This course will look at the role of magic and witchcraft in the culture and literature of the ancient world. What is "magic," who is a "witch," and how do these categories change through the centuries and fit into the cultures of ancient Greece and Rome? Using examples from material culture and different genres of literature (epic, philosophy, history, tragedy, elegy, satire, etc.), this course will examine the social function of magic, the complex relationship between magic/religion, the role of magic and the witch archetype in ancient literature, and how the witch relates to societal systems of gender, sexuality, and colonialism. Through understanding magic and witches' position in the ancient world, this course will provide critical insight into their reverberation through modern society. |