Magic, Witchcraft and Ghosts in the Greek and Roman Worlds

Overview
Module description

Magic, Witchcraft and Ghosts in the Greek and Roman Worlds (CLA3033)

Staff	Professor Daniel Ogden - Convenor
Credit Value	30
ECTS Value	15
NQF Level	6
Pre-requisites	The successful completion of at least 90 credits at level 2, of which at least 30 must be in Classics and Ancient History
Co-requisites	None
Duration of Module	Term 1: 11 weeks; Term 2: 11 weeks;

Module aims

The goal of this module is to:

Consider the wide range of evidence from the Greek and Roman worlds for the practice and representation of magic and witchcraft along with beliefs about and the practical manipulation of ghosts.
Review and analyse curse tablets; voodoo dolls; Greek magical papyri; amulets and intaglios; and a wide range of literary sources, including ghost stories.
Examine the mechanisms of magical technology, and the issues surrounding the representation of magical practitioners.

ILO: Module-specific skills

1. Describe, analyse and evaluate a substantial selection of literary and documentary texts bearing upon the representation and practice of magic in antiquity.
2. Identify and explain the theoretical framework, the central themes and issues and the distinctive characteristics of this subject, including a number of the non-intuitive thought-processes that underpinned magical practice

ILO: Discipline-specific skills

3. Understand, explain, and critically evaluate the nature of a literary tradition
4. Undertake precise exegesis of documentary and literary texts
5. Understand the key concepts of a radically alien religious culture

ILO: Personal and key skills

6. Demonstrate that they have developed skills in the formulation, presentation and defence of arguments (both in written form and orally), and that they are able to work independently.
7. Demonstrate confidence and clarity in public communication skills
8. Demonstrate independent research skills and proficiency in the presentation of findings

Syllabus plan

Whilst the content may vary from year to year, it is envisioned that it will cover some or all of the following topics:

Categories of literary and documentary evidence
Shamans
Greek sorcerers
Alien sorcerers
Rivals of Jesus
Medea
Circe
Further witches in Greek literature
Witches in Latin poetry
Witches in the Latin novels
Ghosts and ghost stories
Necromancy
Reanimation
Binding curses
Prayers for justice
Erotic curses
Further erotic magic
Voodoo dolls and magical images
Amulets
Legislation against magic
Magicians on trial

Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)

Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities	Guided independent study	Placement / study abroad
44	256	0

Details of learning activities and teaching methods

Category	Hours of study time	Description
Scheduled learning and teaching	44	Classes (1 x 2 hours per week)
Guided independent study	256	Independent study

Formative assessment

Form of assessment	Size of the assessment (eg length / duration)	ILOs assessed	Feedback method
Oral presentation	15 minutes	1-7	Mark and written comments

Summative assessment (% of credit)

Coursework	Written exams	Practical exams
50	30	20

Details of summative assessment

Form of assessment	% of credit	Size of the assessment (eg length / duration)	ILOs assessed	Feedback method
Essay 1	25	2000 words	1-8	Mark and written comments
Essay 2	25	2000 words	1-8	Mark and written comments
Gobbet test 1	15	1 hour	1-5	Mark and written comments
Gobbet test 2	15	1 hour	1-5	Mark and written comments
Oral presentation	20	15 minutes	1-7	Mark and written comments
	0

Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)

Original form of assessment	Form of re-assessment	ILOs re-assessed	Timescale for re-assessment
Essay 1	Essay 1	1-8	Referral/Deferral period
Essay 2	Essay 2	1-8	Referral/Deferral period
Gobbet test 1	Gobbet test 1	1-5	Referral/Deferral period
Gobbet test 2	Gobbet test 2	1-5	Referral/Deferral period
Oral presentation	Oral presentation (recorded)	1-7	Referral/Deferral period

Re-assessment notes

Deferral – if you miss an assessment for certificated reasons judged acceptable by the Mitigation Committee, you will normally be either deferred in the assessment or an extension may be granted. The mark given for a re-assessment taken as a result of deferral will not be capped and will be treated as it would be if it were your first attempt at the assessment.

Referral – if you have failed the module overall (i.e. a final overall module mark of less than 40%) you will be required to submit a further assessment as necessary. If you are successful on referral, your overall module mark will be capped at 40%.

Indicative learning resources - Basic reading

Core sourcebook:

Ogden, D. 2009. Magic, Witchcraft and Ghosts in the Greek and Roman Worlds. A Sourcebook. Second edition. OUP USA, New York. NB must be SECOND EDITION – make sure your book is GREEN and not black!

Background reading:

Betz, H.D., ed. 1992. The Greek magical papyri in translation. 2nd ed. Chicago.
Dickie, M. 2001. Magic and magicians in the Graeco-Roman world. London.
Faraone, C. 1999. Ancient Greek love magic. Cambridge, MA.
Faraone, C., and Obbink, D., eds. 1991. Magika hiera. New York.
Felton, D. 1999. Haunted Greece and Rome. Austin.
Flint, V., Luck, G., Gordon, R., and Ogden, D. 1999. Athlone history of witchcraft and magic in Europe. Vol. 2. London.
Gager, J. 1992. Curse tablets and binding spells from the ancient world. New York.
Graf, F. 1997. Magic in the ancient world. Cambridge, MA.
Ogden, D. 2001. Greek and Roman necromancy. Princeton.

Module has an active ELE page?

Yes

Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources

ELE – https://vle.exeter.ac.uk/course/view.php?id=459

Available as distance learning?

Origin date

2011

Last revision date

15/02/2021

Key words search

Classics, Greek, Witchcraft, Ghosts, Myth

Modules