-55%

Materia Magica: The Archaeology of Magic in Roman Egypt, Cyprus, and Spain — Ceremonial Magic

Materia Magica: The Archaeology of Magic in Roman Egypt, Cyprus, and Spain — photo 1

Materia Magica: The Archaeology of Magic in Roman Egypt, Cyprus, and Spain — photo 2

Materia Magica: The Archaeology of Magic in Roman Egypt, Cyprus, and Spain — photo 3

📖 Have you read this book?

Your review can inspire others to read it

⚜️ Ceremonial Magic −55%

Materia Magica: The Archaeology of Magic in Roman Egypt, Cyprus, and Spain

Name: Materia Magica: The Archaeology of Magic in Roman Egypt, Cyprus, and Spain
Price: 39.95 USD
Availability: OutOfStock
ISBN: 9780472036608

✍️ Wilburn, Andrew T

Reader Score

4.6

(1 review)

$39.95 ~~$89.00~~ Save $49.05 (55%)

Temporarily out of stock

Currently unavailable

This book is sold out right now. Leave your email — we'll let you know if it comes back, and you'll get 10% off any book today.

In stock now — readers of this book also loved:

★★★★★

4.8

Wilby, Emma

Cunning Folk and Familiar Spirits

$77.95

The Book of Oberon: A Sourcebook of Elizabethan Magic

★★★★★

4.8

Harms, Daniel

The Book of Oberon: A Sourcebook of Elizabethan Magic

$80.00

The Transformations of Magic: Illicit Learned Magic in the Later Middle Ages and Renaissance Klaassen, Frank

-13%

★★★★★

4.6

Klaassen, Frank

The Transformations of Magic: Illicit Learned Magic in the Later Middle Ages and Renaissance Klaassen, Frank

$39.95 $46.00

Magic in Britain: A History of Medieval and Earlier Practices

★★★★★

4.6

Melrose, Robin

Magic in Britain: A History of Medieval and Earlier Practices

$39.95

Magic in the Modern World: Strategies of Repression and Legitimization Bever, Edward

-11%

★★★★★

4.6

Edward Bever, Randall Styers

Magic in the Modern World: Strategies of Repression and Legitimization Bever, Edward

$39.95 $45.00

The Hermetic and Alchemical Writings of Paracelsus - Volumes One and Two

★★★★★

4.6

Paracelsus, Arthur Edward Waite

The Hermetic and Alchemical Writings of Paracelsus - Volumes One and Two

$39.97

📚 WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT

Andrew T. Wilburn’s "Materia Magica" redefines our understanding of ancient magic by focusing on its physical manifestations. Through meticulous archaeological case studies from Roman Egypt, Cyprus, and Spain, Wilburn illustrates how spells, rituals, and objects were inseparable components of magical practice. This groundbreaking work reveals how everyday items became imbued with power, frequently employed by individuals seeking practical solutions during times of crisis. By contextualizing these artifacts, the book offers a fresh perspective on the pervasive role of magic in the lives of ancient peoples, uncovering previously unrecognized forms of ritual engagement.

Wilburn, Andrew T

📚 all books by this author (2) →

⚜️

Ceremonial Magic

🏛 University of Michigan Press 📅 2015 📖 376 pages 📔 Paperback ISBN: 9780472036608

Fun Fact

Wilburn's "Materia Magica" offers a truly innovative lens on ancient occultism, compellingly demonstrating that magic was an embodied, material practice. It excels in its rigorous archaeological analysis, making a strong case for objects as key players in ritual. While those seeking practical spells will be disappointed, scholars and serious students of esoteric history will find this an indispensable contribution, grounding ancient magic firmly in its physical reality and enriching our understanding of its pervasive role.

📝 Description: Materia Magica: The Archaeology of Magic in Roman Egypt, Cyprus, and Spain

Materia Magica approaches magic as a material endeavor, in which spoken spells, ritual actions, and physical objects all played vital roles in the performance of a rite. Through case studies drawing on objects excavated or discovered in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century at three Mediterranean sites, Andrew T. Wilburn identifies previously unknown forms of magic. He discovers evidence of the practice of magic in objects of ancient daily life, suggesting that individuals frequently turned to magic, particularly in times of crises. Studying the remains of spells enacted by practitioners, Wilburn examines the material remains of magical practice by identifying and placing them within their archaeological contexts. His method of connecting an analysis of the texts and inscriptions found on artifacts of magic with a close consideration of the physical form of these objects illuminates an exciting path toward new discoveries in the field.

📑 What's inside

List of Abbreviations
Introduction
Chapter 1. Finding Magic in the Archaeological Record
Chapter 2. Materia Magica
Chapter 3. Identifying the Remains of Magic in the Village of Karanis
Chapter 4. Practitioners and Craft at Amathous, Cyprus
Chapter 5. Three Curses from EmpUries and Their Social Implications
Chapter 6. The Archaeology of Magic
Appendixes
Appendix 1. The Excavations at Karanis
Appendix 2. Bones from Karanis Areas 262 and 265
Bibliography
Index

💎 Expert review

“

💎

Esoterica Books editorial team

Occult literature desk

Wilburn’s "Materia Magica" offers a compelling, evidence-based redefinition of ancient magic through its material forms. However, it is strictly an academic archaeological study, not a guide for modern practitioners seeking ritual instructions or spiritual guidance. Casual readers looking for entertaining anecdotes or mystical secrets will likely find the dense focus on pottery, figurines, and inscriptions dry and inaccessible. It is best suited for those with a strong background in classical archaeology who appreciate meticulous analysis over narrative flair. The book demands patience and scholarly interest, making it unsuitable for anyone expecting a light, popular history or an occult handbook.

✓ EDITOR'S REVIEW

📖 Why choose it

📖

Why this book is worth reading

Scholars and serious enthusiasts of ancient history will find this text indispensable for its rigorous archaeological approach to understanding magic. By focusing on tangible artifacts from Roman Egypt, Cyprus, and Spain, Wilburn provides a grounded perspective that demystifies the supernatural by anchoring it in physical reality. Readers interested in how everyday objects were transformed into tools of power during times of personal crisis will appreciate the detailed case studies. This book is essential for those seeking to move beyond textual sources and understand the lived experience of ancient magical practitioners through their material remains, offering a fresh and vital perspective on the pervasive role of magic in antiquity.

⭐ Reader reviews

The starting rating comes from the team Esoterica Books —

⭐ Esoterica editorial review Editorial rating 4.6/5

★★★★★

If you're fascinated by the tangible history of occult practices, curious about how ancient peoples truly engaged with magic, or an archaeologist looking for new ways to interpret artifacts, this book offers profound insights into the lived reality of ancient enchantment.

Reader rating

4.6

Based on 1 reviews

Esoterica Books editorial team

Wilburn’s "Materia Magica" offers a compelling, evidence-based redefinition of ancient magic through its material forms. However, it is strictly an academic archaeological study, not a guide for modern practitioners seeking ritual instructions or spiritual guidance. Casual readers looking for entertaining anecdotes or mystical secrets will likely find the dense focus on pottery, figurines, and inscriptions dry and inaccessible. It is best suited for those with a strong background in classical archaeology who appreciate meticulous analysis over narrative flair. The book demands patience and scholarly interest, making it unsuitable for anyone expecting a light, popular history or an occult handbook.

❓ Frequently asked questions

It focuses on practical, often domestic, magic used for everyday concerns like protection, love, or cursing, rather than grand ceremonial rites or philosophical magic.

The book primarily draws its evidence from archaeological discoveries made in Roman Egypt, Cyprus, and various sites across Spain, offering a comparative Mediterranean perspective.

📖 Who should read this

🎯 Key themes and symbolism

The Materiality of Magic

This book argues that magic wasn't just spoken spells or mental exercises, but deeply rooted in physical objects. Wilburn demonstrates how amulets, curses, and ritual tools weren't mere conduits but active participants in ancient rites, embodying power and intention. He shows how the very substances and forms of these artifacts were integral to the magical act itself.

Archaeological Insights

By meticulously examining artifacts excavated from Roman sites, the author unearths previously overlooked forms of magical practice. This approach transforms ancient detritus into profound evidence, revealing the intricate relationship between physical remains and esoteric action. It champions a methodology that connects textual analysis of inscriptions with a deep consideration of the objects' physical presence and context.

Everyday Enchantments

Wilburn illustrates how magic permeated the daily lives of people in the ancient Mediterranean. Far from being an exotic or rare practice, individuals frequently turned to practical magic, particularly during times of personal or societal distress, using common objects for protection or petition. This challenges notions of magic as solely an elite or clandestine activity.

📜 Historical context

Wilburn's work stands firmly within the burgeoning field of material culture studies applied to ancient religion and magic. It builds upon earlier textual analyses of magical papyri and curse tablets by anchoring these practices firmly in their physical and archaeological contexts, bridging the gap between literary evidence and the physical remains left behind by practitioners across the Roman world.

📚 Glossary

Materia Magica
Archaeological Context
Ritual Performance

📔 Questions to reflect on

Consider a contemporary crisis or common fear. What everyday objects might people imbue with magical significance today, and why?
How does examining the physical remains of a belief system change your understanding compared to reading about its texts or philosophies alone?
Reflect on an item you own that holds personal significance. How might its 'materia' (materiality) contribute to its perceived power or meaning for you?