Ancient Jewish Magic

A History
Erscheinungsjahr 2013
ISBN: 978-0-521-18098-6
Verlag: Cambridge University Press

Buch, Englisch, 494 Seiten, Format (B × H): 152 mm x 229 mm, Gewicht: 795 g

Gideon Bohak gives a pioneering account of the broad history of ancient Jewish magic, from the Second Temple to the rabbinic period. It is based both on ancient magicians' own compositions and products in Aramaic, Hebrew and Greek, and on the descriptions and prescriptions of non-magicians, to reconstruct a historical picture that is as balanced and nuanced as possible. The main focus is on the cultural make-up of ancient Jewish magic, and special attention is paid to the processes of cross-cultural contacts and borrowings between Jews and non-Jews, as well as to inner-Jewish creativity. Other major issues explored include the place of magic within Jewish society, contemporary Jewish attitudes to magic, and the identity of its practitioners. Throughout, the book seeks to explain the methodological underpinnings of all sound research in this demanding field, and to highlight areas where further research is likely to prove fruitful.

Autoren/Hrsg.

Bohak, Gideon

Fachgebiete

• Geisteswissenschaften Jüdische Studien Geschichte des Judentums Geschichte des Judentums: Biblische & Klassische Periode
• Geisteswissenschaften Jüdische Studien Jüdische Studien Jüdische Spiritualität & Mystik (Kabbala, Chassidismus)

Inhaltsverzeichnis

List of figures; Acknowledgments; Introduction; 1. Jewish magic: a contradiction in terms?; 2. Jewish magic in the Second Temple period; 3. Jewish magic in late antiquity - the 'insider' evidence; 4. Non-Jewish elements in late antique Jewish magic; 5. How 'Jewish' was ancient Jewish magic?; 6. Magic and magicians in rabbinic literature; Epilogue; Bibliography; Index.

Über Autor(innen)

Bohak, Gideon
Gideon Bohak teaches in the Department of Jewish Culture, Tel-Aviv University. He is author of Joseph and Aseneth and the Jewish Temple in Heliopolis (1996).