Magic, Witchcraft and Ghosts in the Greek and Roman Worlds: A Sourcebook

This book is an important book in the study of ancient Greek and Roman magical practices and views on magic. It is a sourcebook which is obviously intended to be used alongside Prof. Ogden's analytical work on the subject, "Night's Black Agents." While Night's Black Agents provides analysis, this book provides the sources referenced in the book.The combination of these two books, along with "Necromancy in the Greek and Roman Worlds" represent important contributions to classical studies generally, and studies of classical views on magic in particular. These topics are important to those interested in what the Greeks and Romans really thought about magic, necromancy, and the like, but they also have a more general application as well.The approach to necromancy in particular shows a very different relationship between the dead and the living in Ancient Greece (less so with Ancient Rome) than we have today. I would highly recommend these books together, along with Walter Burkert's "Greek Religion." The combination of these works will change the way you look at ancient Greece and Rome forever.

Amazing text. Highly recommend for a deep dive into this topic.

This was an assigned text for one of my classes, and I found it to be the most utilitarian of the four assigned texts. Very adequate for most undergraduate writing, though if you're a classics major (I was not) I would recommend using the untranslated texts very likely available in your library or through interlibrary loan. I would have liked more legal sources and legal commentary on magic-related laws, as that was my main topic.

Ogden's writing is informative and compelling as a sourcebook for future research, but this is not an ideal introduction into magic in the ancient world. The title refers specifically to magic in the Greek and Roman worlds, but there is information on Egyptian ritual, as well. The content is organized encyclopedically, without much analysis of theme or cultural impact. It is written in a 'case study' style, of sorts.

Ogden has compiled a masterful compendium of much needed primary source material in the study of ancient magic. The only reason why I docked a star is because, at a graduate level, it would have been even nicer (and more convenient) if he had included the texts in the original languages as well as his translations. Thank you Dr. Ogden for such a useful sourcebook!

Daniel Ogden is so dedicated to his efforts of collection. I kept taking this out of the library for weeks at a time before I realized I could just purchase it. A must-have for anyone studying the classics for fun, research or enrichment.

Great book. Excellent condition

Awesome!

I am assuming that this sourcebook is meant to be used alongside  Night's Black Agents: Witches Wizards and the Dead in the Ancient World , but regardless, on its own it is a fairly weak book. The sources themselves are good and varied, and although many of the early examples will be know to classicists due to their appearance in many major historical sources (Herodotos, Pliny, Lucian, et al.) some of the later ones are a little more obscure and quite useful. Ogden provides some commentary for each entry, and this is really where the book falls short. The commentary itself is not bad, and Ogden provides some useful connections between the various sources in the book. However, it is totally lacking any sort of critical analysis. I do not regularly expect a sourcebook to have such entries, but Ogden devotes enough space to each source snippet that something in the area of broader context beyond the magical realm is needed. While the sources are given context in the area of ancient magic, nothing broader is discussed, with very little information given on critical aspects such as how certain sources approach magical material, or even how the source the regarded today. A great deal of context can be provided in very little space. Lee's  Pagans and Christians in Late Antiquity: A Sourcebook  is a fantastic example of how in a brief paragraph or two an editor can provide a solid contextual base, relate the source to other pertinent sources, and include a few references to academic literature on the relevant passage. This is the golden standard which I hold sourcebooks to, and unfortunately Ogden fails to live up to such demands. This book is still a very useful collection, but its composition as a sourcebook is not ideal. Night's Black Agents: Witches Wizards and the Dead in the Ancient WorldPagans and Christians in Late Antiquity: A Sourcebook

The book is a collection of notes on quotes from a wide variety of literary sources. But the reader is left to read the original sources himself. Daniel Ogden's book is the first half of a book report, because it contains very little discussion or analysis. As such it is a good basis for a course on the subject. It is a good vehicle for a student trying getting into the literature quickly.

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.Per chi vuole sapere!

The shipment was very quick and everything was perfect. The book is very interesting. Thank you very much. Good seller

Used book in great condition for a very good price! A very interesting textbook, I look forward to using it this semester.