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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
Ancient Egyptian Magic
Bit Meseri
Greek Magical Papyri
Cuneiform Tablets
Marduk
Akkadian
Sumerian
Ancient Rituals
Magic
Demons
Late Antiquity
Sumerian Death Demons
Ashippu
Purification Ritual
Ritual Space
Divination
Namtar

Exploring the forgotten and rejected story of Western thought

PublishesInfrequentlyEpisodes13Foundeda year ago
Number of ListenersCategory
Education

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

Latest Episodes

We speak with Ulrike Steinert on her MagEIA research-project ‘Metaphors in ancient Mesopotamian incantations and magic rituals: Emotions, cultural concepts and performance’. She proposes analysis of metaphors for emotional states as a means of access... more

Sara Chiarini has been studying practices for gaining knowledge in the Greek Magical Papyri. The conversation covers typologies, the types of practices involved in doing ancient knowledge-ritual, and the difficult question of ‘belief’ in the efficacy... more

We speak with Egyptologist Sofie Schiødt about her work-in-progress at Würzburg, exploring the evidence for ancient Egyptian magic in situ. How did the ancient Egyptians relate to the spaces in which they performed rituals? How did the spaces relate ... more

We speak with Daniel Schwemer about an intensive ritual practice for driving out demonic forces and/or hostile magic. Bit Meseri, the ‘House of Enclosure’, took the ashipu (and forty-nine protective apkaluspirits) four days, at the end of which perio... more

We speak with Martin Stadler on his work deciphering and interpreting the extraordinary temple-complex at Edfu in Egypt. We discuss myth, ritual, the priestly temple-hierarchy, and magical ritual embodied in physical architecture.

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.

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Recent Guests

Sara Chiarini
Classical philologist and epigraphist studying ancient religious rituals and the Greek Magical Papyri
University of Potsdam
Episode: Sara Chiarini on Divination and Belief in the Greek Magical Papyri
Sofie Schiødt
Egyptologist and junior fellow researching ancient Egyptian magic and medical texts
MAGEA Center
Episode: Sofie Schiødt on Studying Magical Spaces in Ancient Egypt
Daniel Schwemer
Assyriologist and Hittitologist at the University of Würzburg, specializing in ancient Near Eastern magic
University of Würzburg
Episode: Daniel Schwemer on the Bit Meseri Ritual
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

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Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Daniel Schwemer on the Bit Meseri Ritual
Q: Who is Lugal-Ira in Bit Meseri?
Schwemer argues that Lugal-Ira is presented as a nocturnal version of Marduk and is also associated with Nergal and Erra, becoming a powerful figure who rules across the upper and nether worlds and protects houses.
Daniel Schwemer on the Bit Meseri Ritual
Q: What does Bit Meseri look like in practice, and what happens during the ritual?
The ritual takes nearly four days. The āšipu and assistants prepare the house with protective paintings and more than 100 figurines, recite incantations and make offerings, then remove the objects and clean the walls after the demons are declared defeated.
Sofie Schiødt on Studying Magical Spaces in Ancient Egypt
Q: How are you attacking the problem?
She compares ritual instructions in magical texts with narrative literature, tomb iconography and archaeological objects to identify settings and connect textual descriptions with practice.
Sofie Schiødt on Studying Magical Spaces in Ancient Egypt
Q: What is your current project? What are you trying to find out?
Schiødt is studying where magical practices took place in ancient Egypt and how landscapes and spaces influenced ritual performance and perceived efficacy, especially outside temples and tombs.
Sara Chiarini on Divination and Belief in the Greek Magical Papyri
Q: How did ordinary people in ancient Greek communities relate to their gods?
Chiarini distinguishes literary portrayals from personal religious experience, arguing that people could have intimate relationships with particular gods and treat them as real presences in their lives.

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Frequently Asked Questions About This Podcast

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

Exploring the nuanced intersections of ancient beliefs, rituals, and esoteric traditions, this podcast offers insightful discussions on various topics within Western thought and religion. Episodes frequently highlight the significance of historical magical texts and rituals, such as the purification rites of Mesopotamia and Jewish magical practices, while addressing the complexities of cultural influences and the evolution of religious beliefs through time. The conversations often include analyses of artifacts and ancient writings that illuminate the everyday lives of people who navigated the supernatural, shedding light on both their fears and hopes. Unique to this series is its focus on a little-explored lineage of thought that challenges... more

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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. Bad Gays
3. Savage Lovecast
4. The Ancients
5. Where Should We Begin? with Esther Perel

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this podcast launched a year ago and published 13 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. Sara Chiarini
2. Sofie Schiødt
3. Daniel Schwemer
4. Beatrice Baragli
5. Frank Simons
6. Dan Levene
7. Jonathan Beltz
8. Charlotte Rose

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