#thessala

[...]

I was looking through Chretien's Cliges and came across a footnote regarding Thessala, the sorceress-nurse of Fenice. Something about the name being a generic word for witch or sorceress.

Lo and behold, turns out, "Thessala" really is a term for witch.

Lol, Chretien. Very Subtle.

But more interesting to me is how this word came about from Greco-Roman culture. Thessaly is the home of the (infamous) Greek hero Jason, leader of the argonauts and husband of the sorceress Medea.

Apparently, Pliny the Elder here states that Thessaly owes its knowledge of the Healing Arts to Chiron, the centaur mentor of Jason, Achilles and other Greek Heroes.

The funny fact is: Jason (Ἰάσων (Iásōn)) means "Healer":

So, it seems to me the association of Thessaly and Witchcraft came about through Jason's knowledge of Herbs and Medicine and through Jason marriage to the barbarian Medea.

The study of medicine, and drugs, in Ancient Greek is Pharmakeia - the origin of the word "Pharmacy"... and is synonymous with Witchcraft. Indeed, the magic of Medea is described as "Pharmakon" and certain translations of the Bible also use the term "Pharmakeia" to refer to magic and witchcraft.

However, I will speak no further of their grief; but you shall hear of Thessala's activities—how she mixes and brews the potion. She mixed and stirred it up, for she had provided herself a long time in advance with everything which she would need for the potion. A little before three o'clock she gives her the potion to drink. At once her sight became dimmed, her face grew as pale and white as if she had lost her blood: she could not have moved a foot or hand, if they had flayed her alive, and she does not stir or say a word, although she perceives and hears the emperor's grief and the cries which fill the hall.

it's necromancy time, babeeeh

..........

yeah this really happened.