CLASSICAL STUDIES 212
MAGIC IN THE ANCIENT GRECO-ROMAN WORLD
|
Professor Radcliffe G. Edmonds III Office: Thomas 245 Office Phone: 526-5046 redmonds@brynmawr.edu |
Thomas 110 T 2:30-4:00; Th to be scheduled Office Hours: MWF 2:30-3:30 or by appointment |
Required Texts:
Course Description:
Bindings and curses, love charms and healing potions, amulets and talismans - from the simple spells designed to meet the needs of the poor and desperate to the complex theurgies of the philosophers, the people of the Greco-Roman World made use of magic to try to influence the world around them. In this course we shall examine the magicians of the ancient world and the techniques and devices they used to serve their clientele. We shall consider ancient tablets and spell books as well as literary descriptions of magic in the light of theories relating to the religious, political, and social contexts in which magic was used.
Course Requirements:
Class participation:
Participation, of course, includes attendance, since you cannot participate if you are not in class. If, for some reason, you cannot attend class, please inform me in advance. Each student should be prepared to discuss and answer questions on the material covered in the lesson for the week. Coming prepared with questions on the material is even better than coming with answers to the basics. If, for some reason, you cannot prepare for class, please attend anyway - you will be better prepared for the next class.
Tuesday classes will be primarily lecture, with some discussion of the general issues raised in the secondary readings. On Thursday, the class will meet in smaller sections to discuss the primary and secondary readings in greater detail. Several students will be selected to lead off the discussion in the section for each class, but every student should be prepared to contribute to the discussion. All readings not in the required textbooks will be available online in the Bryn Mawr electronic reserves at:http://trires.brynmawr.edu/cgi-bin/eres/viewcourse.pl?CSTSB212_EDMONDS.
Written Assignments:
There will be a number of short written assignments designed for the students to demonstrate their understanding of specific materials covered in class. These projects may require some out of class research in addition to the readings assigned for the class.
Examinations:
There will be take-home Midterm and Final Examinations for this class. Each of these examinations will require students to apply the analyses and definitions discussed throughout the course to primary materials.
Grade Distribution:
CLASS SCHEDULE
Week I – 1/22 – 26: Introduction – Issues of Definition
Topics:
Readings:
Supplementary Readings:
Week II – 1/29 – 2/2: The World of Ancient Magic
Topics:
Readings:
Week III – 2/5 – 9: Curses – Binding Spells for All Occasions
Topics:
Readings:
Supplementary Readings:
Week IV – 2/12 – 16: Love Charms
Topics:
Readings:
Supplementary Readings:
Week V – 2/19 – 23: Healing and Protection
Topics:
Readings:
Supplementary Readings:
Week VI – 2/26 – 3/2: Prayer and Magic
Topics:
Readings:
Supplementary Readings:
Week VII – 3/5 – 9: The Magician's Craft
Topics:
Readings:
Supplementary Readings:
Week VIII – 3/12 – 16 Spring Break
Week IX – 3/19 – 23: Divination
Topics:
Readings:
Supplementary Readings:
Week X – 3/26 – 3/30: Astrology
Topics:
Readings:
Supplementary Readings:
Week XI – 4/2 – 6: Demonology
Topics:
Readings:
Supplementary Readings:
Week XII – 4/9 –13: Theurgy
Topics:
Readings:
Week XIII – 4/16 – 20: Alchemy
Topics:
Readings:
Week XIV – 4/23 – 27: Accusations of Magic
Topics:
Readings:
Week XV – 4/30 – 5/4: Definitions and Theory
Topics:
Readings:
Supplementary Readings:
Exam Week – 5/7 – 18