Magic and the Supernatural in the Ancient World

Student Book Reviews

Feb. 17: Magicians and Shamans

  • Review by Sheeja Kanacheril of E. Butler's The Myth of the Magus (Cambridge 1948)
  • Review by Alex Gleason of E. Peter's The Magician, the Witch, and the Law (Philadelphia 1978)
  • Review of by Julie Alvarez of M. Smith's Jesus the Magician (New York 1978)
  • Feb. 24: Greek Witches and Comparative Anthropological Perspectives

  • Review by Diana Hollenbeck of M. Murray's The Witch-Cult in Western Europe (Oxford 1962)
  • Review by Summer Townsend of J. Yarnall's Transformations of Circe: The History of an Enchantress (Urbana, Ill. 1994)
  • Mar. 3: Roman Witches and Comparative Historical Perspectives

  • Review by Krista Ernewein of J. Baroja's The World of the Witches (London 1964)
  • Review by Kristina Elenides of A. Sanders's A Deed without a Name: The Witch in Society and History (Oxford 1995)
  • Mar. 10: Magical Words: Love Charms, Curses, and Prayers

  • Review by Melissa Klotz of J. Gager's Curse Tablets and Binding Spells from the Ancient World (New York and Oxford 1992)
  • Mar. 17: Magical Objects: Amulets, statues, the evil eye, sacred plants, alchemy

  • Review by Chris Roy of Ch. Faraone's Talismans and Trojan Horses: Guardian Statues in Ancient Greek Mythology and Ritual (New York and Oxford 1993)
  • Review by Kelly Donaghy of C. Andrews's Amulets of Ancient Egypt (Austin, Texas 1994)
  • Mar. 31: Demons and Devils

  • Review by Sirida Graham of J. Russell's The Devil: Perceptions of Evil from Antiquity to Primitive Christianity (Ithaca, N.Y. 1977)
  • Apr. 7: Ghosts, Vampires, Werewolves, and Zombies

  • Review by Eric Moore of A. Bernstein's The Formation of Hell: Death and Retribution in the Ancient and Early Christian Worlds (Ithaca, New York 1993)
  • Review by Megan Ostrander of R. Parker's Miasma: Pollution and Purification in Early Greek Religion (Oxford 1983)
  • Review by Lousie Mullins of R. Garland's The Greek Way of Death (New York 1985)
  • Review by Robin McEvoy of R. Garland's The Greek Way of Death (New York 1985)
  • Apr. 14: Miracles and Supernatural Healing

  • Review by Sharon O'Regan of R. Witt's Isis in the Graeco-Roman World (Ithaca, N.Y. 1971)
  • Apr. 21: Divination and Astrology

  • Review by Rhonda Rowland of H. Parke's The Oracles of Apollo in Asia Minor (London 1985)
  • Review by Joseph Warner of H. Parke's Sibyls and Sibylline Prophecy in Classical Antiquity (London 1985)
  • Review by Jeremy Bufford of D. and J. Parker's The History of Astrology