Magic in ancient Greece and Rome KZ-JO-H-02-01-000018

The aim of the course in to familiarise students with the question of ancient magic and its purpose, and modern interpretations. Students will learn about available sources for the study of ancient magic. They will also learn about when and why people decided to use magic, what rituals and objects were used when casting a spell, what cults were linked to magical practices and who usually cast a spell. The abovementioned topics will be discusses in connection with socio-political changes and particular social groups, such as free people, slaves, unmarried women, married women, young and adult men.

Supplementary literature

G. Luck, Hexen und Zauberei in der römischen Dichtung, Zürich 1962. J.B. Rives, "Magicians and Astrologers", w: M. Peachin (red.), The Oxford Handbook of Social Relations in the Roman World, Oxford 2011. C.A. Faraone, D. Obbik (red.), Magika Hiera: Ancient Greek Magic and Religion, Oxford 1991. J.G. Garger, Curse Tablets and Binding Spells from the Ancient World, Oxford 1992. R. Beck, A Brief History of Ancient Astrology, Oxford 2007.

Type of course

general courses

Mode

Online

Course coordinators

Joanna Porucznik

Assessment criteria

Final test. It is obligatory to obtain a pass mark from the final test that will be based on the material presented during the course.

Bibliography

D. Frankfurter, Guide to Ancient Magic, Leiden/Boston 2019.
L.C. Watson, Magic in ancient Greece and Rome, London 2019.
K.B. Stratton, D.S. Kalleres (red.), Daughters of Hecate: women and magic in the ancient world, New York 2014.
P.A. Mirecki, M.W. Meyer (red.), Magic and ritual in the ancient world, Leiden 2002.
Ch.A. Faraone, Ancient Greek love magic, Cambridge/London 1999.
D. Collins, Magic in the ancient Greek world, Malden/Oxford 2008.

Additional information

Additional information (registration calendar, class conductors, localization and schedules of classes), might be available in the USOSweb system:

Description of KZ-JO-H-02-01-000018 in USOSweb