Magic in the Middle AgesHow was magic practised in medieval times? How did it relate to the diverse beliefs and practices that characterised this fascinating period? In Magic in the Middle Ages Richard Kieckhefer surveys the growth and development of magic in medieval times. He examines its relation to religion, science, philosophy, art, literature and politics before introducing us to the different types of magic that were used, the kinds of people who practised magic and the reasoning behind their beliefs. In addition, he shows how magic served as a point of contact between the popular and elite classes, how the reality of magical beliefs is reflected in the fiction of medieval literature and how the persecution of magic and witchcraft led to changes in the law. This book places magic at the crossroads of medieval culture, shedding light on many other aspects of life in the Middle Ages. |
Contents
THECLASSICAL INHERITANCE | |
MAGIC IN NORSE AND IRISH | |
Runic inscriptions The Norsesagas | |
themisuse ofmedical andprotective | |
ARABICLEARNING ANDTHE OCCULT SCIENCES | |
NECROMANCY IN THE CLERICAL UNDERWORLD | |
PROHIBITION CONDEMNATION AND PROSECUTION | |
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adjuration alchemists alchemy allthe amulets andthe animals antiquity Arabic astral astrology aswell British Library bythe charms Christ Christian classical clerical conjure court demonic magic divination early enchantment evil example exorcism exorcist fifteenth fifteenthcentury forms formulas fourteenth century fromthe gems God’s havebeen healing heavenly herbs Hermes Trismegistus holy hoopoe horoscope Iceland incantations influence inmedieval inquisitor inscription inthe itis itwas Johannes Trithemius Kabbalah later Latin learning legend literature magicians manuscript medicine medieval Europe Middle Ages mightbe monks Munich handbook natural magic necromancers necromancy Neoplatonist notion occult ofmagic ofthe ofthese ofthis one’s onthe pagan person philosophical physicians Picatrix planets popular practice prayers priest religion ritual romances seemto Simon Magus sometimes sorcery spirits story suchas sympathetic magic tells thatthe themagical theologians thesame things thirteenth century tobe tohave tothe tradition translated twelfth century useof various witch witchcraft witha withthe Wolfsthurn woman women wouldbe writers