1. Witchcraft and Magic

2. Magic Etymology of “Magic” derived from “Magi”, Chaldean priests of Persia Etymology of “Magic” derived from “Magi”, Chaldean priests of Persia Greeks have their own tradition of witches and magicians (i.e. Circe, Medea, Orpheus) Greeks have their own tradition of witches and magicians (i.e. Circe, Medea, Orpheus) Magical traditions in Judeo-Christian world (i.e. The Wisdom of Solomon, Simon Magus, Gnosticism) Magical traditions in Judeo-Christian world (i.e. The Wisdom of Solomon, Simon Magus, Gnosticism) Magical papyri (2 nd century BCE to 1 st century CE) found in Egypt in Demotic, Coptic, and Greek Magical papyri (2 nd century BCE to 1 st century CE) found in Egypt in Demotic, Coptic, and Greek Curse Tablets Curse Tablets Involves the use of secret words, verbal formulae, images and symbols, and natural substances/elements to invoke and manipulate the power of the divine (esp. daemones) Involves the use of secret words, verbal formulae, images and symbols, and natural substances/elements to invoke and manipulate the power of the divine (esp. daemones) Alienation from civic cults? Alienation from civic cults? Frowned upon by Greek and Roman authorities Frowned upon by Greek and Roman authorities

3. Religion versus Magic religio - traditionally honours paid to the gods by the state religio - traditionally honours paid to the gods by the state A dictionary from the Augustan period defines religiosi (religious people) as those who have a taste for carrying out.. ritual in accordance with the custom of the state and are not involved in superstition. A dictionary from the Augustan period defines religiosi (religious people) as those who have a taste for carrying out.. ritual in accordance with the custom of the state and are not involved in superstition. Major threat to religio : Not the neglect or denial of the gods but superstitio Major threat to religio : Not the neglect or denial of the gods but superstitio A threat to religious practices is a threat to the religious and hence the socio-political order A threat to religious practices is a threat to the religious and hence the socio-political order

4. Laws on Poisoning and Magic Cornelian law on murderers and poisoners, passed in dictatorship of Lucius Cornelius Sulla 81-80 BCE Cornelian law on murderers and poisoners, passed in dictatorship of Lucius Cornelius Sulla 81-80 BCE Originally probably only concerned with poison Originally probably only concerned with poison by end of first century BCE law included substances ‘acting at a distance’ = magic. by end of first century BCE law included substances ‘acting at a distance’ = magic.

5. Law on poisoning “under chapter 5 of the same Cornelian law on murderers and poisoners, a person who makes, sells or possess a drug for the purpose of killing someone is punished. The penalty of this same law is applied to a person who sells harmful medicaments to the public or possess it for the purpose of homicide. But the inclusion of the word ‘harmful’ shows that certain drugs are not harmful. Therefore, the word ‘drug’ is neutral and includes both that designed to heal and that designed to kill, and also that which is called an aphrodisiac. But the only drug covered in this law is that possessed for the purpose of homicide. But by decree of the senate a sentence of banishment is to be passed on a woman who, though with no ill intent but by setting a bad example, has given a fertility drug which kills the recipient..” (Marcianus, Institutes, Book XIV) “under chapter 5 of the same Cornelian law on murderers and poisoners, a person who makes, sells or possess a drug for the purpose of killing someone is punished. The penalty of this same law is applied to a person who sells harmful medicaments to the public or possess it for the purpose of homicide. But the inclusion of the word ‘harmful’ shows that certain drugs are not harmful. Therefore, the word ‘drug’ is neutral and includes both that designed to heal and that designed to kill, and also that which is called an aphrodisiac. But the only drug covered in this law is that possessed for the purpose of homicide. But by decree of the senate a sentence of banishment is to be passed on a woman who, though with no ill intent but by setting a bad example, has given a fertility drug which kills the recipient..” (Marcianus, Institutes, Book XIV)

6. Magic and the law later extension of the law: later extension of the law: “ in accordance with a decree of the senate, whoever performs or organizes evil sacrifices is to be condemned to the penalty of this law. “ (Modestinus, Encyclopedia, Book XII) “ in accordance with a decree of the senate, whoever performs or organizes evil sacrifices is to be condemned to the penalty of this law. “ (Modestinus, Encyclopedia, Book XII)

7. Penalties for using drugs and magic Paul, Opinions V.23-14-19 in FIRA II, pp. 409-10: Paul, Opinions V.23-14-19 in FIRA II, pp. 409-10: Those who administer a potion to cause an abortion or as an aphrodisiac, even if they do not act maliciously, nevertheless because their action is a bad example, those of inferior rank are sentenced to the mines, and those of superior rank are banished to an island, after part of their property has been confiscated. But if a woman or a man dies from the potion, they receive the supreme penalty. Those who perform or have performed for them impious or nocturnal rites for the purpose of enchanting, bewitching or binding someone, are either crucified or thrown to the beasts. Those who sacrifice human beings or take auspices with human blood or pollute a shrine or temple, are thrown to the beasts or, if they are of superior rank, executed. Those who are knowledgeable in the art of magic are to receive the supreme penalty. that is, to be thrown to the beasts or crucified. The magicians themselves are burnt alive. No one may possess books on the art of magic; and those found in possession have their property confiscated and their books burnt in public; they are deported to an island or, if of inferior rank, executed. Not only the practice of this art, but also the knowledge of it, is prohibited. If someone dies from a drug which was administered for their health or as a cure, the person who administered it is, if of superior rank, banished to an island, or, if of inferior rank, executed. Those who administer a potion to cause an abortion or as an aphrodisiac, even if they do not act maliciously, nevertheless because their action is a bad example, those of inferior rank are sentenced to the mines, and those of superior rank are banished to an island, after part of their property has been confiscated. But if a woman or a man dies from the potion, they receive the supreme penalty. Those who perform or have performed for them impious or nocturnal rites for the purpose of enchanting, bewitching or binding someone, are either crucified or thrown to the beasts. Those who sacrifice human beings or take auspices with human blood or pollute a shrine or temple, are thrown to the beasts or, if they are of superior rank, executed. Those who are knowledgeable in the art of magic are to receive the supreme penalty. that is, to be thrown to the beasts or crucified. The magicians themselves are burnt alive. No one may possess books on the art of magic; and those found in possession have their property confiscated and their books burnt in public; they are deported to an island or, if of inferior rank, executed. Not only the practice of this art, but also the knowledge of it, is prohibited. If someone dies from a drug which was administered for their health or as a cure, the person who administered it is, if of superior rank, banished to an island, or, if of inferior rank, executed.

8. Pliny the Elder on Magic 1) In the previous pages of this work we have frequently refuted the pretensions of magic, whenever the subject and the place demanded; we shall continue to unmask them here. Magic, however, is one of the rare subjects on which there is more to be said, if only because as the most fraudulent of arts it has had the greatest influence in the whole world for many centuries. No one should be surprised at the immense authority it has had since it alone integrated and incorporated the three other arts that had the greatest sway over the human mind. 2) No one will doubt that it first arose from medicine and under the guise of promoting health it stealthily inserted itself as a superior and holier form; so, to its most tempting and welcome promises, it added the powers of religio, on which the human race remains even today completely blind; then to add an extra force, it blended in astrology, everybody being keen to know their future and believing that it may be known most accurately from the heavens. So having trapped the human spirit in a triple bond it has reached such heights that today it has sway over a great proportion of nations and, in the East, rules the king of kings …. (Pliny, Natural History XXX.1-2, 1) In the previous pages of this work we have frequently refuted the pretensions of magic, whenever the subject and the place demanded; we shall continue to unmask them here. Magic, however, is one of the rare subjects on which there is more to be said, if only because as the most fraudulent of arts it has had the greatest influence in the whole world for many centuries. No one should be surprised at the immense authority it has had since it alone integrated and incorporated the three other arts that had the greatest sway over the human mind. 2) No one will doubt that it first arose from medicine and under the guise of promoting health it stealthily inserted itself as a superior and holier form; so, to its most tempting and welcome promises, it added the powers of religio, on which the human race remains even today completely blind; then to add an extra force, it blended in astrology, everybody being keen to know their future and believing that it may be known most accurately from the heavens. So having trapped the human spirit in a triple bond it has reached such heights that today it has sway over a great proportion of nations and, in the East, rules the king of kings …. (Pliny, Natural History XXX.1-2,

9. Magic in Early Italy Pliny 12) it is certain that magic has left traces among the Italic peoples too, for example in our Twelve Tables and in other sources, as I have explained earlier. Only in the 657 th year of the city when Gnaeus Cornelius Lentulus and Publius Licinius Crassus were consuls (97 BCE) was a senatorial decree passed banning human sacrifice, which shows that down to that time these monstrous rites were still performed. …. continued on next slide Pliny Natural History 12) it is certain that magic has left traces among the Italic peoples too, for example in our Twelve Tables and in other sources, as I have explained earlier. Only in the 657 th year of the city when Gnaeus Cornelius Lentulus and Publius Licinius Crassus were consuls (97 BCE) was a senatorial decree passed banning human sacrifice, which shows that down to that time these monstrous rites were still performed. …. continued on next slide

10. Magic among the Gauls and Britains (1) 13) The Gallic provinces were certainly controlled by magic, an that down to our own time. For it was only in the principate of Tiberius Caesar that suppressed their Druids and this species of prophets and doctors. But need I recall these actions against an art which has actually crossed the Ocean and reached the wilds of nature? Even today Britain in its madness practices magic with such grand rituals that one could imagine that she gave it to the Persians. So, all the peoples in the world, though they are at odds or unknown to each other, are in agreement on this doctrine, and one cannot calculate how great a debt is owed to the Romans for having swept away these monstrosities in which to kill a person was an extremely religious act, and to eat him guaranteed one’s well being. … continued on next slide ….. continued on next slide 13) The Gallic provinces were certainly controlled by magic, an that down to our own time. For it was only in the principate of Tiberius Caesar that suppressed their Druids and this species of prophets and doctors. But need I recall these actions against an art which has actually crossed the Ocean and reached the wilds of nature? Even today Britain in its madness practices magic with such grand rituals that one could imagine that she gave it to the Persians. So, all the peoples in the world, though they are at odds or unknown to each other, are in agreement on this doctrine, and one cannot calculate how great a debt is owed to the Romans for having swept away these monstrosities in which to kill a person was an extremely religious act, and to eat him guaranteed one’s well being. … continued on next slide ….. continued on next slide

11. (2) (2) 14) As Osthanes (a Persian of the 5 th century BCE) said, there are several types of magic. He promises divination from water, globes, air, stars, lamps, basins, axes and by many other methods, as well as interviews with ghosts and those in the underworld. In our time the Emperor Nero discovered that all this was a deceptive fraud; for his passion for magic was no less than that for the lyre and tragic recitations, his attainment of the highest human fortune arousing in him the most profound vices of his soul; his principal ambition was to give orders to the gods, and he could rise to no nobler objective. No one ever patronized an art more vigorously. 15) For this purpose he had no lack of wealth, strength, aptitude for learning, or anything else the world offered. What an immense and irrefutable proof of the falseness of magic is the fact that Nero abandoned it! (Pliny, Natural History XXX, 12-15) 14) As Osthanes (a Persian of the 5 th century BCE) said, there are several types of magic. He promises divination from water, globes, air, stars, lamps, basins, axes and by many other methods, as well as interviews with ghosts and those in the underworld. In our time the Emperor Nero discovered that all this was a deceptive fraud; for his passion for magic was no less than that for the lyre and tragic recitations, his attainment of the highest human fortune arousing in him the most profound vices of his soul; his principal ambition was to give orders to the gods, and he could rise to no nobler objective. No one ever patronized an art more vigorously. 15) For this purpose he had no lack of wealth, strength, aptitude for learning, or anything else the world offered. What an immense and irrefutable proof of the falseness of magic is the fact that Nero abandoned it! (Pliny, Natural History XXX, 12-15)

12. Curse Tablets Curses attempted to manipulate supernatural powers, of the gods, the dead or other infernal beings, against the living. Curses attempted to manipulate supernatural powers, of the gods, the dead or other infernal beings, against the living. Composed for 3 main reasons: 1) to ensure love; 2) to gain vengeance or justice; 3) to win competitions in circus or theatre Composed for 3 main reasons: 1) to ensure love; 2) to gain vengeance or justice; 3) to win competitions in circus or theatre

13. Curse Tablet (Phrygia – 1 st to 3 rd Century CE) http://www.vroma.org/images/mcmanus_images/cursetablet.jpg