Magic in Ancient Greece and Rome

Magic in Ancient Greece and Rome challenges the abstract, highly theoretical approach to the subject and proposes that ancient magic was a pragmatic business with clearly formulated aims, often of a malignant kind. The volume discusses the history of the rediscovery and publication of Greek Magical Papyri, the violence of ancient erotic spells, the use of herbs in magic, the employment of animals in magic, the witch as a literary construct, the issue of human sacrifice, and the parallels between ancient magicians and late 20th century accounts of child-murder in the context of perverted Satanic rituals.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 264 pages
Publication date: 02 May 2019
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC

Here is the rephrased text:

Magic in Ancient Greece and Rome presents a refreshing perspective on the subject, diverging from the recent trend in scholarship to treat it in abstract and highly theoretical terms. Instead, the book proposes that ancient magic was, in reality, a highly pragmatic business, driven by clearly formulated aims, often of a malign nature. Spanning seven chapters, each dedicated to an important aspect of Greco-Roman magic, the volume delves into the history of the rediscovery and publication of the Greek Magical Papyri, a crucial source for understanding ancient magic. It explores the startling violence inherent in ancient erotic spells, revealing their usage by both women and men. It also examines the transformative impact of significant new discoveries in defixio (curse tablet) studies, emphasizing the need to avoid downplaying the often lethal intent of these tablets. The book examines the use of herbs in magic, considering various perspectives but with a particular focus on the peculiar rituals and protocols associated with their collection. It explores the employment of animals in magic, examining the factors that determine their choice, the various purposes they served, and the processes involved in procuring and storing animal parts, possibly within a sorcerer's workshop. Additionally, the book examines the witch as a literary construct, highlighting the clear similarities between the magical procedures documented for fictional witches and those recorded for real spells. It explores the gendering of the witch figure and the reductive portrayal of sorceresses as old, foolish, and ineffectual. Furthermore, the book addresses the issue of whether ancient magicians practiced human sacrifice, drawing illuminating parallels between such accusations and late 20th-century accounts of child-murder in the context of perverted Satanic rituals. By challenging orthodoxies and exploring underexamined aspects of the subject, this comprehensive study offers a fresh and insightful perspective on ancient magic.

Weight: 400g
Dimension: 230 x 161 x 15 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781788312981