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Artwork for Roots of Magic episodes – The Secret History of Western Esotericism Podcast

Roots of Magic episodes – The Secret History of Western Esotericism Podcast (SHWEP)

Earl Fontainelle
Mesopotamia
Šurpu Ritual
Bīt Rimki
Demons
Sumerian Death Demons
Late Antiquity
Magic
Ancient Rituals
Sumerian
Akkadian
Cuneiform Tablets
Purification Ritual
Ashippu
Namtar
Sumerian Culture
Pishra De Rabbi Hanina Ben Dosa
Ancient Egypt
Bess
Taweret
Amulets

Exploring the forgotten and rejected story of Western thought

PublishesInfrequentlyEpisodes8Founded5 months ago
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Artwork for Roots of Magic episodes – The Secret History of Western Esotericism Podcast

Latest Episodes

We dive back into the world of Akkadian purification magic with Beatrice Baragli, who is working on an edition of the ritual sequence known as Bīt Rimki (`The Bathhouse'). Politics used to be very magical.

We discuss a fascinating text of all-purpose protective and apotropaic magic with a history spanning millennia with the inimitable Gideon Bohak. Attributed to a first-century rabbi, the Pishra may have its roots in late-antique Babylonia, but it was ... more

We explore the ancient Mesopotamian ritual-series known as Šurpu with Frank Simons. This interview is a window onto very, very ancient magical practice, but has a surprising amount to tell us about magic today.

We speak with Dan Levene, expert on the ancient Judæo-Aramaic incantation-bowls, on the bowls, the skulls, the Talmud, and what all of this tells us about late-ancient Judaism in the Sasanian empire and beyond.

In our fourth Roots of Magic interview, we speak with Jonathan Beltz, specialist on the scarier side of ancient Sumerian cultural life, the side occupied by demonic entities bringing disease and death. But one entity stands out from the crowd: Namtar... more

We discuss the dangerous, liminal space of childbirth and childhood in ancient Egypt. How might the gods, magic, and medicine interact to help make this a less perilous realm? Charlotte Rose has some ideas.

In our second Roots of Magic interview, we speak with Svenja Nagel on erotic magic in ancient Egypt. Ritual practices and potions, magical continuity and change, and cross-cultural pollination feature prominently in a conversation which tells us what... more

In the first interview of a new series, we discuss the academic project we have all been waiting for, MagEIA: Magic between Entanglement, Interaction, and Analogy, with one of its principal investigators, Daniel Schwemer. MagEIA will host cross-disci... more

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Recent Guests

Beatrice Baragli
Researcher at the Magheer project
Maguilla, University of Würzburg
Episode: Beatrice Baragli on the Bīt Rimki Ritual Cycle
Frank Simons
Junior Research Fellow at Magea, expert on Mesopotamian rituals
MAGEA
Episode: Frank Simons on the Mesopotamian Šurpu Ritual
Dan Levene
Retired professor of Semitics and the History of Religions
University of Southampton
Episode: Dan Levene on Late-Antique Jewish Magic Bowls, Skulls, and More
Jonathan Beltz
Expert on Sumerian death demons and the author of related research
University of Würzburg
Episode: Jonathan Beltz on Sumerian Death-Demons (and How to Deal with them)
Charlotte Rose
Research fellow focusing on medical magical spells from ancient Egypt
MAGEA at the University of Würzburg
Episode: Family Matters: Charlotte Rose on Ancient Egyptian Medical Magic for Women and Children

Host

Earl Fontenelle
Host of the series exploring various historical aspects of magic and esotericism.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Family Matters: Charlotte Rose on Ancient Egyptian Medical Magic for Women and Children
Q: So we've got your Isis, and she's the midwife from the village or whatever, and she's going to stand in for Isis in this scenario, and hopefully have the power of Isis, and that could get you a smooth, easy, healthy delivery, right?
Yes, that's correct.
Family Matters: Charlotte Rose on Ancient Egyptian Medical Magic for Women and Children
Q: Are there like, aside from Set, who's just general all-around bad dude, are there other kind of entities you need to ward off?
Charlotte confirms they need to ward off various forms of the evil dead and demonic entities that attack mothers and babies.
Family Matters: Charlotte Rose on Ancient Egyptian Medical Magic for Women and Children
Q: And why, I wonder, does your project on the history of Egyptian medical magic sort of stop after the late period and with the beginning of the Hellenistic?
Charlotte mentions it's due to linguistic changes, particularly with the shift from Hieratic to Demotic scripts, affecting the texts she studies.
Family Matters: Charlotte Rose on Ancient Egyptian Medical Magic for Women and Children
Q: So can you do like a lightning periodization of ancient Egypt?
Charlotte provides a periodization involving Old, Middle, and New Kingdoms, emphasizing the centralized power dynamics and the political instability during intermediate periods.
Dan Levene on Late-Antique Jewish Magic Bowls, Skulls, and More
Q: Tell us about the kind of cultural milieu in which you view these skulls, what they're trying to do, and what that tells us about Judaism at the time.
The context implies that using human skulls in rituals might not have been seen as problematic by the practitioners, shedding light on the complexity of religious practices in that era.

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Frequently Asked Questions About This Podcast

What is This Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

The episodes explore the intricate and often overlooked aspects of Western esotericism, delving into magical practices, rituals, and historical texts that have shaped understanding of the supernatural. Insights from scholars, including specialists in Jewish magic, Mesopotamian rituals, and ancient Egyptian medical practices, paint a vivid picture of how these traditions have evolved and their relevance today. The conversations often intertwine cultural, religious, and historical perspectives, making the content not only informative but also deeply engaging for those interested in the mysticism and complexity of ancient beliefs and practices.

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These podcasts share a similar audience with this podcast:

1. Podcast episodes – The Secret History of Western Esotericism Podcast (SHWEP)
2. The Higherside Chats
3. The Rest Is History

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this podcast launched 5 months ago and published 8 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on this podcast?

Recent guests on this podcast include:

1. Beatrice Baragli
2. Frank Simons
3. Dan Levene
4. Jonathan Beltz
5. Charlotte Rose

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