Magic and Witchcraft in the Ancient World

Transcription

1 Magic and Witchcraft in the Ancient World Spring 2016 This course focuses on a study of magic and witchcraft in the ancient Near East, particularly Mesopotamia, with a comparative introduction to the role of witchcraft in the ancient Mediterranean, Greco-Roman, and Biblical worlds, such as Jewish and early Christian magic. In this course, we will aim to examine the role of magic and witchcraft within several specific contexts, and to place these topics within a larger interpretative and methodological framework. Topics include magical texts, such as incantations and rituals, a study of ancient Near Eastern beliefs that support these practices, and a particular focus on the figure and role of the witch in each of these cultures. In particular, we will be examining the distinction between (and importance of) protective magic, as practiced by sanctioned members of the religious system, and antagonistic or malevolent magic or witchcraft as often practiced by witches. Readings will include primary source texts (in translation) of incantations and rituals from the particular periods under study, as well as secondary readings. Course Materials: You are required to purchase one book for class: Daughters of Hecate: Women and Magic in the Ancient World, ed. Kimberly B. Stratton and Dayna S. Kalleres. Oxford: Oxford University Press, ISBN: Other readings will be posted as pdf files; you will be required to print these readings out and bring them to class. If you happen to have a copy of the primary sources we will be using, we will be using the following translations: Homer, The Odyssey - Trans. Robert Fagles Virgil, The Aeneid - Trans. Robert Fitzgerald Apuleius, The Golden Ass - Trans. Robert Graves Readings marked Ogden are excerpted from Daniel Ogden, Magic, Witchcraft, and Ghosts in the Greek and Roman Worlds: A Sourcebook (2 nd ed.), Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2009 All readings are to be completed in prepartion for class. On the readings: All readings will be in English. However, when dealing with articles (particularly those relating to specific demons or specific arguments concerning Biblical texts) there is a tendency for the prose of the article itself to include words, or entire lines in Greek, Hebrew, or Latin. The translation will immediately follow, but you should get used to (and not be alarmed by) seeing words or phrases in languages and scripts you do not know. Assignments: The requirements for this class include a short response paper, midterm, final research paper, as well as attendance and participation in the discussion section of class. The

2 midterm will be scheduled for a meeting outside of class and the final is a research paper. Attendance/Participation Research Paper Discussion Presentation Midterm Final 200 points 200 points 100 points 200 points 300 points The math is simple enough the total number of points in the class add up to 1000, and move your decimal point to get your grade. The scale for points-to-grade conversion is as follows: This course comprises lecture and discussion formats, both of which will require your active attention. We are covering a great deal of ground, and thus attendance and participation are essential. Because of this, all electronic devices, including laptops and cell phones, are not allowed for use in class. If this poses a problem for you in regards to note-taking, come and talk to me. Discussion Presentation: You, in a group, will be responsible for presenting on the readings for one of the class sessions, and opening and leading discussion. The presentation in class will be as a group, and responsible for half your assignment grade. You will be responsible for a written reading response (2-pages, double-spaced, to be done individually) which will comprise the other half of your assignment grade. Midterm: Your midterm will be an in-class exam. Research Paper: A shorter research paper will allow you to explore one of the course areas in greater depth. 3-4 pages. Final: The final will take the form of a final research paper, 15 pages, due during exam week. Plagiarism is a serious breach of academic conduct. Turning in an assignment where you have plagiarized will result in a zero on that assignment, and may result in further repercussions. If you have any questions about what constitutes plagiarism and the consequences thereof, refer to the student handbook. Alternatively, refer to Deuteronomy 28: On attendance: Any missed class will have a negative impact on your grade. More than five absences which would effectively mean you have been absent for three weeks, or nearly a full fifth of the course will automatically drop your attendance/participation to 0. If you have a serious medical or other issue arise during the course of the class that requires your extended absence, I urge you to come and speak with me as soon as it arises.

3 Week 1.1. Introduction: No Readings I. Introduction and Terms: Concerning Magic Week 1.2. Defining Magic and Witchcraft: Unpacking terms - Tambiah, Magic, Science, Religion and the Scope of Rationality, Michael D. Bailey, "The Meanings of Magic," in Magic, Ritual, and Witchcraft 1 (2006): Week 2.1. Gender and the Witch - Carol J. Clover, "Regardless of Sex: Men, Women, and Power in Early Northern Europe," Speculum 68 (1993): Kimberly B. Stratton, "Interrogating the Magic-Gender Connection," in Daughters of Hecate, Week 2.2. Witchcraft vs. Magic vs. Religion - Wim van Binsbergen and Frans Wiggermann, "Magic in History: A Theoretical Perspective, and its Application to Ancient Mesopotamia," in Mesopotamian Magic: Textual, Historical, and Interpretative Perspectives, Groningen: Styx, 1999, II. Magic and the Witch in Mesopotamia Week 3.1. Magic and Religion: Ritual and the Gods - Jean Bottero, "Mesopotamian Religious System." Stanley D. Walters, "The Sorceress and her Apprentice: A Case Study of an Accusation," Journal of Cuneiform Studies 23 (1970): Week 3.2. Monsters and Demons in Mesopotamia - Frans A.M. Wiggermann, "The Mesopotamian Pandemonium: A Provisional Census." In Mesopotamian Demons. Sapienza, Excerpt from Markham Geller, Evil Demons: Canonical Utukkū Lemnūtu Incantations. University of Helsinki, Week 4.1. The Demonic Figure of the Witch and the Monstrous Feminine - Frans A.M. Wiggermann. "Lamashtu, Daughter of Anu, a Profile." In Birth in Babylonia and the Bible: Its Mediterranean Setting. Brill, Tzvi Abusch, "The Demonic Image of the Witch in Standard Babylonian Literature; the Reworking of Popular Conceptions by Learned Exorcists." In Religion, Science, and Magic: in Concert and in Conflict. Oxford University Press,

4 Week 4.2. Protection and Incantations: the Maqlû anti-witchcraft series - Sue Rollin, "Women and Witchcraft in Ancient Assyria," in Images of Women in Antiquity, 1983: Daniel Schwemer, "Evil Witches, Apotropaic Plants, and the New Moon: Two antiwitchcraft incantations from Babylon (BM and BM 36584)," Die Welt des Orients 41 (2011): Excerpts from Maqlû Week 5.1. Ištar, disease, and the Ardat-Lili - Walter Farber. "How to Marry a Disease: Epidemics, Contagion, and a Magic Ritual Against the 'Hand of the Ghost'." In Magic and Rationality in Ancient Near Eastern and Graeco- Roman Medicine. Brill, M.J. Geller, "Fragments of Magic, Medicine, and Mythology from Nimrud," BSOAS 3 (2000): Week 5.2. Birth Magic in Mesopotamian and Hittite Material - Martin Stol, Birth in Babylonia and the Bible: Its Mediterranean Setting, 59-74; Week 6.1. Hittite Texts: the "Old Woman" Ritual Practitioner - Susana B. Murphy, "The Practice of Power in the Ancient Near East: Sorceresses and Serpents in Hittite Myths," RAI 47, Billie Jean Collins, "Necromancy, Fertility, and the Dark Earth: the Use of Ritual Pits in Hittite Cult," in Magic and Ritual in the Ancient World, Week 6.2: Midterm in Class III. The Greco-Roman World: Monsters, the Witch and the Netherworld Week 7.1. The Graeco-Roman World: Magic and Monsters - The Odyssey: Selections from Book IX (Cyclops), XII (Sirens, Scylla, Charybdis). - Barbette Stanley Spaeth, "From Goddess to Hag: the Greek and the Roman Witch in Classical Literature," in Daughters of Hecate, Week 7.2. The Role of Women in Ritual and Religion in Greece and Rome Week 8.1. Interactions with the Divine and Demonic: the Place of the Netherworld - Ogden - Werewolves; Excerpt from The Aeneid, Book VI; The Odyssey, Book XI; - Jonathan Z. Smith; "Towards Interpreting Demonic Powers in Hellenistic and Roman Antiquity," Aufstieg und Niedergang der Römischen Welt, Vol. 16:II Week 8.2. Women and the Demonization of the Other in Greece and Rome - Book I of The Golden Ass; Hesiod, The Catalogue of Women, Fragment 43a; The Odyssey, X (Circe);

5 Week 9.1. Witches: Hecate, Medea, the Women of Thessaly - Selections from Medea - Oliver Phillips, "The Witches' Thessaly," in Magic and Ritual in the Ancient World, Week 9.2. Magic and Gender in Rome -Kimberly B. Stratton, "Magic, Abjection, and Gender in Roman Literature," in Daughters of Hecate, Week Practical Magic: Curse Tablets, Possession, and Exorcism (or: Cursing your Enemies for Fun and Profit) - Pauline Ripat, "Cheating Women: Curse Tablets and Roman Wives," in Daughters of Hecate, Ogden-Curse Tablets Ogden-Ghost sleeps with man Ogden-Armpitting Ogden-Reanimated Corpses IV. The Biblical World Week Introduction, Historical Context and Primary Source Material -K. van der Toorn, "The Theology of Demons in Mesopotamia and Israel: Popular Belief and Scholarly Speculation." In Demons: the Demonology of Israelite-Jewish and early Christian Literature in Context. Mohr Siebeck, Week Witches in the Bible and Rabbinic Sources - Bar-Ilan, Meir, "Witches in the Bible and in the Talmud," 7-32 in Approaches to Ancient Judaism, ed. H.. W. Basser and S. Fishbane. Atlanta: Scholars Press, Yaakov Elman, "Saffron, Spices, and Sorceresses: Magic Bowls and the Bavli," in Daughters of Hecate, Week Magic and Gender in the Pseudepigrapha - Rebecca Lesses, "The Most Worthy of Women in a Mistress of Magic'": Women as Witches and Ritual Practitioners in I Enoch and Rabbinic Sources," in Daughters of Hecate, Yoshiko Reed, "Gendering Heavenly Secrets? Women, Angels, and the Problem of Misogyny and 'Magic,'" in Daughters of Hecate, Excerpt, Book of Jubilees; 1 Enoch 1-36 (selections) Week Ritual and Magic - Philip S. Alexander, "Sefer Ha-Razim and the Problem of Black Magic in Early Judaism," in Magic in the Biblical World; from the Rod of Aaron to the Ring of Solomon, Excerpt: Testament of Solomon

6 Week Jesus: Exorcism in the New Testament - Geert van Oyen "Demons and Exorcism in the Gospel of Mark." In Demons and the Devil in Ancient and Medieval Christianity. Brill, Toon Bastiaensen. "Exorcism: Tackling the Devil by Word of Mouth." In Demons and the Devil in Ancient and Medieval Christianity. Brill, Excerpt, Book of Tobit Week Witches in Later Christian and Jewish Sources - Dayna S. Kalleres, "Drunken Hags with Amulets and Prostitutes with Erotic Spells: The Re-Feminization of Magic in Late Antique Christian Homilies," in Daughters of Hecate, Kirsti Barrett Copeland, "Sorceresses and Sorcerers in Early Christian Tours of Hell," in Daughters of Hecate, Week Excursus: Lilith - Raphael Patai, "Lilith," Journal of American Folklore 77 (1964): Joseph Dan, "Samael, Lilith, and the Concept of Evil in Early Kabbalah," AJS Review 5 (1980): V. Revisiting the Social Context for Witchcraft Week The Witch in Medieval and Renaissance Contexts (A Very Brief Discussion) -Tamar Herzig, "Flies, Heretics, and the Gendering of Witchcraft," Magic, Ritual, and Witchcraft 5 (2010): Excerpts from the Malleus Maleficarium Week Gender, the Witch, and Modern Monsters -Readings TBA Final Paper due during Exam Period: May 11- May 17