Whose Soul Is It?—Destinative Magic in East-Central Europe (14th–18th Centuries)

This study explores destinative elements in late medieval and early modern learned magic in East-Central Europe, focusing on names, images, characters, invocations, and addresses facilitating communication with transcendental entities. It contends that a thematic shift occurred in the early modern e...

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Détails bibliographiques
Auteur principal: Láng, Benedek 1974- (Auteur)
Type de support: Électronique Article
Langue:Anglais
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Publié: MDPI 2024
Dans: Religions
Année: 2024, Volume: 15, Numéro: 3
Sujets non-standardisés:B East-Central Europe
B Rituals
B Necromancy
B treasure hunting
B learned magic
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Résumé:This study explores destinative elements in late medieval and early modern learned magic in East-Central Europe, focusing on names, images, characters, invocations, and addresses facilitating communication with transcendental entities. It contends that a thematic shift occurred in the early modern era, witnessing a decline in destinative talisman texts, replaced by a surge in treasure-hunting manuals. Drawing from legal cases and treasure-hunting manuals, the research aims to categorize the “souls” frequently invoked in these practices. The term “souls” is interpreted as either spirits or the souls of the deceased, reflecting the significant role of the dead in treasure hunting, often conducted in cemeteries. This shift is linked to changes in the sociocultural background of practitioners, marking a transformation in magical practices from destinative talismans to treasure hunting, revealing a nuanced evolution in East-Central European magical traditions.
ISSN:2077-1444
Contient:Enthalten in: Religions
Persistent identifiers:DOI: 10.3390/rel15030377