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Magic, Witchcraft, and Ghosts in the Greek and Roman Worlds: A Sourcebook Paperback – November 7, 2002

by Daniel Ogden (Editor)
4.8 4.8 out of 5 stars 104 ratings
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Magic, Witchcraft and Ghosts in the Greek and Roman Worlds: A Sourcebook
Magic, Witchcraft and Ghosts in the Greek and Roman Worlds: A Sourcebook
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In a culture where the supernatural possessed an immediacy now strange to us, magic was of great importance both in the literary and mythic tradition and in ritual practice. Recently, ancient magic has hit a high in popularity, both as an area of scholarly inquiry and as one of general, popular interest. In Magic, Witchcraft, and Ghosts in the Greek and Roman Worlds Daniel Ogden presents three hundred texts in new translations, along with brief but explicit commentaries. This is the first book in the field to unite extensive selections from both literary and documentary sources. Alongside descriptions of sorcerers, witches, and ghosts in the works of ancient writers, it reproduces curse tablets, spells from ancient magical recipe books, and inscriptions from magical amulets. Each translation is followed by a commentary that puts it in context within ancient culture and connects the passage to related passages in this volume. Authors include the well known (Sophocles, Herodotus, Plato, Aristotle, Virgil, Pliny) and the less familiar, and extend across the whole of Greco-Roman antiquity.
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  1. Print length
    368 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Oxford University Press
  4. Publication date
    November 7, 2002
  5. Dimensions
    9.9 x 0.94 x 7 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    0195151232
  7. ISBN-13
    978-0195151237
  8. See all details
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The Amazon Book Review
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"This is a marvelous book, in every sense of the word. For one thing, it is full of marvels--marvelous stories of ghostly and magical happenings.... And for another, it is marvelously assembled, making it a reference source that everyone researching this field will be delighted to possess.... It is all a reference book should be: accessible, navigable, convenient. What's more, it is both instructive and entertaining to read."--Journal of Scientific Exploration

Book Description

An accessible and unique collection of ancient ghost stories, witch's spells, and recipes

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Oxford University Press; First Edition (November 7, 2002)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 368 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0195151232
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0195151237
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.42 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 9.9 x 0.94 x 7 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.8 4.8 out of 5 stars 104 ratings

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Daniel Ogden

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Customer reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars
4.8 out of 5
104 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Alyssa
5.0 out of 5 stars Great for school
Reviewed in the United States on August 3, 2023
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I had to get it for a college class. Came in very quick and was the product I needed. Nice shiny cover. Needed it for school and it was the right item, simple as that.
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Christopher R. Travers
5.0 out of 5 stars Companion to "Night's Black Agents"
Reviewed in the United States on August 27, 2009
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This book is an important book in the study of ancient Greek and Roman magical practices and views on magic. It is a sourcebook which is obviously intended to be used alongside Prof. Ogden's analytical work on the subject, "Night's Black Agents." While Night's Black Agents provides analysis, this book provides the sources referenced in the book.

The combination of these two books, along with "Necromancy in the Greek and Roman Worlds" represent important contributions to classical studies generally, and studies of classical views on magic in particular. These topics are important to those interested in what the Greeks and Romans really thought about magic, necromancy, and the like, but they also have a more general application as well.

The approach to necromancy in particular shows a very different relationship between the dead and the living in Ancient Greece (less so with Ancient Rome) than we have today. I would highly recommend these books together, along with Walter Burkert's "Greek Religion." The combination of these works will change the way you look at ancient Greece and Rome forever.
42 people found this helpful
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Andrea M Lazar
5.0 out of 5 stars Essential esoteric, witch, ancient spirituality text
Reviewed in the United States on April 9, 2021
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Amazing text. Highly recommend for a deep dive into this topic.
3 people found this helpful
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L.E. Daniels
5.0 out of 5 stars A must-have for classical & esoteric boffins
Reviewed in the United States on October 10, 2007
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Daniel Ogden is so dedicated to his efforts of collection. I kept taking this out of the library for weeks at a time before I realized I could just purchase it. A must-have for anyone studying the classics for fun, research or enrichment.
5 people found this helpful
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D.B.
4.0 out of 5 stars well-used
Reviewed in the United States on June 16, 2014
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This was an assigned text for one of my classes, and I found it to be the most utilitarian of the four assigned texts. Very adequate for most undergraduate writing, though if you're a classics major (I was not) I would recommend using the untranslated texts very likely available in your library or through interlibrary loan. I would have liked more legal sources and legal commentary on magic-related laws, as that was my main topic.
One person found this helpful
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Jay M. Davis
5.0 out of 5 stars Awesome!
Reviewed in the United States on January 23, 2016
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Awesome!
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Dennis
5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
Reviewed in the United States on January 14, 2015
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one of a kind
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Katherine Collins
4.0 out of 5 stars A Great Sourcebook, If You Know What You're Looking For
Reviewed in the United States on June 17, 2013
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Ogden's writing is informative and compelling as a sourcebook for future research, but this is not an ideal introduction into magic in the ancient world. The title refers specifically to magic in the Greek and Roman worlds, but there is information on Egyptian ritual, as well. The content is organized encyclopedically, without much analysis of theme or cultural impact. It is written in a 'case study' style, of sorts.
10 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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megpie
5.0 out of 5 stars Good Condition
Reviewed in Canada on December 26, 2015
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Used book in great condition for a very good price! A very interesting textbook, I look forward to using it this semester.
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Maria Jose
5.0 out of 5 stars Very good book, perfect shipment
Reviewed in Spain on January 5, 2016
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The shipment was very quick and everything was perfect. The book is very interesting. Thank you very much. Good seller
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AmazonCheck
4.0 out of 5 stars Molto buono
Reviewed in Italy on December 12, 2013
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Daniel Ogden è uno scrittore poco noto in Italia.
Il testo in questione è graficamente accettabile ma ha il pregio di essere estremamente interessante.
Tratta argomenti che la nostra 'cultura' sembra far finta di non conoscere.
Per chi vuole sapere!
One person found this helpful
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RGJ
4.0 out of 5 stars Day trips into the ancient Mediterranean head-space.
Reviewed in Canada on February 12, 2017
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The book is a collection of notes on quotes from a wide variety of literary sources. But the reader is left to read the original sources himself. Daniel Ogden's book is the first half of a book report, because it contains very little discussion or analysis. As such it is a good basis for a course on the subject. It is a good vehicle for a student trying getting into the literature quickly.
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G. C. Palmer
5.0 out of 5 stars A good source book
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 8, 2014
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Great for people who want to study the world of (mainly Greek, Roman and Egyptian) magic. A good source book
2 people found this helpful
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