Witchcraft and the Occult in the Greco-Roman World Flashcards
Who is Hecate?
Goddess of witchcraft and necromancy
What was Hecate associated with?
Goddess of the night/moon
spiritual underworld
could see the past, present, future
What were the terms used to refer to magic in the Greco-Roman era?
Theougia, Mageia, Goetia
Theougia
high magic, studying cosmic orders, mysticism
Mageia
magic or sorcery, middle class magicians with special duties
Goetia
sorcerer or wizard, trying to gain something practical, deemed trickery, more suspicious
What were the Magical Handbooks/Papyri
A collection of spells, instructions, rituals
What is the Greek Magical Papyri?
a collection of spells, texts and booklets with a range of subjects, references deities
What were demon bowls?
Used to trap evil spirits or demons
Why is the story of the Metamorphosis important?
Gives us a glimpse into mystery cults like the cult of isis
Significance of transformation in greco-roman culture
viewed as punishments from the gods
hybrid creatures were seen as outsiders or something dangerous
later it was seen as evidence of witchcraft
Describe the evolution of sorcery
started as a device used to talk to spirits, soon became a pejorative and then linked to demonology
How did the word daimon change over time?
homer used it as a synonym for theos
socrates used it as a word to refer to spirits who were between gods and humans
xenocrates shifted dark qualities onto demons
What were the different forms of the witch?
harpes, striga stiges stix, lamias, gorgons
What is a harpes?
flying wing woman, characteristics similar to witches, hybrid to invoke fear
What is a striga stiges stix?
vampire owls who eats babies
What is a lamias?
half serpent who seduced men and ate children
What is a gorgon?
hair made from serpents, eyes that turn people to stone, wide mouths and tongues
example: Medusa
What does Circe symbolize?
symbolizes beauty and seduction by being enchanting and bewitching
How does Circe use witchcraft?
uses spells and pharmaka to turn odysseus’ men into pigs, seduced odysseus, has control over all animals on her island
Who is Medea? How is she described?
Witch dominated by violent passion/infatuation
Who is Erichtho? How is she described?
An old and ugly witch, uses necromancy, is a destructive witch
What was drawing down the moon done for??
Women used the power of the moon to attract/win back lovers
- females taking control was unusual
Other reasons could include avoiding debt payment or simply done just to collect the moons power
Who performed the drawing down the moon ceremony?
someone who is not in a normative place in the social political order, not mature or male but is old, female, or alien
