Title: Magic in the ancient world
First published: 1997
Description: Ancient Greeks and Romans often turned to magic to achieve personal goals. Magical rites were seen as a route for direct access to the gods, for material gains as well as spiritual satisfaction. In this survey of magical beliefs and practices from the sixth century B.C.E. through late antiquity, Fritz Graf sheds new light on ancient religion.

Graf explores the important types of magic in Greco-Roman antiquity, describing rites and explaining the theory behind them. And he characterizes the ancient magician: his training and initiation, social status, and presumed connections with the divine world. With trenchant analysis of underlying conceptions and vivid account of illustrative cases, Graf gives a full picture of the practice of magic and its implications. He concludes with an evaluation of the relation of magic to religion.
Subjects: Ancient Magic, Religious life and customs, Magic, Ancient, Magie, 11.10 ancient religions: general, Roman World, Klassieke oudheid, MAGIA, Greek World, Magie antique, Antike, Magie dans l'antiquite greco romaine, Vie religieuse, Magic, ANTIGUIDADE (HISTÓRIA), History, Rome, religion, Magic, history, Greece, religion
Places: Rome
LC classification: BF1591 .G7213 1997