This seminar will focus chiefly on so-called “magical” objects from the ancient world: amulets (particularly gems) and incantation bowls. The past few decades have shown an explosion of interest in the subject of ancient magic, ranging from highly specialized studies of individual objects to wide-ranging reinterpretations of the religious history of (late) antiquity. A particular area of interest is the way in which in these magical objects presumed boundaries between religious traditions (Judaism, Christianity, Hellenistic religions, Zoroastrianism) are dissolved. The relevance and applicability of the concept “magic” continues to be debated (although less so for the religions of antiquity than for most living traditions), and students will be expected to contribute a small paper on theoretical issues in the study of this type of ritual activity. The main part of the seminar will be devoted to the analysis of a number of objects (“gnostic” gems and incantation bowls with their iconography), and students will write a final paper with an analysis of one such object.
Method of instruction
*Weekly meetings: 12 × 2 hours (24 hours) *Weekly reading assignments: 12 × 4 hours (48 hours) *Presentation (20 hours) *mid-term paper (20 hours) *End-term paper (38 hours)
Total: 140 hours = 5 ECTS
Examination
Presentation, term paper, final paper, and participation in class.
Required reading
To be announced.
Good books for initial reading are:
*F. Graf, Magic in the Ancient World, Cambridge, MA: 1997 (also available in French and German)
For magical gems:
*A. Mastrocinque (ed.), Sylloge Gemmarum Gnosticarum I, Roma 2004 *S. Michel, Die magischen Gemmen im Britischen Museum, London 2001 *S. Michel, Die magischen Gemmen, Berlin 2004
For incantation bowls:
*J. Naveh & S. Shaked, Amulets and Magic Bowls, Jerusalem 1985 *S. Shaked & J. Naveh, Magic Spells and Formulae, Jerusalem 1993
Admission
This course is offered for students who pursue an MA Comparative Religion, and/or an MA Biblical Studies. Other students are welcome to take this seminar; knowledge of at least one relevant ancient language (preferably Greek or Aramaic) is an asset, training in the academic study of religion is a requirement.
Comments
The working language is English.
Prospective students of this course are advised to contact the instructor at least one month before the program will start.
Dr. A.F. de Jong: a.f.de.jong@religion.leidenuniv.nl