The Origins And Meanings Of Roman Witchcraft
(Natasha Sheldon)
This booklet, based on the author?s degree dissertation, uses as its starting point the images of witches found in Roman literature of the first two centuries of the imperial period. It dissects these images, looking at the motivation behind them, revealing a complex amalgam of social and religious attitudes.
Using the literary evidence and factual discourses on magic and religion dating to the period, the author deconstructs the image of the Roman witch, beginning with a discussion on Roman definitions of magic and religion which differ subtly to our own. She also considers the place of magic in Roman society, concluding that whilst essentially no different to Roman religion in forms and format, activities defined as magic were essentially practices that were foreign; either in origin or in motivation. The work then moves on to considering the types of practitioners of magic, looking at terminology, the relevance of the components parts of magical rites and the link between cult activity and magic. All of this is considered within the context of a society in a state of political and cultural flux.
The work concludes by suggesting that the Roman image of the witch was used, as in later centuries, to malign and discredit anyone regarded as a threat to the social norm.
www.flyingwitchpublications.co.uk/
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