CLAS 252 Magic. Witches, and Women in the Ancient World

This course investigates the roots of magic and its application to women in the Greek and Roman world. Later visions of magic and witchcraft (up to this day) were shaped by magic, its use, and its perception in antiquity, particularly with the growth of Christianity in Late Antiquity. As such, this course provides a detailed dive into the reasons behind the persecution of women for witchcraft in Europe. The course starts by looking at religion, superstition, and magic. The middle portion of the course is devoted to literary archetypes of witches, and the rituals, both real and imagined, that were practiced in Greece and Rome. The final portion of the course is devoted to conspiracies, trials, and persecutions of magic and witches in antiquity. Primary source materials for this course include: ritual artifacts, literary descriptions of witches and rituals, and philosophical and scholarly investigations into the nature of women, magic, and witchcraft.

OWU Units: 1.00. Crosslisting(s): None. Prerequisite(s): None. Corequisite(s): None. Antirequisite(s): None. Fee: None. Core Competency: None. Offered: TBD.