2020 Witch Challenge
~Week 1~
Topic: Ancient Greece
When: 12-9 BC through 600 AD
Where: Greece, specifically Athens
What was life like for the upper class? What sort of clothes did they wear, what did they eat and drink? How did they spend their time?
The upper class were the Greeks born to Athenian parents, citizens of Athens. They were the rich and powerful of Athenian society, holding all power politically AND militarily. Meat was reserved for the wealthy, diets consisted mainly of bread, olives, beans, grapes, figs, milk and cheese. They never drank milk, they considered it barbaric, and drank either water or wine. Men would go to town to barter for market, women would stay at home and keep house.
What was life like for the ordinary citizen? What sort of clothes did they wear, what did they eat and drink? How did they spend their time?
An “ordinary” citizen were the commoners, a group made of up slaves that won their freedom and had basic legal and social privileges. While the rich had more luxurious leisure activities, commoners were most likely playing soccer, hoop, or dice. Hoop is a game involving an iron hoop propelled forward with a wooden stick. They ate mostly like the rich, just no meat. They grew their own food, veggies and fruits, and raised the goats to make the milk for goat cheese. All Greeks mostly two light garments draped across their bodies, that also doubled as bedding.
What role did magic play?
The Greeks have a god specifically for witchcraft. Their magic consisted of evil prayers, incantations, poisons, potions (love potions), spells, curse tablets, drugs, and powerful amulets. Magicians were feared, and people would come to them to fix ailments/bring happiness to themselves. Magic in the Greek world was not just prevalent in the realm of private individuals, neither was it reserved for the poor and illiterate.
What was the most used form of magic (e.g. curses, weather magick)?
Cursing seemed to be the more prevalent form of magic. That, potions, and amulets were mostly used in that time.
What was the public perception of magic? Was it endorsed? Hated?
It depends on the class, a lot of commoners would seek out magicians for help, upper class individuals would punish magicians, usually with the death penalty. Magicians also relied on handouts to eat.
What was the public perception of those who practiced magic?
Again, depends on the class^ see above answer.
What similarities do you see between their magic and modern witchcraft? What differences?
Myself being a curse friendly witch, I liked that I chose this topic to research. I hadn’t known that Greek magick would be curse friendly, honestly expected it to be more wholesome and lovey dovey. So I can see similarities between the magick I practice to the magick they practiced. Especially with the amulets that most witches will glamour in today’s time, like necklaces or rings, etc.
Challenge by @auricwitch !!
