About the author
Kimberly B. Stratton is a scholar of religion in the ancient Mediterranean world, known for Naming the Witch: Magic, Ideology, and Stereotype in the Ancient World, published by Columbia University Press. The book examines the cultural and political motives behind early figures of the magician, sorceress, and witch, arguing that accusations of magic in antiquity functioned as a means of marginalizing individuals and groups, at times carrying penalties as severe as death. Stratton traces how these stereotypes were constructed in Greek and Roman sources and how they shaped later ideas about who counted as a magic user and why. Written as an academic study, the book is aimed at readers of ancient history, religious studies, and the history of magic and witchcraft accusation, treating the witch as a discursive category built through rhetoric rather than a fixed historical figure.
📖 Where to start with Kimberly Stratton
💬 What our editors say about Kimberly Stratton's books
“Stratton delivers a meticulous academic argument that will appeal strongly to historians and theorists of ideology. The text excels in tracing the political utility of magical discourse, offering a sophisticated view of ancient…”
Esoterica Books editorial team, Occult literature desk · on Naming the Witch: Magic, Ideology, and Stereotype in the Ancient World - Ingram Academic Stratton, Kimberly
“Stratton’s rigorous academic approach makes this volume ideal for specialists in ancient ideology and religious studies. However, readers seeking a narrative-driven history or accessible general interest content may find the…”
Esoterica Books editorial team, Occult literature desk · on Naming the Witch: Magic, Ideology, and Stereotype in the Ancient World - Ingram Academic Stratton, Kimberly
