Materia Magica: The Archaeology of Magic in Roman Egypt, Cyprus, and Spain

Title Page, Other Works in the Series, Copyright, Dedication, Foreward

Materia Magica Materia Magica The Archaeology of Magic in Roman Egypt, Cyprus, and Spain Andrew T. Wilburn The University of Michigan Press Ann Arbor Copyright © by the University of Michigan 2012 All rights reserved This book may not be reproduced, in whole or in part, including illustrations, in any form (beyond that copying permitted by Sections 107 and 108 of the U.S. Copyright Law and except by reviewers for the public press), without written permission from the publisher. Published in the United States of America by The University of Michigan Press Manufactured in the United States of America c Printed on acid-free paper 2015 2014 2013 2012 4 3 2 1 A CIP catalog record for this book is available from the British Library. Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Wilburn, Andrew T., 1974– Materia magica : the archaeology of magic in Roman Egypt, Cyprus, and Spain / Andrew T. Wilburn. pages cm. — (New texts from ancient cultures) Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 978-0-472-11779-6 (cloth : alkaline paper) — ISBN 978-0-472-02868-9 (e-book) 1. Magic, Ancient—History. 2. Magic, Roman—History. 3. Magic—Egypt—History—To 1500. 4. Magic—Cyprus—History—To 1500. 5. Magic—Spain—History—To 1500. 6. Egypt—Antiquities, Roman. 7. Cyprus—Antiquities, Roman. 8. Spain—Antiquities, Roman. I. Title. BF1591.W55 2012 133.4’3093—dc23 2012047393 Dedicated to the memory of Traianos Gagos 1960–2010 Foreword This book began as a seminar paper investigating the context and function of some curious bones from the Kelsey Museum of Archaeology at the University of Michigan. I wrote the paper for a class taught by Traianos Gagos, taken as part of my training as a graduate student in the Interdepartmental Program in Classical Art and Archaeology. Traianos was an amazing teacher and mentor, and working with him on this project sparked a fascination that led directly to this book. Over the years, I learned much through our conversations on antiquity , academia, and life; Traianos was not only a teacher and adviser, but also a dear and dearly missed friend. I am indebted to Oberlin College and the Loeb Classical Library Foundation for the financial support needed to bring the work to completion. An Oberlin College Grant-in-Aid and the Thomas Cooper Fund for Faculty Research provided funding for production costs. During earlier stages of this book, I benefited from funding provided by the Rackham School of Graduate Studies at the University of Michigan (2000), the American Institute of Archaeology (2002), and the Cyprus Fulbright Commission (2003). I produced the maps of Karanis through a grant from the University of Michigan Collaborative for the Advancement of Research and Technology (2004). This book would not have been possible without the assistance, advice, and encouragement of Terry Wilfong and David Frankfurter. I also owe thanks to numerous friends and colleagues from whom I have received assistance. Christopher Faraone and Jacco Dieleman read and provided insightful comments on the opening and closing chapters. The anonymous readers of my initial manuscript supplied important guidance. Ellen Bauerle, my editor, as well as Alexa Ducsay at the University of Michigan Press have been instrumental in helping me bring the project to completion. My dissertation committee, includ- viii Foreword ing Susan Alcock, Janet Richards, Derek Collins, and Stuart Kirsch, provided much-needed guidance and direction. Many others provided thoughts, bibliography , and encouragement along the way: Björn Anderson, Pierre Aupert, Roger Bagnall, Nancy Bookidis, Del Chrol, James Cook, Gregory Daugherty, Paola Davoli, Smadar Gabrelli, Jennifer Gates-Foster, Michael Given, Carla Goodnoh, Alison Griffith, Todd Hickey, David Jordan, Thomas Landvatter, Nikos Litinas, Daniel McCaffrey, John Pedley, C. H. Peters, Adam Rabinowitz , Margaret Root, Guy Sanders, J. J. Shirley, Jim Sickinger, Gina Soter, Stephen Tracy, and Philip Ventricinque. The support of my colleagues in the Oberlin College Department of Classics, Thomas Van Nortwick, Kirk Ormand, Benjamin Lee, and Christopher Trinacty, has been invaluable. John Harwood and Amy Margaris, colleagues in art history and anthropology, as well as the Friday working group at the Feve, provided cross-disciplinary direction. At Oberlin College, I have benefited from the assistance of a number of talented and dedicated undergraduate students, Gabe Baker, Ploy Keener, Christopher Motz, Eush Tayco, Lauren Clark, Laura Wilke, and Emily Thaisrivongs. My research...