Greek and Roman Necromancy
by Daniel Ogden
On This Page
Description
In classical antiquity, there was much interest in necromancy - the consultation of the dead for divination. People could seek knowledge from the dead by sleeping on tombs, visiting oracles, and attempting to reanimate corpses and skulls. Ranging over many of the lands in which Greek and Roman civilizations flourished, including Egypt, from the Greek archaic period through the late Roman empire, this book is the first comprehensive survey of the subject. Daniel Ogden surveys the places, show more performers, and techniques of necromancy as well as the reasons for turning to it. He investigates the cave-based sites of oracles of the dead at Heracleia Pontica and Tainaron, as well as the oracles at the Acheron and Avernus, which probably consisted of lakeside precincts. He argues that the Acheron oracle has been long misidentified, and considers in detail the traditions attached to each site. Readers meet the personnel - real or imagined - of ancient necromancy : ghosts, zombies, the earliest vampires, evocators, sorcerers, shamans, Persian magi, Chaldaeans, Egyptians, Roman emperors, and witches from Circe to Medea. Ogden explains the technologies used to evocate or reanimate the dead and to compel them to disgorge their secrets. He concludes by examining ancient beliefs about ghosts and their wisdom - beliefs that underpinned and justified the practice of necromancy. show lessTags
Recommendations
Member Reviews
Excellent well-researched resource with a robust bibliography, and well-construed manner of presentation. From a personal perspective, dealing with skia and eidola, as well as all sorts of variety of the dead (or shadowside) of human and non-human origins on a day to day basis, reading a book on ancient necromancy with my undead yet ethereal companions was a pure pleasure.
I've read it both as an informative academic study, and gathered some hints for practice - prepared my own Melikraton for the day of the dead (All Saints Day), and invited my shadely friends for a bening feast of compassion and soothing. I would add some personal revelations to the book an answer some questions gladly, but as a whole - with a scholarly flair - that show more was a wonderful read.
I can't wait to get my hands on 'Drakon' by the same author. show less
I've read it both as an informative academic study, and gathered some hints for practice - prepared my own Melikraton for the day of the dead (All Saints Day), and invited my shadely friends for a bening feast of compassion and soothing. I would add some personal revelations to the book an answer some questions gladly, but as a whole - with a scholarly flair - that show more was a wonderful read.
I can't wait to get my hands on 'Drakon' by the same author. show less
Excellent well-researched resource with a robust bibliography, and well-construed manner of presentation. From a personal perspective, dealing with skia and eidola, as well as all sorts of variety of the dead (or shadowside) of human and non-human origins on a day to day basis, reading a book on ancient necromancy with my undead yet ethereal companions was a pure pleasure.
I've read it both as an informative academic study, and gathered some hints for practice - prepared my own Melikraton for the day of the dead (All Saints Day), and invited my shadely friends for a bening feast of compassion and soothing. I would add some personal revelations to the book an answer some questions gladly, but as a whole - with a scholarly flair - that show more was a wonderful read.
I can't wait to get my hands on 'Drakon' by the same author. show less
I've read it both as an informative academic study, and gathered some hints for practice - prepared my own Melikraton for the day of the dead (All Saints Day), and invited my shadely friends for a bening feast of compassion and soothing. I would add some personal revelations to the book an answer some questions gladly, but as a whole - with a scholarly flair - that show more was a wonderful read.
I can't wait to get my hands on 'Drakon' by the same author. show less
Excellent well-researched resource with a robust bibliography, and well-construed manner of presentation. From a personal perspective, dealing with skia and eidola, as well as all sorts of variety of the dead (or shadowside) of human and non-human origins on a day to day basis, reading a book on ancient necromancy with my undead yet ethereal companions was a pure pleasure.
I've read it both as an informative academic study, and gathered some hints for practice - prepared my own Melikraton for the day of the dead (All Saints Day), and invited my shadely friends for a bening feast of compassion and soothing. I would add some personal revelations to the book an answer some questions gladly, but as a whole - with a scholarly flair - that show more was a wonderful read.
I can't wait to get my hands on 'Drakon' by the same author. show less
I've read it both as an informative academic study, and gathered some hints for practice - prepared my own Melikraton for the day of the dead (All Saints Day), and invited my shadely friends for a bening feast of compassion and soothing. I would add some personal revelations to the book an answer some questions gladly, but as a whole - with a scholarly flair - that show more was a wonderful read.
I can't wait to get my hands on 'Drakon' by the same author. show less
Excellent well-researched resource with a robust bibliography, and well-construed manner of presentation. From a personal perspective, dealing with skia and eidola, as well as all sorts of variety of the dead (or shadowside) of human and non-human origins on a day to day basis, reading a book on ancient necromancy with my undead yet ethereal companions was a pure pleasure.
I've read it both as an informative academic study, and gathered some hints for practice - prepared my own Melikraton for the day of the dead (All Saints Day), and invited my shadely friends for a bening feast of compassion and soothing. I would add some personal revelations to the book an answer some questions gladly, but as a whole - with a scholarly flair - that show more was a wonderful read.
I can't wait to get my hands on 'Drakon' by the same author. show less
I've read it both as an informative academic study, and gathered some hints for practice - prepared my own Melikraton for the day of the dead (All Saints Day), and invited my shadely friends for a bening feast of compassion and soothing. I would add some personal revelations to the book an answer some questions gladly, but as a whole - with a scholarly flair - that show more was a wonderful read.
I can't wait to get my hands on 'Drakon' by the same author. show less
An excellent study of the actual practice of necromancy in the Old European pagan culture.
Ratings
Members
- Recently Added By
Lists
The ESOTERICA Library by Dr. Justin Sledge (Ancient Magic)
11 works; 1 member
Best Books on Ancient Greek and Roman Magic and Divination
8 works; 1 member
Author Information
24+ Works 962 Members
Daniel Ogden is Professor of Ancient History at the University of Exeter.
Classifications
- Genres
- Nonfiction, History, Religion & Spirituality, General Nonfiction
- DDC/MDS
- 133.9 — Philosophy & psychology Parapsychology & occultism Specific topics in parapsychology and occultism Spiritualism
- LCC
- BF1591 .O33 — Philosophy, Psychology and Religion Psychology Occult sciences Magic. Hermetics. Necromancy
- BISAC
Statistics
- Members
- 134
- Popularity
- 244,867
- Reviews
- 5
- Rating
- (4.38)
- Languages
- English, German
- Media
- Paper, Ebook
- ISBNs
- 4
