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Necromancy


Necromancy
            Necromancy is the conjuration of the spirits of the dead for purposes of magically revealing the future or influencing the course of events.  The word necromancy is derived originally from the classical Greek word nekyia, used in a part of the Odyssey where Odysseus visits the realm of the dead. 
            Necromancy has been a part of many cultures all throughout time, however, in many cultures it was considered a dangerous, and dark art.  In the Hebrew Bible there is a story about the king of Israel, Saul, attempting to summon the prophet Samuel.  He goes to a necromancer called the Witch of Endor, who summons Samuel.  Samuel berates Saul for disobeying god and tells him that he will perish in a battle the following day.  The following day Saul’s army is defeated in battle, and he commits suicide (I Sam, 23).
            There is mentioning of necromancy in many cultures.  In the Aneid Virgil takes Homer’s Odyssey and turns it into a Roman book.  The main character, Aneas is trying to find his father in the underworld, another character, Sibyl, shows him the required rituals, and sacrifices of animals to the gods. in order to speak with the dead.  The book does not mention necromancy, however, this was the Roman version of necromancy. (Copenhaver 128)
            In early Christian Europe necromancy was one considered one of the darkest arts.  Origen discusses the story of the witch of Endor.  He claims that necromancy was slightly different than a person speaking to the dead, or summoning them.  He calls the witch a “demon-ridden hag” and a “ventriloquist”.  Eustathius agrees with Origen.  He claims that rather than summoning the dead that the witch of Endor was actually a mouthpiece for a demon, and that demon was attempting to trick people and feed them pagan lies (Copenhaver 215).
            In the Middle Ages necromancy was discussed in a work called the Picatrix.  “The Picatrix presents an astrological theory implemented by astral and demonic magic” (Copenhaver 267).  It claims that necromancy uses the power of the stars in order to perform the dark art.  In this field the idea of talisman’s are very important.  Albert claimed that “The apex of astronomy is the science of talismans” (Copenhaver 268).  A talisman is an object that is thought to have magical powers.  One kind of talisman described by necromantic books uses evil spirits without coercing them.  Another one uses the evil spirits name for an exorcism, both are considered necromantic practices. (Copehaver 267-268)

Related Terms: Talismans, Witches, Incantation, Maleficium

Bibliography:
“The Witch of Endor: I Sam.  28”. In The Book of Magic: From Antiquity to the Enlightenment, Translated by Brian Copenhaver.  Penguin Classics, 23

Virgil. 2015 “Down to Hell the Trip is Smooth: Virgil, Aeneid, 6.33-314”.  In The Book of Magic: From Antiquity to the Enlightenment, Translated by Brian Copenhaver.  Penguin Classics 128

Copenhaver, Brian. 2015 “Armies of Sorcery and Flights of Angels: Early Christian Europe.”  In The Book of Magic: From Antiquity to the Enlightenment, Translated by Brian Copenhaver.  Penguin Classics, 213-218. 

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