Magic in the Ancient World 
with Dr. Andrew Henry

Magic in the Ancient World

This course explores the role of magic in the Roman Empire, examining how ancient peoples sought to harness supernatural forces through spells, rituals, and objects.

From curse tablets and erotic spells to protective amulets and demon bowls, students will analyze the intersection of magic with religion, medicine, and daily life. Drawing on archaeological evidence, ancient texts, and modern scholarship, the course will investigate how magic was practiced, who was accused of using it, and how it was regulated (or not) by Roman law. Special attention will be given to critiquing the categories that we use, examining the blurred boundaries between so-called “official” religion and so-called “forbidden” sorcery, as well as the perspectives of both practitioners and critics of magic.

By the end of this course, students will gain a critical understanding of how magic functioned in the social, religious, and legal landscape of the Roman Empire, while also interrogating the very concept of “magic” itself. They will explore key magical practices—curse tablets, amulets, exorcisms, and healing rituals—while questioning where the boundaries between magic, religion, and medicine were drawn, both in antiquity and in modern scholarship. 

The course will also examine how magic was used in times of crisis, how it intersected with gender and marginalization, and how Roman authorities sought to regulate it.

Through case studies, primary sources, and self-reflective analysis, students will develop a nuanced perspective on ancient magical traditions and the ways in which categories like “magic” are shaped by cultural assumptions.