Magic and the Supernatural in the Ancient World

Discussion Questions for April 21 Meeting

Topic: Divination and Astrology

General Questions on Divination

  • There seems to be some common elements in all forms of divination. What are some common traits in all divination? How does one significantly differ from another? (Krista Ernewein)

  • Is natural divination more powerful than artificial? (Kristina Elenidis)

  • Does the distinction between natural and artifical divination relate to that between magic and religion? (Barbette Spaeth)

  • What is the relationship between eroticism and divination (ecstatic possession)? (Barbette Spaeth)

  • What is the difference in "speaking in tongues" and speaking in a "foreign" language that is considered a sign of possession?(Summer Townsend)

  • What is the difference between a medium and someone posessed by a ghost? (kelly Donaghy)

  • Did societies that believed in divination believe in fate? did they believe that one can change what was divined, or that what was seen was inevitable? (Diana Hollenbeck)

  • Does divination require a belief in predestination? (Barbette Spaeth)

  • Are divinations defying fate or are they part of its "plan"? (Melissa Klotz)

  • It seems that a large basis of divining is trusting the diviner not to lie, or sham the individual. Yet frequently in our anthropology reading the diver recanted his vision when there was conflict about a certain name. How credible can this be? (Krista Ernewein)

  • Is it possible to believe in divination without having faith in the diviner that the seeker goes to? (Sheeja Ann Kanacheril)

  • How does one seperate a bonafide diviner from a quack? (Sheeja Ann Kanacheril)

  • How important in determining the validity of an answer is the degree of control that a diviner has over the method of divination? Which techniques of divination inspire more faith: object divination, diviner mediation, mediumistic trance? (Barbette Spaeth)

  • What psychological needs are fulfilled by divination? (Eric Moore)

    Divination and Astrology in Ancient Greece and Rome

    Dream Divination

  • Luck describes dream divination, incubation, as "miraculous", yet there were rituals that were performed before the incubation was to work. Does this become a miracle or is it magic?(louise mullins)

  • What are some ways that dreams were interpreted?(Summer Townsend)

  • Who is Oneiros and how does he embody the personified "dream?" (Julie Alvarez)

  • Notice that in some of the spells for today's reading from Faraone (namely the elephant and the daemon lamp), there is a parallel with the binding love spells we read previously: both seek to control another's inner thoughts. However, these spells seem to be unviolent and more subtle. While the agogai sought sleeplessness for the love object, the dream spells need the beloved to sleep. (Joseph Warner)

  • What exactly does the phrase "dream transition" mean as used in the essay by Eitrem in Faraone and Obbink? (Sharon O'Regan)

  • What are some objects frequently used in dream requests? (Sharon O'Regan)

  • Would dreams have more significance to the diviner, if they were dreamed during an incubation ritual? If so, in what ways? (Krista Ernewein)

  • What is the difference between inducing a dream and sending one according to the Greek magical papyri? Are these practices magic or religion? (Barbette Spaeth)

    Prophecy

  • According to Luck the prophetai of Delphi were considered "one step removed". What does Luck mean by this? (louise mullins)

  • According to Luck the oracle of Apollo at Corope was reestablished. How did the people react to this ans how much power did they believe it to have after having allready seen it's decline? (louise mullins)

  • How does Cicero uphold his idea that the gode were all powerful and concerned with the welfare of mankind and they were willing to share thier knowledge, while also denying the validity of the oracles?(louise mullins)

  • When the pythia was possessed by Apollo at Delphi, was she seen as blessed or favored by Apollo? (Melissa Klotz)

  • Was the Oracle of Delphi a real oracle or more like a business?(Kristina Elenidis)

  • In classical culture, divination is linked both to the gods and to madness. Why is this so? What does it suggest about ancient attitudes regarding divination? (Barbette Spaeth)

  • What are some of the possible reasons for the decline in the belief in oracles in Late Antiquity? (Barbette Spaeth)

    Astrology

  • Why was astrology thought to be more of a science than a divination process? (Diana HOllenbeck)

  • What significance does the ancient distinction between judicial and horoscopic astrology have? Which was considered more reliable? (Barbette Spaeth)

  • Why was astrology so universally believed in during classical antiquity? Does this belief have any relation to the fact that ancient Greece and Rome were agricultural societies and looked to the heavens for predictions in crop growing? (Barbette Spaeth)

    Divination and Astrology in the Ancient Near East and Egypt

  • Is Joseph an example of a dream oracle?

  • In what ways were Greek and Egyptian divination practices different? (Eric Moore)

  • Why did astrology and magic thrive in Egypt so much? (Kristina Elenidis)

    Divination and Astrology in the Modern World

    Divination

  • What are some things that people did in antiquity to learn the future? How are these different/similar to what we do?(Summer Townsend)

  • Why is it that the renewed interest in occultism is primarily a youth phenomenon? (Julie Alvarez)

  • Does anyone know of any American divination rituals? (Julie Alvarez)

  • Would an Ouija board be considered a modern day form of divination? (Diana Hollenbeck)

  • What caused the revival of interest in the occult? About when did it start? (Sharon O'Regan)

  • For the class: Have you had any instances in which you actively sought out information on the future and received it? (Sheeja Ann Kanacheril)

  • Just out of curiosity- has any one here ever seen a psychic/astrologer? (kelly donaghy)

  • How are ESP and those who practice/exhibit it viewed in modern society? How does this compare to ancient attitudes towards those who practiced divination (mad and/or possessed by the gods)? (Barbette Spaeth)

    Astrology

  • Can the description of astrology today as "pop science" in Truzzi's article be compared to the perception of astrology in the ancient world? (Melissa Klotz)

  • Is the high interest in this class and its related major fields indicative of the "fads" Truzzi discusses?

  • I wonder what socio-economic class, if any, is dominant in this upsurgence of interest in the occult?

  • What do you think was technology's role in the relegation of astrology to a laughable practice by most moderns (Eric Moore)

  • Can Mr. Truzzi's observation that popular astrologers have an "irreverent attitude" have to do with the commercial quality of astrological literature, devices, etc. ? (Joseph Warner)

  • Is this also true of the brands of "mail-order" witchcraft we have today (which, to me, smack of "...to get your very own Red Ranger shotgun...")? How can these people conceive of their link with historical witches? (Joseph Warner)

  • Do you agree with Sydney Omar, that newspaper horoscopes are just entertainment, and a personal reading is more on the money? Or do you think its all a bunch of hooey? (kelly donaghy)

  • Does the modern world still make a distinction between judicial and horoscopic astrology? (Barbette Spaeth)

  • What are the psychological and societal reasons that Truzzi proposes for the popularity of astrology in the modern world? Do you agree with his hypotheses? (Barbette Spaeth)