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Greek and Roman Necromancy Paperback – February 1, 2004

4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 48 ratings

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In classical antiquity, there was much interest in necromancy--the consultation of the dead for divination. People could seek knowledge from the dead by sleeping on tombs, visiting oracles, and attempting to reanimate corpses and skulls. Ranging over many of the lands in which Greek and Roman civilizations flourished, including Egypt, from the Greek archaic period through the late Roman empire, this book is the first comprehensive survey of the subject ever published in any language.


Daniel Ogden surveys the places, performers, and techniques of necromancy as well as the reasons for turning to it. He investigates the cave-based sites of oracles of the dead at Heracleia Pontica and Tainaron, as well as the oracles at the Acheron and Avernus, which probably consisted of lakeside precincts. He argues that the Acheron oracle has been long misidentified, and considers in detail the traditions attached to each site. Readers meet the personnel--real or imagined--of ancient necromancy: ghosts, zombies, the earliest vampires, evocators, sorcerers, shamans, Persian magi, Chaldaeans, Egyptians, Roman emperors, and witches from Circe to Medea. Ogden explains the technologies used to evocate or reanimate the dead and to compel them to disgorge their secrets. He concludes by examining ancient beliefs about ghosts and their wisdom--beliefs that underpinned and justified the practice of necromancy.


The first of its kind and filled with information, this volume will be of central importance to those interested in the rapidly expanding, inherently fascinating, and intellectually exciting subjects of ghosts and magic in antiquity.

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Editorial Reviews

Review

"[A] substantial contribution. . . . Ogden takes on . . . Necromancy . . . with a huge diachronic sweep and exhaustive trawling of evidence. . . . [This] book will be indispensable to future scholars."---Peter Green, Times Literary Supplement

"The thought of raising and consulting the dead runs throughout the history of antiquity. . . . The dead who did come back were often in an angry and violent mood; a hero might be needed to vanquish them, or a potent magic to induce them to be gone. . . . Ogden's [is an] admirably cool and scholarly discussion of necromancy."
---Jasper Griffin, New York Review of Books

"Ogden's book . . . makes it easy for the reader to follow and enjoy the beauty (and sometimes strangeness) of the sources and the accounts of necromancy they provide."
---Julia Kindt, International History Review

"It is rare and refreshing to read a book of the high caliber of the one under review. The scope is breathtaking, the sources cited are thorough and wide-ranging, and the author's own biases are either nonexistent or kept completely under control. Furthermore, the subject matter is so provocative and the writer's style is so direct and fast paced that it is difficult to put the book down once begun. . . . Whether one sits down to read the book cover to cover or comes to it as a resource tool, there will be no disappointment."
---Elise P. Garrison, Religious Studies Review

"For specialists, this is a treasure trove of the ancient evidence on necromancy and its related modern scholarship." ―
Choice

Review

"This study fills a gaping hole in the scholarship, and it is sorely needed. The fascinating material it covers has never been collected and discussed in one volume, in spite of the current surge of interest in ancient magic and its intersection with religion. The author's command of the sources is excellent. He has made an exhaustive survey of all the relevant evidence, so that the coverage of the subject is satisfyingly complete."―Jennifer Larson, Kent State University

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Princeton University Press (February 1, 2004)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 320 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0691119686
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0691119687
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2.31 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.1 x 0.87 x 9 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 48 ratings

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Daniel Ogden
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Customer reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars
48 global ratings

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5 out of 5 stars
Wonderful book!
The only downside is that this book isn't available as a leather-bound hardback. This book is a rich, well cited exploration of the literary themes, locations, historical accounts, religious practices, and spiritual beliefs around necromancy in Greek, Roman, and Egyptian antiquity. We could use more scholarly views of this subject and composition; truly a comprehensive and well thought out look into the history of necromancy.
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Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on November 2, 2023
    The only downside is that this book isn't available as a leather-bound hardback. This book is a rich, well cited exploration of the literary themes, locations, historical accounts, religious practices, and spiritual beliefs around necromancy in Greek, Roman, and Egyptian antiquity. We could use more scholarly views of this subject and composition; truly a comprehensive and well thought out look into the history of necromancy.
    Customer image
    5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful book!
    Reviewed in the United States on November 2, 2023
    The only downside is that this book isn't available as a leather-bound hardback. This book is a rich, well cited exploration of the literary themes, locations, historical accounts, religious practices, and spiritual beliefs around necromancy in Greek, Roman, and Egyptian antiquity. We could use more scholarly views of this subject and composition; truly a comprehensive and well thought out look into the history of necromancy.
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  • Reviewed in the United States on December 30, 2005
    This is a book on Classical necromancy that I find myself going back to again and again. Exhaustively researched, the book is filled to brimming with fascinating information on the attitudes and practices of necromancers in the Classical world. Each time I read it, I find new insights, and new, delightful nuggets of trivia that relate back to a variety of other magickal practices. Although this book is written with a scholarly audience in mind, I felt it was thoroughly accessible to the lay-reader without ever once stooping to patronize that reader. For magickal workers and occultists with an interest in necromancy and spirits, this book is a must-have.
    13 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on May 5, 2012
    As stated in the title "A scholarly discussion on Necromancy" Translate to I hope you have a lot of free time and it can be rather dry. Do not get me wrong I love this book and it is soooo packed with information and history that any student of history or necromancy should have this in their collection. This is one book that will have to be read a few of times to make so that all the details are retained and applied. As far as my taste goes, part III (technology) and part IV (theory) is really where I focused a majority of my attention on (I study the history and practice of necromancy for personal interest). My personal viewpoint for buyers of this book is to read the entire book once than just refer back to the areas of focus as needed because honestly the average person that works X hours a day and does not have an abundance of free time it is going to be difficult to give this book the required focus that is needed to really understand the details that Dr.Ogden is sharing with the readers. I hope this review helps the buyer to make an educated decision when purchasing this book.
    12 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on September 9, 2023
    Book arrived ahead of schedule. Thanks.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on June 25, 2013
    I went to 5 Sacred Sites in Greece in Nov of 2011 with Ray Moody and Wisdom University. I read
    Necromancy prior. This book describes the ancients' process in finding the wisdom of the Ancestors
    in their dreams, assisted by enlightened Aides. As now, many are seeking wisdom beyond practical
    daily experience and the ancient civilizations had useful methods which are given in this book. It is
    an affirmation of my travel experience and an expansion of my trust in these exploration processes.
    I will always keep it.
    3 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on December 6, 2003
    I find the book to be insightful, concise, and filled with well-resourced information. A must-have for the Classical Historian, Mythographer or Thanatologist.
    3 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on February 25, 2009
    In this work, Daniel Ogden explores necromancy (conjuring the dead for purposes of gaining information) in the ancient Greek world. He covers in detail where this would be done (tombs, battlefields, special places reserved for this sort of activity etc), who would be doing this sort of thing, broad outlines of how such rites were performed, and the ideas behind them.

    This work is important for a number of reasons. First it tells us a great deal about the way the Greeks related to their dead. Secondly it tells us something about a subject which has never been treated carefully by historians.

    This book is a must-read for the classicist, the student of ancient history, and even the occasional necromancer himself!
    7 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on July 25, 2018
    just picked up this book last week. VERY well sourced, and a well written approach to the topic of necromancy in the ancient world. the author can be a bit 'dry' in parts, but don't let that scare you away from this book.
    One person found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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  • Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Astoundingly helpful
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 12, 2021
    This is exactly the treatment of Necromancy I’ve been searching for. Lucid, well organised and well written.
  • AmazonCheck
    4.0 out of 5 stars Molto buono
    Reviewed in Italy on December 12, 2013
    Daniel Ogden è uno scrittore poco noto in Italia.
    Il testo in questione è graficamente accettabile ma ha il pregio di essere estremamente interessante.
    Tratta argomenti che la nostra 'cultura' sembra far finta di non conoscere.
  • Hev
    5.0 out of 5 stars Life saver for student
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 5, 2016
    Excellent book. It arrived on time and it was a life saver for me whilst writing my essay. Daniel Ogden is a great academic author and I found this book essential for the course and the essay I had to write.