Magic in the Ancient World (Revealing Antiquity, No. 10) (Paperback)

by Fritz Graf (Author), Franklin Philip (Translator)

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal
Whether because of uninspired translation or the author's own heavy-handed writing, this work is a dull, disappointing read. Graf (classics, Univ. of Basel) presupposes that his reader is steeped in prior scholarly treatises on the history of magic and limits his study to the Greco-Roman period from the fifth century B.C. to the third century A.D. Relying primarily on literary sources from various papyri extant in European museums and libraries, he gives equal weight to oratorical allusions, theatrical fiction, and philosophical observations. He jumps back and forth in time and location without any discernible logic or progression. His connection of magic with religion, medicine, and astrology is hardly groundbreaking, and while his descriptions of spell casting are interesting, they do not lead to any articulated discussions. This work may have significance in academic circles where there has been considerable investigation into the origins and uses of magic, but it is not recommended for public libraries.?Rose M. Cichy, Osterhout Free Lib., Wilkes-Barre, Pa.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review
Magic in the Ancient World ... would seem to be filling a very definite gap. And it is, indeed, a very good book, full of insights. It's also a rather frustrating one--especially for a nonclassicist.... The story he has to tell has to be teased out from a series of often technical arguments. -- The Nation, David Graeber

His book contains a great deal of very interesting material, ably discussed; it is a substantial and controversial contribution to the study of a fascinating and controversial subject. -- The New York Review of Books, Jasper Griffin --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 313 pages
• Publisher: Harvard University Press (October 15, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0674541537
• ISBN-13: 978-0674541535
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.7 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #852,503 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

46 of 46 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Fine Study, April 13, 2000

By	S. parker "Ian Corrigan" (Madison, Ohio United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This volume presents a good overview of the place of 'magic' in the Greek and Roman worlds. It should be interesting to modern practitioners as well as to students of history and culture.

The book begins by examining the meaning of the term 'magic', especially as related to the term 'religion'. Beginning with the ways of the Magi, and its development through the 'mystery cults' and influences from Egypt, Persia and the Graeco-Egyptian papyri, the author traces the growth and change of the idea of magic in classical culture.

The book then considers the figure of the magician, and the place of magical arts. It uses interesting classical sources, including a well-documented trial for sorcery of a Roman scholar. Two chapters address the rites if initiation of magicians, and the large body of evidence for the use of curse tablets and images.

The book emphasizes magic as a personal and individual approach to the spiritual, and how that brought magicians under suspicion by religious authorities. It discusses the development of the literary image of the mage.

I found the book to be satisfyingly scholarly, yet well written and engaging. The author shows a quiet humor that helps make this a very good book on a fascinating topic.

Ian Corrigan [e-mail]

7 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Magic and religion are related......, October 29, 2005

By	Dianne Foster "Di" (USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 100 REVIEWER)

What is the difference between religion and magic? Fritz Graf says there is none. Graf a professor of Classics at Princeton University, has been described by his fellows as one of the world's most knowledgeable experts on Ancient Greek religion, and in this book he defends his title in reviewing the Presidendanz material-a collection of ancient texts (papyri) housed in Paris and developed during the Greco-Roman period. Graf also discusses artifacts from Attica and other areas in the Roman empire where thousands of binding tablets and `Voodoo' dolls have been discovered in recent years. Graf suggests the Presidendanz texts are as important for Greco-Roman religion as the Qumran scrolls for the Jewish religion, and the Nag-Hammadi texts for Gnosticism.

Graf suggests that Frazier, being a good Hellenist (all scholars knew Greek and Latin in those days) got it wrong when he divided magic from religion (pursuit of spiritual knowledge). According to Frazier, while the former seeks to manipulate the Gods, the latter seeks to know their will. Graf says the ancient Greeks did both-using magical techniques such as creating `binding' tablets and using portents for divination. Graf divides the magic-religious practices associated with binding into two categories: 1/ binding" for the purpose of control and 2/ seeking to undo the binding or restrictions placed on a victim by a magician or sorcerer. Graf suggests the practice of exorcism practiced by Christians is an example of the latter kind of magic.

Graf explores external influences affecting the Greco-Roman religion by examining linguistic terms associated with magical-religious practices, and he notes the connections between the words and practices of the early Christians and the `Pagan' Greeks. He suggests the term "magic" has Persian roots, and that both Christianity and the Greco-Roman religion were influenced by practices from the East. Because he reputedly could raise the dead and perform other `miracles' as could many Egyptian and Persian seers, Jesus was considered one of the magi.

3 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Interesting, but not very practical., November 29, 2003

By A Customer

This book is interesting from a historical perspective. Those who think Christians didn't ever practice magic really should read it, because it has archaeological proof that Christ and his disciples did create talismans and amulets. Other than the historical reference, this is not of much practical use, since most of the tablets and scrolls they found spells on weren't intact, and you can't exactly find many of the ingredients nowadays.