About the author
Christopher A. Faraone is a classicist at the University of Chicago specializing in ancient Greek religion and magic. His book Ancient Greek Love Magic, published by Harvard University Press, surveys the spells ancient Greeks used to attract and bind lovers, drawing on literary allusions alongside physical evidence such as curse tablets, inscribed gemstones, and figurines sometimes described as voodoo dolls to reconstruct how these rituals worked. His related study, The Transformation of Greek Amulets in Roman Imperial Times, published by the University of Pennsylvania Press, examines how amuletic images and texts, produced in materials from metal to papyrus to mosaic, evolved once Greek magical traditions were absorbed into the Roman world, an area earlier scholarship had often treated superficially. Both books are works of classical scholarship grounding claims in textual and archaeological evidence, aimed at readers interested in the academic study of ancient magic and religion rather than in magical practice itself.
📖 Where to start with Christopher A Faraone
💬 What our editors say about Christopher A Faraone's books
“While meticulously researched, this academic volume is not suited for casual readers seeking entertaining folklore or practical spellcasting instructions. It demands patience with dense historical evidence and theoretical…”
Esoterica Books editorial team, Occult literature desk · on Ancient Greek Love Magic (Revised)
“While intellectually robust, this collection is not for casual readers or those seeking practical spell-casting instructions. The text demands a strong background in classical studies, as it relies heavily on dense epigraphic…”
Esoterica Books editorial team, Occult literature desk · on Magika Hiera: Ancient Greek Magic and Religion
“Faraone delivers a dense, scholarly argument that requires patience and a background in classical archaeology. While it successfully reframes the discourse on amulets through a materialist lens, it will likely alienate casual…”
Esoterica Books editorial team, Occult literature desk · on The Transformation of Greek Amulets in Roman Imperial Times - Ingram Academic Faraone, Christopher A
📋 Editions by Christopher A Faraone in the catalog
| Edition | Year | Publisher | Pages | ISBN |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ancient Greek Love Magic (Revised) | 2001 | Harvard University Press | 240 | 9780674006966 |
| Magika Hiera: Ancient Greek Magic and Religion | 1997 | Oxford University Press | 312 | 9780195111408 |
| The Transformation of Greek Amulets in Roman Imperial Times - In | — | University of Pennsylvania | 512 | 9780812249354 |
