| Magical Myths 101 Lesson Two |
| Talking about the ancient practice of conjuring up gods and trying to control them, we find many forms of ancient magic depended on knowing the secret names of the gods as they had two. One was the common name and only those who study magic knew the other. These were the first �magic words�. Whether spoken or written it was believed they had great powers. Egyptian priests gave their ditties long complex un-pronounceable names so they would not be easily learned and the priest would not be easily replaced.
Ancient magic is often divided into two categories, �high magic� and �low magic�, which was distinguished by the goals of the one performing the magic. High magic, which had a lot in common with religion, was motivated by the desire to achieve wisdom not available though ordinary means. When high magicians petitioned gods or spirits, they had lofty goals. They hoped to get prophetic visions, become healers, achieve insight, and self-knowledge. Achieving high magic was lifetime work. |
| But most people had less lofty goals, they wanted to bring luck, riches, fame, political success, health, beauty, harm enemies, compel love, win sporting events, know the future and solve everyday problems. To pursue these goals would be considered low magic. This would also include fortune telling, making potions, casting spells, and the use of charms, amulet, and talismans. From 14 B. C. thousands went into business as professional sorcerers and diviners, offering magic for a fee�
Magic in the ancient world was feared. Even people who did not know much about it feared they could be harmed by or influenced by someone using magic. If someone got ill, they must have been cursed! The bad reputation started to grow through Greek and Roman literature, which associated magic with witchcraft. One such description was of Erictho, a witch created by the Roman writer Lucan who had her using human body parts in her potions, she buries her enemies alive and brings rotting corpses back to life. Thanks to this and other stories, people began to believe this was what magic and witchcrafts was all about. |
| Although magic was popular with a public who wanted fortunes told and purchase protective amulets and charms, those in authority were wary of astrologers who predicted their deaths or by a sorcerer hired by their enemies to curse them.
In 81 B.C. the Roman dictator Cornelius Sulla ordered the death penalty for �soothsayers, enchanters, and those who make use of sorcery for evil purposes, those who conjure up demons, who disrupt the elements (or) who employ waxen images destructively.� Many other similar laws were passed later and by the 4th century A.D. all forms of magic and divination was outlawed in the Roman Empire. At the same time the Christian Church was gaining power and they too felt magic was devil worship. Ok we are going to stop here and pick this up in the next lesson. Quiz: 1.) What were the magic words? 2.) Why did the Egyptian priests give long complex un-pronouceable names? 3.) What is the difference between "High magic" and "Low magic"? 4.) Why did people in the ancient world fear magic? 5.) When did the bad reputation about magic start to grow> 6.) Ericho - who was she? 7.) In 81 B.C., what happened? 8.) What was similar in the views of the Christian church and the Romans? 9.) Why did people begin to believe that magic was evil in Roman and Greek times?. |
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