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Magic in Ancient Greece and Rome — Ceremonial Magic

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Magic in Ancient Greece and Rome

Name: Magic in Ancient Greece and Rome
Price: 97.99 USD
Availability: InStock
Author: Watson, Lindsay C
ISBN: 9781788312974

✍️ Watson, Lindsay C

Reader Score

4.6

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📚 WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT

This compelling volume challenges contemporary academic trends by presenting ancient magic not as abstract theory, but as a intensely pragmatic craft with concrete, often malevolent, objectives. Delving into crucial sources like the Greek Magical Papyri, it explores the startling aggression within erotic spells, the lethal intentions of newly discovered curse tablets, and the bizarre rituals surrounding the collection and use of magical herbs and animal parts. Readers will discover a vivid, unvarnished portrait of sorcery as practiced in antiquity, revealing its stark and often disturbing efficacy.

Watson, Lindsay C

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Ceremonial Magic

Praise for this book

“[Watson] shows a commendable command of the sources and independence of mind. Provided that one accepts a wider definition of magic, there is a great deal to learn from this book, which will be particularly useful to expert readers who are already familiar with the topic.”

— The Classical Review

“Watson offers an insightful contribution, one that incorporates valuable introductory overviews of certain topics, while also augmenting specialist study of ancient Greco-Roman magic.”

— The Classical Outlook

“Watson's book is undoubtedly a valuable contribution towards our understanding of ancient magic that perfectly complements previous publications on that subject.”

— Electrum: Journal of Ancient History

🏛 Bloomsbury Academic 📅 2019 📖 264 pages 📔 Hardcover 📐 Hardcover ISBN: 9781788312974

Fun Fact

This is a pivotal work for understanding ancient magic, stripping away modern theoretical fluff to present a raw, grounded picture. It excels in its meticulous examination of primary sources like the Greek Magical Papyri and defixiones, revealing the often brutal pragmatism of ancient sorcery. Those seeking a New Age spiritual guide or purely symbolic interpretations will be disappointed. However, serious students of antiquity, historical occultism, or anyone interested in the tangible, often malevolent, reality of ancient magical practices will find this an essential and immensely rewarding read, solidifying its place as a definitive scholarly resource.

📝 Description: Magic in Ancient Greece and Rome

Parting company with the trend in recent scholarship to treat the subject in abstract, highly theoretical terms, Magic in Ancient Greece and Rome proposes that the magic-working of antiquity was in reality a highly pragmatic business, with very clearly formulated aims - often of an exceedingly malignant kind. In seven chapters, each addressed to an important arm of Greco-Roman magic, the volume discusses the history of the rediscovery and publication of the so-called Greek Magical Papyri, a key source for our understanding of ancient magic; the startling violence of ancient erotic spells and the use of these by women as well as men; the alteration in the landscape of defixio (curse tablet) studies by major new finds and the confirmation these provide that the frequently lethal intent of such tablets must not be downplayed; the use of herbs in magic, considered from numerous perspectives but with an especial focus on the bizarre-seeming rituals and protocols attendant upon their collection; the employment of animals in magic, the factors determining the choice of animal, the uses to which they were put, and the procuring and storage of animal parts, conceivably in a sorcerer's workshop; the witch as a literary construct, the clear homologies between the magical procedures of fictional witches and those documented for real spells, the gendering of the witch-figure and the reductive presentation of sorceresses as old, risible and ineffectual; the issue of whether ancient magicians practised human sacrifice and the illuminating parallels between such accusations and late 20th century accounts of child-murder in the context of perverted Satanic rituals. By challenging a number of orthodoxies and opening up some underexamined aspects of the subject, this wide-ranging study stakes out important new territory in the field of magical studies.

📑 What's inside

List of Illustrations List of Abbreviations
Preface and Acknowledgements
1 Introduction
2 The Violence of Amatory Magic
3
Defixiones: A Recent History
Appendix: Did
Defixiones Work?
4 Magic and Herbs
5 Animals in Magic
Appendix: Amulets
6 Fictional Witches
7 Human Sacrifice in Ancient Magic?
Notes
Bibliography
Index

💎 Expert review

“

💎

Esoterica Books editorial team

Occult literature desk

Watson delivers a startlingly aggressive look at ancient magic, challenging contemporary academic trends by presenting it as a intensely pragmatic craft. The focus on malevolent objectives and lethal curse tablets offers a refreshing, albeit disturbing, clarity often absent in esoteric literature. However, this candid approach means the book does NOT suit readers seeking gentle spiritual guidance, aesthetic appreciation of ritual beauty, or romanticized notions of ancient wisdom. It is dense with bizarre rituals and stark sorcery, making it unsuitable for those easily unsettled by the darker aspects of occult history. While academically rigorous and undeniably compelling for its intended audience, its unvarnished depiction of violence and aggression may alienate casual readers looking for accessible or uplifting content regarding ancient mysticism.

✓ EDITOR'S REVIEW

📖 Why choose it

📖

Why this book is worth reading

This book is an essential discovery for serious students of esoteric history who crave authenticity over romanticized fantasy. By stripping away modern misconceptions, it offers a vivid, unvarnished portrait of how magic was actually practiced in antiquity. Readers fascinated by the dark, practical heart of sorcery will appreciate its focus on concrete objectives and lethal intentions rather than abstract theory. It is particularly valuable for those seeking to understand the stark efficacy of ancient rituals involving erotic spells, curse tablets, and bizarre herbal collections. If you wish to unearth the disturbing yet fascinating reality of Greco-Roman occultism without academic fluff, this compelling volume provides the intense, pragmatic insight that pure history often misses.

⭐ Reader reviews

The starting rating comes from the team Esoterica Books —

⭐ Esoterica editorial review Editorial rating 4.6/5

★★★★★

If you seek a rigorous, grounded exploration of ancient magic, free from modern romanticism or abstract theorizing, this book is for you. Scholars, practitioners, and anyone fascinated by the raw, practical, and often dark side of Greco-Roman sorcery will find its insights invaluable.

Reader rating

4.6

Based on 1 reviews

Esoterica Books editorial team

Watson delivers a startlingly aggressive look at ancient magic, challenging contemporary academic trends by presenting it as a intensely pragmatic craft. The focus on malevolent objectives and lethal curse tablets offers a refreshing, albeit disturbing, clarity often absent in esoteric literature. However, this candid approach means the book does NOT suit readers seeking gentle spiritual guidance, aesthetic appreciation of ritual beauty, or romanticized notions of ancient wisdom. It is dense with bizarre rituals and stark sorcery, making it unsuitable for those easily unsettled by the darker aspects of occult history. While academically rigorous and undeniably compelling for its intended audience, its unvarnished depiction of violence and aggression may alienate casual readers looking for accessible or uplifting content regarding ancient mysticism.

❓ Frequently asked questions

While acknowledging magic's place within ancient belief systems, the book primarily focuses on its practical application and explicit aims, rather than its broader theological implications or spiritual philosophy.

This volume explicitly moves away from abstract theoretical analyses, instead grounding its discussion in the concrete, often startling, practices and clear objectives of ancient magic-workers, as revealed by primary sources.

📖 Who should read this

🎯 Key themes and symbolism

Unearthing the Magical Papyri

This book meticulously details the fascinating journey of how the Greek Magical Papyri were rediscovered and eventually brought to light. It emphasizes their critical role as primary source material, offering unparalleled insight into the actual practices, formulas, and beliefs that underpinned much of the magical activity in the Greco-Roman world, rather than theoretical interpretations.

Erotic Spells: Potent and Perilous

Challenging conventional views, the text explores the surprisingly violent and coercive nature of ancient erotic spells. It reveals how both men and women actively employed these powerful incantations, not merely for attraction, but often to compel, dominate, or inflict distress upon their desired targets, highlighting a darker side of ancient romance and obsession.

Curse Tablets: Malign Intent

The study significantly updates our understanding of defixio, or curse tablets, incorporating recent archaeological finds. It firmly asserts that the frequent, deadly intent expressed in these inscribed lead sheets must be taken seriously, demonstrating that ancient practitioners often sought genuinely destructive outcomes against their rivals, enemies, and perceived wrongdoers.

📜 Historical context

For too long, the study of ancient magic has been mired in theoretical speculation, often downplaying the visceral reality of its practice. This work firmly re-establishes the subject within its historical context, drawing directly from archaeological and textual evidence to illustrate the tangible, often malevolent, impact magic had on daily life and belief systems in the ancient world, offering a corrective to overly academic interpretations.

📚 Glossary

Greek Magical Papyri
Defixio
Erotic Spell

📔 Questions to reflect on

Reflect on how your understanding of 'magic' shifts when viewed through the lens of ancient, pragmatic intent rather than modern, often romanticized notions.
Consider the ethical implications of using 'erotic spells' in antiquity. How do ancient societal norms influence the perceived morality of such practices?
If you were an ancient practitioner, what specific concerns or desires might lead you to craft a 'defixio,' and against whom?