KR030 Magic in the Graeco-Roman World

Faculty of Arts
Autumn 2022
Extent and Intensity
2/0/0. 4 credit(s). Type of Completion: k (colloquium).
Teacher(s)
doc. Mgr. et Mgr. Juraj Franek, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
doc. Mgr. et Mgr. Juraj Franek, Ph.D.
Department of Classical Studies – Faculty of Arts
Contact Person: doc. Mgr. et Mgr. Juraj Franek, Ph.D.
Supplier department: Department of Classical Studies – Faculty of Arts
Timetable
Mon 10:00–11:40 A21
Prerequisites
Working knowledge of English.
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is also offered to the students of the fields other than those the course is directly associated with.
The capacity limit for the course is 60 student(s).
Current registration and enrolment status: enrolled: 17/60, only registered: 0/60, only registered with preference (fields directly associated with the programme): 0/60
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Course objectives
The course introduces students to the magical practices in the ancient Greek and Roman world (ca. 500 BCE - 500 CE) by means of analyzing literary texts as well as archaeological evidence.
Following the completion of the course, studens will be familiar with the depiction of magic and magicians in literary texts, they will obtain good knowledge of the main functional types of ancient magic (curses, binding spells, divination, apotropaic magic etc.) as well as their material supports (lamellae, papyri, gems, pendants, medallions, kolossoi etc.). Students will also gain insight into the difficult relationship between magic and related knowledge and/or power systems (medicine, religion, law).
Lectures are held in English, the course is therefore well suited for incoming Erasmus students.
Learning outcomes
Following the successful completion of the course, the student will be able to:
- identify the most important classical texts dealing with magic and magicians;
- outline main functional types of ancient magic;
- describe material supports and archaeological evidence for magical practices;
- discuss the reactions to magical practices in ancient Greek and Roman law, medicine and religion.
Syllabus
  • 01. Introduction.
  • 02. Magic and magicians in Greek and Roman literary sources.
  • 03. Technical literature: Greek magical papyri.
  • 04. Curse tablets, binding spells, kolossoi.
  • 05. Apotropaic magic I: Lamellae and papyri.
  • 06. Apotropaic magic II: Gems, pendants and other wearables.
  • 07. Apotropaic magic III: Protecting houses, fields and graves.
  • 08. Solomonic magic as a case study.
  • 09. Magic from the perspective of ancient medicine and law.
  • 10. Magic and early Christianity.
  • 11. What is this thing called magic anyway? "Magic" vs. "Religion".
  • 12. Concluding remarks.
Literature
    recommended literature
  • Frankfurter, David (ed.) (2019). Guide to the Study of Ancient Magic. Leiden - Boston: Brill.
  • Edmonds III, Radcliffe (2019). Drawing Down the Moon: Magic in the Ancient Greco-Roman World. Princeton - Oxford: Oxford University Press.
  • Ogden, Daniel (2009). Magic, Witchcraft, and Ghosts in the Greek and Roman Worlds: A Sourcebook. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
  • Luck, Georg (2006). Arcana Mundi: Magic and the Occult in the Greek and Roman Worlds. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press.
  • Dickie, Matthew (2001). Magic and Magicians in the Greco-Roman World. London - New York: Routledge.
  • Graf, Fritz (1997). Magic in the Ancient World. Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University Press.
Teaching methods
Reading, lectures, class discussion.
Assessment methods
Multiple choice test, a minimum of 70% is required to pass.
Language of instruction
English
Further Comments
Study Materials
The course is taught annually.
The course is also listed under the following terms Autumn 2021.
  • Enrolment Statistics (recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/phil/autumn2022/KR030