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Magic as an Element of Political Debate in the Historiography and Imperial Biography of the 1st -5th Centuries AD

A Study of Tacitus, Suetonius and Ammianus Marcellinus

Justyna Migdał author Mikołaj Szymański editor

Format:Hardback

Publisher:Peter Lang AG

Published:26th Jun '23

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Magic as an Element of Political Debate in the Historiography and Imperial Biography of the 1st -5th Centuries AD cover

The book explores the hitherto rarely discussed connection of magic with politics in the writings of Tacitus, Suetonius and Ammianus Marcellinus, offering insight into the way language of magic and ritual pollution is used as means of characterization and historiosophical commentary on the nature of power and political struggle. Religious deviation and innovation, theurgy, necromancy, black and erotic magic, the topoi of an emperor-magician, a semi-divine emperor-healer/saviour and a witch/poisoner, all play an important role in the analyzed texts. Magic is depicted as a way of abusing the official state religion; every such abuse disturbs pax deorum and brings misery on both the perpetrator and the whole state.

ISBN: 9783631897997

Dimensions: unknown

Weight: 768g

548 pages

New edition