Ancient Magic: A Practitioner's Guide to the Supernatural in Greece and Rome

An accessible historical exploration of the methods and motivations behind using magic in ancient Greece and Rome.

In the ancient world, magic was everywhere. The supernatural abounded, turning flowers into fruit and caterpillars into butterflies. In a time before scientists studied weather patterns and figured out what caused the Earth’s most mysterious phenomena, it was magic that packed a cloud full of energy until it exploded with thunderbolts. It was everyday magic, but it was still magical.

In Ancient Magic, author Philip Matyszak ushers readers into that world, showing how ancient Greeks and Romans concocted love potions and cast curses, how they talked to the dead and protected themselves from evil spirits. He takes readers to a world where gods interacted with humans and where people could not only talk to spirits and deities, but could themselves become divine.

Ancient Magic presents us with a new understanding of the role of magic, combining a classical historiography with a practical how-to guide. Using a wide array of sources and lavish illustrations, this book offers an engaging and accessible way into the supernatural for all.

90 illustrations

Philip Matyszak has a doctorate in Roman history from St John’s College, Oxford. He is the author of many popular books on classical civilization and the ancient world, including Forgotten Peoples of the Ancient World, Rome Before Rome: The Legends that Shaped the Romans, Lost Cities of the Ancient World, as well as The Greek and Roman Myths: A Guide to the Classical Stories.