-14%

Naming the Witch: Magic, Ideology, and Stereotype in the Ancient World - Ingram Academic Stratton, Kimberly — Witchcraft Wicca

Naming the Witch: Magic, Ideology, and Stereotype in the Ancient World - Ingram Academic Stratton, Kimberly — photo 1

Naming the Witch: Magic, Ideology, and Stereotype in the Ancient World - Ingram Academic Stratton, Kimberly — photo 2

Naming the Witch: Magic, Ideology, and Stereotype in the Ancient World - Ingram Academic Stratton, Kimberly — photo 3

📖 Have you read this book?

Your review can inspire others to read it

🌙 Witchcraft & Wicca −14%

Naming the Witch: Magic, Ideology, and Stereotype in the Ancient World - Ingram Academic Stratton, Kimberly

Name: Naming the Witch: Magic, Ideology, and Stereotype in the Ancient World - Ingram Academic Stratton, Kimberly
Price: 29.99 USD
Availability: InStock
Author: Stratton, Kimberly
ISBN: 9780231138376

✍️ Stratton, Kimberly

Reader Score

4.6

(1 review) 60 sold

$29.99 ~~$35.00~~ Save $5.01 (14%)

In stock — ready to ship Ships in 1–2 business days

📚 WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT

Kimberly Stratton's compelling study delves into the ideological underpinnings behind the ancient world's conceptualization of magic, sorcerers, and witches. Moving beyond simple slander, she argues that these accusations were pivotal tools societies used to define legitimacy, authority, and the 'Other.' Stratton meticulously traces the emergence of 'magic' as a discourse in classical Athens, a concept that subsequently spread and adapted across the Hellenized world and Rome, reflecting evolving political forces and social concerns. Her work illuminates how such labels were not just about supernatural belief, but about profound cultural self-definition.

Stratton, Kimberly

📚 all books by this author (2) →

🌙

Witchcraft & Wicca

🏛 Columbia University Press 📅 2022 📖 312 pages 📔 Paperback 📐 Paperback ISBN: 9780231138376

Fun Fact

Stratton's work brilliantly deconstructs the ancient world's perception of magic, revealing its deep ideological roots rather than dismissing it as mere folklore. While those seeking a practical guide to ancient spells or a romanticized view of witchcraft will be disappointed, scholars and curious readers interested in the social history of belief will find this an indispensable contribution. It significantly advances our understanding of how societies define themselves by defining their 'Others' within the history of comparative religion and intellectual thought.

📝 Description: Naming the Witch: Magic, Ideology, and Stereotype in the Ancient World - Ingram Academic Stratton, Kimberly

Kimberly B. Stratton investigates the cultural and ideological motivations behind early imaginings of the magician, the sorceress, and the witch in the ancient world. Accusations of magic could carry the death penalty or, at the very least, marginalize the person or group they targeted. But Stratton moves beyond the popular view of these accusations as mere slander. In her view, representations and accusations of sorcery mirror the complex struggle of ancient societies to define authority, legitimacy, and Otherness. Stratton argues that the concept "magic" first emerged as a discourse in ancient Athens where it operated part and parcel of the struggle to define Greek identity in opposition to the uncivilized "barbarian" following the Persian Wars. The idea of magic then spread throughout the Hellenized world and Rome, reflecting and adapting to political forces, values, and social concerns in each society. Stratton considers the portrayal of witches and magicians in the literature of four related periods and cultures: classical Athens, early imperial Rome, pre-Constantine Christianity, and rabbinic Judaism. She compares patterns in their representations of magic and analyzes the relationship between these stereotypes and the social factors that shaped them. Stratton's comparative approach illuminates the degree to which magic was (and still is) a cultural construct that depended upon and reflected particular social contexts. Unlike most previous studies of magic, which treated the classical world separately from antique Judaism, Naming the Witch highlights the degree to which these ancient cultures shared ideas about power and legitimate authority, even while constructing and deploying those ideas in different ways. The book also interrogates the common association of women with magic, denaturalizing the gendered stereotype in the process. Drawing on Michel Foucault's notion of discourse as well as the work of other contemporary theorists, such as Homi K. Bhabha and Bruce Lincoln, Stratton's bewitching study presents a more nuanced, ideologically sensitive approach to understanding the witch in Western history.

💎 Expert review

“

💎

Esoterica Books editorial team

Occult literature desk

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 social structures. However, it does NOT suit casual readers seeking narrative adventure or practical guides to modern Wicca. Those expecting simple historical anecdotes or supernatural explanations will find the dense theoretical framework dry and inaccessible. It is strictly for those willing to engage with complex sociological analysis. The work demands patience and a background in classical studies, making it unsuitable for anyone looking for light reading or immediate spiritual application rather than critical historical inquiry.

✓ EDITOR'S REVIEW

📖 Why choose it

📖

Why this book is worth reading

This book offers a profound intellectual reward for readers interested in the intersection of history, ideology, and social control. It is essential for scholars who wish to understand how ancient societies constructed legitimacy by defining the 'Other' through accusations of magic. Readers will gain insight into how political forces shaped cultural narratives, revealing that labels of sorcery were tools of authority rather than mere superstition. By tracing the evolution of these concepts from Athens to Rome, the text illuminates the enduring nature of power dynamics. It is particularly valuable for those seeking to deconstruct historical prejudices and understand the origins of stereotyping in legal and social contexts. This study provides a rigorous foundation for anyone examining how identity is forged through exclusion and ideological labeling in classical antiquity.

⭐ Reader reviews

The starting rating comes from the team Esoterica Books —

⭐ Esoterica editorial review Editorial rating 4.6/5

★★★★★

If you're captivated by the social construction of belief, the intricate dynamics of power, and the historical roots of 'witchcraft' in Western thought, this scholarly yet accessible work offers profound and essential insights into ancient societies and their enduring legacies.

Reader rating

4.6

Based on 1 reviews

Esoterica Books editorial team

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 social structures. However, it does NOT suit casual readers seeking narrative adventure or practical guides to modern Wicca. Those expecting simple historical anecdotes or supernatural explanations will find the dense theoretical framework dry and inaccessible. It is strictly for those willing to engage with complex sociological analysis. The work demands patience and a background in classical studies, making it unsuitable for anyone looking for light reading or immediate spiritual application rather than critical historical inquiry.

❓ Frequently asked questions

Kimberly Stratton contends that 'magic' wasn't an inherent quality but an ideological construct, primarily used by ancient societies to establish and maintain social order by defining outsiders and legitimizing authority.

The book meticulously explores representations of magic and its accusers across classical Athens, early imperial Rome, pre-Constantine Christianity, and rabbinic Judaism, highlighting their unique adaptations of the concept.

📖 Who should read this

🎯 Key themes and symbolism

Magic as Ideological Construct

Stratton posits that the very concept of 'magic' was not an objective descriptor but a carefully constructed discourse. It served as a potent ideological weapon, utilized by ancient societies to establish boundaries, control narratives, and reinforce prevailing power structures, often by delegitimizing alternative practices or beliefs.

Defining Self and Other

The book explores how accusations of sorcery were instrumental in shaping group identity. By labeling certain individuals or practices as 'magical,' societies could clearly delineate who belonged within the accepted social order and who constituted the dangerous, uncivilized 'Other,' thereby solidifying communal cohesion.

Evolution of Witch Stereotype

This work traces the historical development of the witch and magician stereotype across diverse ancient cultures. From classical Athens to early imperial Rome, and into pre-Constantine Christianity and rabbinic Judaism, Stratton reveals how these figures were reimagined to serve the unique political and social anxieties of each era.

📜 Historical context

Stratton's work sits within a rich academic tradition that re-evaluates seemingly supernatural phenomena through a socio-historical lens. It challenges essentialist views of magic, instead positioning it as a cultural artifact shaped by political and social pressures, much like later studies on witchcraft in early modern Europe. It's a crucial contribution to understanding how ancient cultures grappled with defining deviance.

📚 Glossary

Otherness
Discourse of Magic
Hellenized World

📔 Questions to reflect on

How might the ancient use of 'magic' accusations parallel modern societal efforts to label and control perceived threats or 'outsiders'?
Consider the power dynamics inherent in defining what is 'legitimate' belief versus 'superstition.' What are the lasting impacts of such classifications?
Reflect on how your own cultural understanding of 'magic' or 'witchcraft' has been shaped by historical narratives and ideological frameworks.