Necromancy is the practice of summoning spirits of the dead to aid in divination. Ancient Romans believed that the dead saw the future, held and passed messages to the gods (1). Many medieval practitioners of necromancy were clerics who had become dissatisfied with the religious establishment and turned to magic in attempt to achieve their ambitions (2).
How is Necromancy Performed?
In ancient Greek and Roman society, necromancy was performed at tombs, due to their belief that ghosts remained near the corpse, by depositing voodoo dolls or curse tablets inscribed with pleas and requests addressed to the ghosts in them. Dolls could be used to lay ghosts to rest (when the doll was used to represent/symbolize the ghost), house a ghost, or take a living soul (when the doll was used as a representation of the living person) with it when it was laid to rest (3). Another necromantic tool used by Greeks was a ring, believed to give one the power to control the minds, inflict suffering and illness, exorcise demons, summon the souls of the dead, cause dreams and grant prophecies (3). A recipe book among the Greek magical papyri called the Eighth Book of Moses contains a spell for the reanimation of a corpse (1).
In ancient China, officials called shi (gentleman who served as stewards, sheriffs and warriors in the households of feudal lords) took part in rituals honoring the dead during which the spirits of the deceased were channeled through their body after being summoned by priests/practitioners of chi magic via incantations (1). During medieval times necromantic rituals, during which animal sacrifices were offerings to lure demons and the names of Christ and other holy beings were invoked to protect practitioners of magic from the summoned demons and compel them to aid him/her (2).
- Blackett-Ord, R. & Fischel, A. editors. 2020. A History of Magic Witchcraft & the Occult.
- Davies, O. editor, 2017. The Oxford Illustrated History of Witchcraft and Magic.
- Ogden, D, 2001. Greek and Roman Necromancy.