Ancient Jewish Magic: A History - Hardcover

Bohak, Gideon

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0521874572 ISBN 13: 9780521874571

Publisher: Cambridge University Press, 2008

Synopsis

Gideon Bohak gives a pioneering account of the broad history of ancient Jewish magic, from the Second Temple to the rabbinic period. It is based both on ancient magicians' own compositions and products in Aramaic, Hebrew and Greek, and on the descriptions and prescriptions of non-magicians, to reconstruct a historical picture that is as balanced and nuanced as possible. The main focus is on the cultural make-up of ancient Jewish magic, and special attention is paid to the processes of cross-cultural contacts and borrowings between Jews and non-Jews, as well as to inner-Jewish creativity. Other major issues explored include the place of magic within Jewish society, contemporary Jewish attitudes to magic, and the identity of its practitioners. Throughout, the book seeks to explain the methodological underpinnings of all sound research in this demanding field, and to highlight areas where further research is likely to prove fruitful.

About this title

Book Description

This history of ancient Jewish magic, from the Second Temple to the rabbinic period, is based both on the ancient magicians' own compositions and on the descriptions and prescriptions of non-magicians. It studies developments arising within the Jewish tradition as well as cross-cultural borrowings from Greco-Egyptian sources.

About the Author

Gideon Bohak teaches in the Department of Jewish Culture, Tel-Aviv University. He is author of Joseph and Aseneth and the Jewish Temple in Heliopolis (1996).

Edition details

• Publisher: Cambridge University Press
• Publication date: 2008
• ISBN 10: 0521874572
• ISBN 13: 9780521874571
• Binding: Hardcover
• Language: English
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 494