Ancient Greek Love MagicThe ancient Greeks commonly resorted to magic spells to attract and keep lovers--as numerous allusions in Greek literature and recently discovered voodoo dolls, magical papyri, gemstones, and curse tablets attest. Surveying and analyzing these various texts and artifacts, Christopher Faraone reveals that gender is the crucial factor in understanding love spells. There are, he argues, two distinct types of love magic: the curselike charms used primarily by men to torture unwilling women with fiery and maddening passion until they surrender sexually; and the binding spells and debilitating potions generally used by women to sedate angry or philandering husbands and make them more affectionate. Faraone's lucid analysis of these spells also yields a number of insights about the construction of gender in antiquity, for example, the femininity of socially inferior males and the maleness of autonomous prostitutes. Most significantly, his findings challenge the widespread modern view that all Greek men considered women to be naturally lascivious. Faraone reveals the existence of an alternate male understanding of the female as naturally moderate and chaste, who uses love magic to pacify and control the naturally angry and passionate male. This fascinating study of magical practices and their implications for perceptions of male and female sexuality offers an unusual look at ancient Greek religion and society. |
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Look up the rest of Faraone's books and article. Fantastic work.
Contents
1 Introduction | 1 |
2 Spells for Inducing Uncontrollable Passion Eros | 41 |
3 Spells for Inducing Affection Philia | 96 |
4 Some Final Thoughts on History Gender and Desire | 132 |
Glossary | 175 |
Abbreviations | 179 |
Bibliography | 183 |
| 205 | |
| 213 | |
| 217 | |
| 221 | |
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Common terms and phrases
Aeschylus agĂgÁ spells amulets ancient Greek anger Aphrodite appear apple argue attack beginning belief binding called cause century Chapter charm Classical close course courtesans culture curses describes designed desire detailed devices discussion earlier early effect Egypt Egyptian epigram erĂs Eros erotic magic erotic spells evidence example fact Faraone female find first follows force frag gender give given goddess Greece Greek magical hand handbook heart Hellenistic Homeric husband Hymn images important incantation Italy iunx kestos later lead lines love magic love spells male marriage mean mention moreover myth natural Papyri passion performed perhaps period person philia popular potions practice prayer probably recipe refers ritual Roman scholars seems sexual similar social Studies suggests tablet term texts Theocritus thought tion torture tradition translated usually verb victim wife woman women young
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Bibliographic information
| Title | Ancient Greek Love Magic |
| Authors | Christopher A. FARAONE, Christopher A Faraone |
| Publisher | Harvard University Press, 2009 |
| ISBN | 0674036700, 9780674036703 |
| Length | 223 pages |
| Subjects | › › History / Ancient / General |
| Export Citation | BiBTeX EndNote RefMan |