Magic and Magicians in the Greco-Roman World

by Matthew W Dickie, Matthew W. Dickie

Overview

This study is the first to assemble the evidence for the existence of sorcerors in the ancient world; it also addresses the question of their identity and social origins. The resulting investigation takes us to the underside of Greek and Roman society, into a world of wandering holy men and women, conjurors and wonder-workers, and into the lives of prostitutes, procuresses, charioteers and theatrical performers.
This fascinating reconstruction of the careers of witches and sorcerors allows us to see into previously inaccessible areas of Greco-Roman life. Compelling for both its detail and clarity, and with an extraordinarily revealing breadth of evidence employed, it will be an essential resource for anyone studying ancient magic.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780415249829
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	06/07/2001
Pages:	388
Product dimensions:	6.12(w) x 9.19(h) x (d)

About the Author

Matthew W. Dickie

Table of Contents

Introduction 1 The formation and nature of the Greek concept of magic 2 Sorcerers in the fifth and fourth centuries BC 3 Sorceresses in the Athens of the fifth and fourth centuries BC 4 Sorcerers in the Greek world of the Hellenistic period (300–1BC) 5 Magic as a distinctive category in Roman thought 6 Constraints on magicians in the Late Roman Republic and under the Empire 7 Sorcerers and sorceresses in Rome in the Middle and Late Republic and under the Early Empire 8 Witches and magicians in the provinces of the Roman Empire until the time of Constantine 9 Constraints on magicians under a Christian Empire 10 Sorcerers and sorceresses from Constantine to the end of the seventh century AD

Editorial Reviews

'Magic and Magicians in the Greco-Roman World is the fruit of prodigious reading and profound scholarship, yet never bogs down to its own accumulation of facts.' - Los Angeles Times

'An outstanding book that combines impressive scholarship with clarity and accessibility, and belongs at once in the collection of specialists and on undergraduate reading lists, perhaps even as a prescribed textbook.' - Classical Review

'This is a detailed and well-presented account of the development of the concept of magic in the Greek world and a thorough discussion of the activities of those who claimed to be ... magicians.' - JACT Review

'A reliable and comprehensive review of all the well-known sources.' - Book Reviews

'Magic and Magicians in the Greco-Roman World is the fruit of prodigious reading and profound scholarship, yet never bogs down to its own accumulation of facts.' - Los Angeles Times

'An outstanding book that combines impressive scholarship with clarity and accessibility, and belongs at once in the collection of specialists and on undergraduate reading lists, perhaps even as a prescribed textbook.' - Classical Review

From the Publisher