GRC30290

Learning Outcomes:

On completion of this module students should be able to:
* synthesise information about ancient magical practices based on the literary and historical sources;
* demonstrate critical understanding of the evidence within its literary, social and cultural contexts;
* evaluate different interpretations of the sources for ancient magic;
* recognise specific aspects of the sources for ancient magic;
* explain ideas clearly in writing.

These learning outcomes will be tested in the mid-term commentary assignment; in the in-class test; and in the end-of-semester Final Essay.

Indicative Module Content:

Topics include:

1. Magic and ancient religion: was there a difference between magic and religion in the ancient world?
2. Sorcerers, shamans, and mages (Greek and from the East)
3. Necromancy and ghosts
4. Witches and witchcraft in Greek literature
5. Erotic magic: witches in Latin literature, love potions
6. Curses, voodoo dolls and amulets
7. Magic and medicine: doctors, temple priests, and magical healing
8. Magic and rhetoric: magical speech and the powers of speech
9. Magic and Christianity: sorcerers during the time of Jesus
10. Magic and ancient legislation against it.

This list is indicative and subject to change.

Student Effort Hours:

Approaches to Teaching and Learning:

This module is delivered through a combination of lectures and tutorials. The lectures will introduce you to ancient sources on the different topics and relevant methodology. In tutorials you will discuss ancient source material, historical context and methodological approaches in more depth. In order to understand the module content more fully you will need to keep up-to-date with the weekly reading lists of selected sources and modern scholarship.

Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations

Learning Recommendations:

There is no required prior learning, but students will need some prior knowledge of Greek and Roman history and culture. If you are in doubt please email helen.dixon@ucd.ie

Module Requisites and Incompatibles

Not applicable to this module.
 

Assessment Strategy

 

Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 

Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Feedback individually to students, post-assessment
• Group/class feedback, post-assessment

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Students will receive individual written feedback on their commentary within 20 working days of submission. Students are welcome to arrange a meeting with the module coordinator to discuss their grade and feedback.

Sourcebook for this module:
D. Ogden, Magic Witchcraft, and Ghosts in the Greek and Roman Worlds, 2nd edition, Oxford University Press 2002, 2nd edition (available in full e-copy via the UCD James Joyce Library)

Selected modern scholarship:
D. Collins, Magic in the Ancient Greek World, Blackwell Publishing, 2008 (available via ebook in James Joyce Library)
M.W. Dickie, "Who practised love-magic in Classical Antiquity and in the Late Roman World?", Classical Quarterly, 50:1, 2007, pp. 563-583
M.W. Dickie, "Magic in Classical and Hellenistic Greece" in: D. Ogden, A Companion to Ancient Greek Religion, Oxford University Press, 1997
M.W. Dickie, Magic and magicians in the Greco-Roman World, Routledge, 2001 (available via ebook in James Joyce Library)
E. Eidinow, Oracles, curses and risk among the Ancient Greeks, Oxford University Press, 2007
C.A. Faraone, Ancient Greek Love Magic, Cambridge University Press, 1999
C.A. Faraone and D. Obbink, Magika Heira: Ancient Greek Magic and Religion, Oxford, 1991
D. Felton, Haunted Greece and Rome. Ghost Stories from Classical Antiquity, University of Austin Press, 1999
R. Fowler, "Greek Magic, Greek Religion", Illinois Classical Studies 20, 1995, pp. 1-22
J.G. Gager, Curse tablets and Binding Spells from the Ancient World, Oxford University Press, 1992
F. Graf, Magic in the Ancient World, Harvard University Press, 1997
S. Iles Johnston, Ancient Greek Divination, Wiley Blackwell Publishing, 2008
V. Nutton, Ancient Medicine, 2nd edition, Routledge, 2013
D. Ogden, Greek and Roman Necromancy, Princeton University Press, 2001 (available via ebook in James Joyce Library)
D. Ogden, The Werewolf in the Ancient World, Oxford University press, 2021 (ebook ordered for James Joyce Library)
J.B. Rives, “Magic in the XII Tables revisited”, Classical Quarterly 52:1 (2002), pp. 270-290
J.B. Rives, “Magic in Roman Law: The Reconstruction of a Crime”, Classical Antiquity 22, 2003, pp. 313-39
H.S. Versnel, “Some reflections on the relationship "Magic-Religion”, Numen 38:2, 1991, pp. 177-197

Timetabling information is displayed only for guidance purposes, relates to the current Academic Year only and is subject to change.