Mar. 17-19: Anthropological Perspectives on Demonology and Spirit Possession and Demonology in the Ancient World
Kate Bolin--kbolin@mailhost.tcs.tulane.edu
Objective How do you perform an exorcism?
Call an exorcist
Call out the demon using its real name
Order the demon out by invoking a higher deity
Compare and contrast the movement of demons and witches
towards evil over time.
Nicholas Katsaounis: nkatsao@mailhost.tcs.tulane.edu
> Objective: What is the difference between necromancy and possession? (Myers
> p240)
Subjective Based on the sociocultural explanation there are different
interpretations of possession depending on gender. How would you justify that
based on all you have learned so far about gender and magic?
Bob Fraser: rfraser@mailhost.tcs.tulane.edu
Objective: 1. How does one go about performing an exorcism?
(ans-1. call in an exorcist/specialist, 2 conjure the demon 1st by
calling his real name, 3 order demon to leave by calling upon higher
diety.)
subjective: 2. How do you use PERSEUS? :>
subjective: 2. Define some characteristics of ancient (evil) demons
and explain their place in the ancient world. (ans-in the class notes and
the Smith article)
Nick Backer: nbacker@mailhost.tcs.tulane.edu
List three out of the four types of daimones found in folk beliefs.
divinities of earlier periods
spirits of flora and fauna
spirit intermediaries between humans and god(s)
spirits of the dead/divinities connected with the dead
Describe the process by which an exorcism is performed, and relate
it to the actual goal of the exorcism.
A:See class notes from 3/19
Zach Harrelson:zharrel@mailhost.tcs.tulane.edu
(obj) What are the ancient Greek terms for (a) a daemon who is
amessenger of some kind, usually sent by a theos, and (b) a daemon who is
best described as a sort of divine guardian spirit?
(answer: (a) angelos, (b) daimonian
(SA) How are the liminal qualities ascribed to daemons reflected in
(a) descriptions of their appearance, (b) rituals performed to placate or
invoke daemons, and (c) rituals performed to exorcize daemons?
cwilson2@mailhost.tcs.tulane.edu
In modern times, when are people more suscebtible to possession?
(in times of stress, ect.)
What are some signs of possession?
(deep voice, delerium, epiletic fits, ect.)
Discuss the ways in which the term demon has changed thru the years.
Tobin Cataldo: tcatald@mailhost.tcs.tulane.edu
essay question: Compare the perceptions of demonology in the
early Classical period (Aeschylus) with the Hellenistic period.
Derek Pepiak:dpepiak@mailhost.tcs.tulane.edu
Compare and contrast adorcism and exorcism.
Which form of divination has the closest connection to possession?
Answer: Prophecy.
Barbette Spaeth: spaeth@mailhost.tcs.tulane.edu
Why is it, as Lewis suggests, that women are particularly prominent in cult activities that involve spirit possession and that these cults, almost without exception, employ sexual imagery? Is possession (and religious ecstasy) simply the sign of a sexually repressed woman?
Argue for or against Pattison's hypothesis that the exorcist and the psychotherapist are quite similar: the therapist is not the successor the the exorcist, just different in technique.
Pattison argues that beliefs in demons arise when the following conditions exist: oppressive social conditions, a general loss of trust in the efficacy of social institutions, and a seeming inability of individuals to cope with the evils of the social structure. How would you apply this theory to demonology in classical antiquity, noting especially the relative lack of belief in (evil) demons in Greek society and their prevalence in Roman society?