Magic and the Supernatural in the Ancient World

Exam Questions for April 7 Meeting

Topic: Ghosts, Vampires, Werewolves, Zombies

Objective Questions

  • Define the Egyptian terms ka and ba. (Melissa Klotz)

    Pinch p.147

  • What is the difference between Manes and Lares?

    Manes and undifferentiated dead; dead you don't really know, and they are malevolent. Lares were worshipped in household shrines and were more related. (Summer Townsend)

  • What are manes? (Megan Ostrander)

    Roman undifferentiated dead, generally malevolent

  • What was a person's ka and ba in ancient Eyptian belief?

    A ka was a person's vital force. In art it was commonly depicted as a person's double. The ka lacked personality. The ba was individual, it was a person's personality. (Pinch 147) (Robin McEvoy)

  • ________ is the personification of whatever a society perceives as evil. (Julie Alvarez)

    Answer: the devil

  • List with a brief description the different forms or types that make up the "soul" in Greek, Roman, and Egyptian beliefs in the Afterlife. (Rhonda Rowland)

  • Which ingredient was not thought to be found in the "Living Dead" powder? (Sheeja Ann Kanacheril)
    1. human bones
    2. toads
    3. tarantulas
    4. liver of cats
    5. puffer fish (tetrodotoxin)

    The Correct Answer is D.

  • How did the Greek Pan and the Etruscan Charu (Charon) evolve into the Christian perception of the Devil? (alex)

  • What is a person's "ka"?

    answer may be found on page 147 of Pinch (Jeremy Bufford)

  • What is the Roman terminology for a ghost?(louise mullins)

  • Define nefas and state which society put more emphasis on this. (Diana Hollenbeck)

  • Which of the following is NOT a way in which the Egyptian Evil Dead are similar to our Vampires? (Sirida Graham)
    1. they drink blood
    2. they tend to lurk near corpses
    3. they bring evil dreams
    4. they are resistant to boundary spells
    5. they bring illness

    Answer: (d) they are resistant to boundary spells

  • Given the following Roman terms for the Soul and the Dead(Manes, Lares, Numen), which of the three corresponds to the Egyptian term "Mut"? Describe in one or two words the commonality of the two terms. (Chris Roy)

    (Answer: Lares; both have to do with "deified ancestors")

  • TheGreeks believed that the two parts of the dead person that separated at death are:_______________________? (Eric Moore)

    Essay Questions

  • Why are women more susceptible, in general, to possession than men? (Melissa Klotz)

    Societal view as weaker sex, more impurties based on greater number of liminal states, and usual role as caretakers of the dead. These characteristics make women more vulnerable to attack.

  • What are some of our beliefs of vampires that express our fear of death? Death comes from the dead, dead are vindictive and attack the living, we have to neutralize death, etc. (Summer Townsend)

  • Why were daemon closely related to fate? Daemons could supposedly predict the future it summoned. Their ability to fortell future events supports the notion of fate. Things were fated to happen and daemons were merely able to see them.

  • Discuss the Greek, Roman, and Egyptian terms for the soul and the dead and what these terms suggest about these cultures' beliefs about death. (Julie Alvarez)

    Answer should include definitions of psyche, daimon, eidolon, heros, Manes, Lares, numen, ka, ba, akh, Mut, etc. and a discussion of how these cultures viewed death based on the terms and other sources.

  • Examine how the view of the traditional vampire differs from the folkloric vampire and how this view or change in view is treated in literature. (Rhonda Rowland)

  • Does "The Real Vampire" justify the Vampire myth? Give some examples to support your answer. (Sheeja Ann Kanacheril)

    LM 306-11

  • How does the evolution of today's fear of Vampires replace the fear of Ghosts, and what does it tell about today's society? In other words if the Greeks were afraid of Ghosts why are they now associated with beings such as Casper? (alex)

  • How is Voodoo both an African-based and Catholic-influenced religion?

    "Voodoo" by Karen McCarthy Brown, in Lehmann and Myers, pp. 313-14 (Jeremy Bufford)

  • How did the Greeks view thier dead and was this demonstrated by the rituals of burial and upkeep of the tomb?(louise mullins)

  • Define three terms for Greek, Roman, and Egyptian dead and describe the similarities/differences between the cultures' beliefs. (Diana Hollenbeck)

  • In what ways did the Greeks differ from the Romans in their attitudes toward & beliefs about the dead? What evidence indicates these differences exist? (Sirida Graham)

  • How are zombies made? (Megan Ostrander)

    powder or some other drug is administered which makes the person appear dead and then they are reawakened by the caster and forced to do their bidding. They are then killed.

  • Describe in detail the differing characteristics of folkloric vampires and the vampires commonly descibed in novels and movies of today. (Chris Roy)

  • In what ways were the developmental alterations made to the folklore of the vampire by Bram Stoker and later film makers, merely a reflection of the author appealing to his audience? How is this similar to or diferent to the witch folklore? (Eric Moore)