victims and attacking other pirate ships, the Pirate Lord and Keeper of the Code Edward Teague called for an official court of inquiry. The Russian Pirate Lord Boris "Borya" Palachnik was accused of being one of the rogues. Inside the Pirate Hall, all the witnesses told their stories, but since there was not enough evidences against Borya, Teague decided to summon Davy Jones, the supernatural Lord of the sea. All the witnesses and Pirate Lords assembled onboard the Troubadour, Teague's flagship, where Teague, Eduardo Villanueva, Mistress Ching, and Don Rafael spoke the incantation that brought Jones. Five years later, after he sank with his beloved ship, the Wicked Wench, Jack Sparrow spoke the same incantation. When Jones appeared, Jack made a deal which resulted in him and his ship returning to the world of the living.

Liberation of Calypso

"Be there some manner of rite or incantation?"
"Aye. The items brought together, done. Items to be burned...and someone must speak the words, 'Calypso, I release you from your human bonds.'"
"Is that it?"
"'Tis said it must be spoken as if to a lover."

―Joshamee Gibbs, Hector Barbossa, and Pintel

At the first meeting the Brethren Court, the Pirate Lords bound Calypso, the Goddess of the Sea, in the human form of Tia Dalma. This was done in an agreement with Davy Jones, who showed them how to bind her, and so the First Court sealed her fate with the nine Pieces of Eight. Tia Dalma became a powerful voodoo mystic, having tossed a set of crab claws in front of her, murmuring magical incantations.

Later, during the War Against Piracy, the machinations of Lord Cutler Beckett of the East India Trading Company had forced the Pirate Lords of the Brethren Court to convene for the fourth time in its existence, and it was here that Hector Barbossa brought up the notion of the Pirate Brethren freeing the sea goddess Calypso from her human form. With all nine Pieces of Eight gathered aboard the Black Pearl, Barbossa's crewman Ragetti spoke the incantation that would release Calypso, who would later unleash the powers of the sea against both the Brethren Court fleet and the East India Trading Company Armada.

Behind the scenes

"Calypso! I'm freeing you!"

―Hector Barbossa

• The scene where Hector Barbossa releases Calypso varies across Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End media, some being different dialogue. In the film, a revised version of the 2007 junior novelization and the Story Book And CD, Barbossa fails to release Calypso when he speaks the incantation, but with his voice full of sincere love for the sea, Ragetti succeeds in speaking the incantation. However, in the first edition of the 2007 junior novelization, as well as the video game and the 2009 novelization Barbossa succeeds in freeing Calypso immediately.

Appearances

• Jack Sparrow: The Pirate Chase (First appearance)
• Jack Sparrow: The Sword of Cortés (Mentioned only)
• The Price of Freedom
• Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End
  • Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End (junior novelization)
  • Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End (comic)
  • Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End (Penguin Readers)
• Pirates of the Caribbean: Tides of War
• LEGO Pirates of the Caribbean: The Video Game (Non-canonical appearance)

External links

• Incantation on Wikipedia