Magic and Magicians in the Greco-Roman World

This study is the first to assemble the evidence for the existence of sorcerors in the ancient world; it also addresses the question of their identity and social origins. The resulting investigation takes us to the underside of Greek and Roman society into a world of wandering holy men and women conjurors and wonder-workers and into the lives of prostitutes procuresses charioteers and theatrical performers.This fascinating reconstruction of the careers of witches and sorcerors allows us to see into previously inaccessible areas of Greco-Roman life. Compelling for both its detail and clarity and with an extraordinarily revealing breadth of evidence employed it will be an essential resource for anyone studying ancient magic.