The ancient Greeks worshipped a pantheon of gods and goddesses, and their religious practices included various pagan rites. These rites were a central part of Greek religious life and were performed to honor and appease the gods. One of the most important pagan rites of the Greek pantheon was the offering of sacrifices. These sacrifices were typically of animals, such as goats, sheep, or bulls, and were performed at temples or sacred places. The purpose of these sacrifices was to show devotion to the gods and to seek their favor and support. The animals were typically killed and their flesh and bones burned as an offering to the gods.
The animals were typically killed and their flesh and bones burned as an offering to the gods. Various rituals and prayers were performed during the sacrifice to ensure its success and to communicate with the gods. Another important pagan rite was the celebration of festivals and rituals dedicated to specific gods or goddesses.
Ten Strange Things You Didn’t Know About the History of Magic
When researching the stories, choosing the objects and creating the narrative for Harry Potter: A History of Magic, we have encountered magic round every corner.
Here we explore 10 strange things you might not know about magic, unravelling strange myths and weird traditions, and being charmed by the mysterious world of witchcraft and wizardry.
1. Making yourself invisible is easy… provided you know the right words
Forget the fact you don’t have an invisibility cloak to hand, according to one 17th-century manuscript, known as The Book of King Solomon called The Key of Knowledge, you could make yourself invisible simply by reciting the following words:
“Stabbon, Asen, Gabellum, Saneney, Noty, Enobal, Labonerem, Balametem, Balnon, Tygumel, Millegaly, Juneneis, Hearma, Hamorache, Yesa, Seya, Senoy, Henen, Barucatha, Acararas, Taracub, Bucarat, Caramy, by the mercy whitch you beare towardes mann kynde, make me to be invysible.”
These instructions are found in a chapter headed ‘Howe experyments to be invysible must bee preparedd’. The writer and scholar, Gabriel Harvey, owned this manuscript, and one account of his life states that he largely disappeared from view in the final decades of his life: maybe the invisibility charm worked for him!
"A phoenix rising from the ashes, in a bestiary A phoenix rising from the ashes, in a bestiary" (13th century)Первоисточник: Harley MS 4751.
2. A phoenix takes 9 days to rise from the ashes
Phoenixes are one of the most famous mythological birds and Dumbledore’s feathered friend Fawkes was a much-loved character in the books. Their behavior and life cycle was often described in medieval bestiaries (encyclopedias about animals real and imagined). In one tradition, it was said that the phoenix was native to Arabia, lived for 500 years, and in its old age would create its own funeral pyre from branches and plants. It would then fan the flames with its own wings, in order to be consumed by the fire, before rising again from the ashes after 9 days. This legendary ability has often been compared to the Resurrection of Christ.
"‘The signification of lines and other marks in the hands’, in Old Egyptian Fortune-Teller’s Last Legacy" (1775)Первоисточник: C.194.a.825(2).
3. Moles on the buttocks are especially auspicious
The Old Egyptian Fortune-Teller’s Last Legacy, published in London in 1775, contains lots of dubious advice on how to predict your future. We’re used to tea leaves in cups, but one other way to tell the future was by interpreting the moles on your face and body. For example, did you know that “a mole on the buttock denotes honor to a man and riches to a woman”? On another page, headed: "The signification of lines and other marks in the hands", we receive the news that certain lines denote “a trusty and faithful person”, while others indicate, “Let the party take care to avoid deep water”!
"Culpeper’s English Physician; and Complete Herbal" (1789)Первоисточник: 1601/42.
4. Nicholas Culpeper was a witch
Nicholas Culpeper’s Herbal, first published in 1652, is one of the most influential books to identify the medical uses of different plants. But Culpeper was frowned upon by the medical establishment. He was an unlicensed apothecary, and he came into frequent conflict with the College of Physicians, not least because he wrote in English (for the benefit of the masses) rather than the more traditional Latin. In 1642, Culpeper was apparently tried, but acquitted, for practising witchcraft, the penalty for which was death. Today, we would describe him as a ‘hedge witch’, a wise man or woman adept at providing remedies for illnesses and ailments.
"Kitāb mawādd al-‘ilāj (Arabic version of Dioscorides, Materia medica)" (14th century)Первоисточник: Or 3366.
5. Need to harvest a mandrake? Then find yourself a dog
A lesson in Herbology now – in the Middle Ages, it was believed that mandrakes could cure headaches, earache and gout. At the same time, it was supposed that this plant was hazardous to harvest, because its roots resembled the human form; when pulled from the ground, its shrieks could cause madness. This is why medieval plant-collectors devised an elaborate method to harvest mandrakes. The best way to obtain one safely was to unearth its roots with an ivory stake, attaching the plant to a dog with a cord. A horn should then be sounded, drowning out the shrieking while at the same time startling the dog, causing it to drag out the mandrake. Another piece of advice was to stuff your ears with clods of earth before attempting to pull the mandrake from the ground!
"Pierre Pomet, A Compleat History of Druggs" (1748)Первоисточник: 546.k.19..
6. Some of the best bezoar stones are found in the stomachs of goats
We all remember the bezoar Harry used to save Ron’s life after he sipped the poisoned mead in Professor Slughorn’s office, but what actually are they? Bezoars are a mass of undigested fibre formed in the stomach of certain animals, and are believed to be an antidote to poison. They were first introduced into medieval Europe by Arabic physicians. Wealthy collectors (including kings and popes) were willing to spend considerable sums to acquire the best ‘stones’. In A Compleat History of Druggs (first published in French in 1694), it was reported that the medicinal strength of a bezoar depended on the animal that produced it. For instance, those found in the guts of cows were nowhere near as good as those which came from the so-called ‘bezoar goat’. One of our colleagues recently acquired a bezoar stone from a llama, sourced from Bolivia. We hope we never need to try it out.
"Abū al-Qāsim al-‘Irāqī, Kitāb al-aqālīm al-ab‘ah (Book of the Seven Climes)" (18th century)Первоисточник: Add MS 25724.
7. This early alchemical illustration is in fact… a record of an ancient Egyptian monument
The Book of the Seven Climes, written in the 13th century by Abū al-Qāsim Muhammad ibn Ahmad al-‘Irāqī, focuses on alchemical illustrations. This picture was supposedly taken from a ‘Hidden Book’ attributed to Hermes Trismegistus, a legendary sage-king of ancient Egypt. He was believed to have mastered the secrets of alchemy and recorded them in hieroglyphs on the walls of tombs. Unbeknown to Al-‘Irāqī, this image actually reproduces an ancient monument erected in memory of King Amenemhat II, who ruled Egypt around 1922–1878 BC.
"Unicorns, in Pierre Pomet, Histoire générale des Drogues, traitant des plantes, des animaux et des mineraux" (1694)Первоисточник: 37.h.7..
8. A unicorn can have two horns
In recent years unicorns have appeared in our hair, on our toast and on our clothes, but our fascination for the horned horse goes back centuries. In 1694, Pierre Pomet, a French pharmacist, published his Histoire générale des Drogues. One of its illustrations shows five different species of unicorn, among them the camphor (a horned ass from Arabia) and the pirassoipi. The pirassoipi’s most distinctive feature is its twin horns (surely this is cheating), as seen in the lower left-hand corner of this image. Pomet reported that this two-horned unicorn was as large as a mule and as hairy as a bear. He also noted that unicorn horn was “well used, on account of the great properties attributed to it, principally against poisons”.
“Stabbon, Asen, Gabellum, Saneney, Noty, Enobal, Labonerem, Balametem, Balnon, Tygumel, Millegaly, Juneneis, Hearma, Hamorache, Yesa, Seya, Senoy, Henen, Barucatha, Acararas, Taracub, Bucarat, Caramy, by the mercy whitch you beare towardes mann kynde, make me to be invysible.”
These festivals were held throughout the year and were often marked by feasting, music, dancing, and various forms of entertainment. The festivals provided an opportunity for the community to come together and celebrate their shared religious beliefs. Divination was also a common pagan rite in ancient Greece. It involved the interpretation of various signs and omens to gain insight into the future or to seek guidance from the gods. This could include examining the flight patterns of birds, studying the movements of celestial bodies, or consulting oracles and seers. Many pagan rites also involved purification ceremonies. These ceremonies were performed to cleanse oneself of impurities and sins and to ensure spiritual cleanliness. This could involve bathing in sacred waters, offering prayers and sacrifices, or participating in ritualized cleansing practices. Overall, pagan rites were an integral part of Greek religious worship and served as a way for individuals and communities to connect with and honor the gods. These rites varied in form and practice, but ultimately aimed to seek the favor and protection of the deities..
Reviews for "The Symbolic Importance of Altars in Greek Paganism"
1. Jane - 2/5 - I was really disappointed with "Pagan rites of the Greek pantheon." The book promised to explore the rich history and practices of ancient Greek religious ceremonies, but it fell short in delivering accurate and comprehensive information. The writing was inconsistent and at times, seemed confused about the details and significance of the rituals. I was hoping for a deeper understanding of Greek paganism, but this book left me unsatisfied and confused.
2. Mark - 1/5 - "Pagan rites of the Greek pantheon" was a complete waste of time for me. The book failed to provide any meaningful insights into the rituals and beliefs of the ancient Greeks. It was filled with vague descriptions and lacked the depth and research one would expect from a book on this topic. Additionally, the author's personal biases seemed to seep into the text, distorting the presentation of factual information. I would not recommend this book to anyone genuinely interested in learning about Greek paganism.
3. Sarah - 2/5 - As someone who has studied ancient Greek history and religion extensively, "Pagan rites of the Greek pantheon" left much to be desired. The author's interpretations and explanations often felt superficial and lacking in scholarly rigor. The book seemed to rely heavily on outdated and simplified sources, presenting an incomplete picture of Greek pagan practices. I was hoping for a more nuanced and insightful exploration, but unfortunately, this book did not deliver.
4. Michael - 1/5 - I was extremely disappointed with "Pagan rites of the Greek pantheon." The author's lack of expertise on the subject was evident throughout the book. The information provided was either inaccurate or simply regurgitated from unreliable sources. Furthermore, the writing style was dry and uninspiring, making it difficult to engage with the content. I would strongly advise readers to look elsewhere for a more well-researched and informative book on Greek pagan rituals.