Where does Magic come from?

Alliterative・2 minutes read

The word "magic" has a complex etymology and historical evolution, connecting to concepts of priests, dualistic battles, and supernatural beings, and influencing modern terms like "magician." Magic has intertwined with science, religious practices, and cultural beliefs throughout history, shaping language, literature, and societal perceptions of power and deception.

Insights

  • The term "magic" has a rich historical background, initially associated with priests but evolving to connote "magician," while the word itself has roots in Greek and Old Iranian languages, influencing English terms like "mage" and "magi."
  • Throughout history, magic has been intertwined with various practices, including religious rituals, occultism, and deception in both real-life figures like Isaac Newton and fictional portrayals in horror films, showcasing the multifaceted nature of the concept and its enduring impact on culture.

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Recent questions

  • What is the historical evolution of the word "magic"?

    The word "magic" has a complex etymology, originating from Greek and Old Iranian roots, eventually leading to the English words "mage" and "magi." Initially, "magic" referred to priests, particularly Zoroastrian priests, but evolved to connote "magician" over "priest," influencing the English term "magic."

  • How have magic and science intertwined throughout history?

    Magic and science have intertwined throughout history, with notable figures like Isaac Newton engaging in both occult practices and scientific pursuits. Scholars have attempted to define "magic" objectively, with descriptions like "mechanistic ritual" incorporating religious elements for personal goals.

  • What is the significance of wands in ancient magical traditions?

    Stage magicians employ misdirection and sleight of hand, often using wands, drawing from ancient traditions of wands as symbols of magical power. Circe in Homer’s Odyssey uses a magic rod to turn Odysseus’s men into swine, while Aaron throws down his rod to transform it into a serpent in the biblical book of Exodus.

  • How did historical figures like John Dee engage with magic?

    John Dee, an adviser to Queen Elizabeth I, used crystals for scrying to see visions of angels. Scrying involves staring into reflective surfaces like water, mirrors, or fire for prophecy. Dee's practices were rooted in ancient traditions of divination and magical rituals.

  • What is the connection between cleromancy and modern terms like "clerk"?

    Cleromancy is the modern term for fortune-telling by drawing lots, linked to -mancy terms like necromancy and bibliomancy. The word "cleromancy" originates from Greek "kleros" meaning "lot, allotment", evolving from the Proto-Indo-European root *kel- "to strike, cut". This root also led to terms like Latin clericus, English cleric, clerk, and clergy, associated with inheritance and eventually priesthood. In medieval times, clerks, later pronounced clarks, were educated individuals who performed religious duties and accounting, evolving into modern clerks.

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Summary

00:00

"Origins and Evolution of Magical Practices"

  • The word "magic" has a complex etymology, originating from Greek and Old Iranian roots, eventually leading to the English words "mage" and "magi."
  • Initially, "magic" referred to priests, particularly Zoroastrian priests, but evolved to connote "magician" over "priest," influencing the English term "magic."
  • Definitions of "magic" have varied historically, with scholars attempting to objectively define it, such as Drew Wilburn's description of it as "mechanistic ritual" incorporating religious elements for personal goals.
  • Magic and science have intertwined throughout history, with notable figures like Isaac Newton engaging in both occult practices and scientific pursuits.
  • Zoroastrianism, a modified older tradition, emphasized the dualistic battle between good (Asha) and evil (Druj), with Ahura Mazda as the central deity.
  • The word "deity" and related terms trace back to Proto-Indo-European roots, connecting various gods across different cultures.
  • The concept of dreams, nightmares, and supernatural beings like Freddy Krueger in "A Nightmare on Elm Street" ties into the historical roots of magic and deception.
  • Horror films, inspired by Gothic literature, were pioneered by Georges Méliès, who utilized visual effects and trick photography, linking magic to cinematic deception.
  • The term "trick" has origins in Old French and Latin, possibly related to drawing or deceit, leading to words like "treachery" and "treat."
  • Stage magicians employ misdirection and sleight of hand, often using wands, drawing from ancient traditions of wands as symbols of magical power.

12:08

"Magic, prophecy, and self-fulfilling prophecies"

  • Circe in Homer’s Odyssey uses a magic rod to turn Odysseus’s men into swine.
  • Aaron throws down his rod to transform it into a serpent in the biblical book of Exodus.
  • John Dee, an adviser to Queen Elizabeth I, used crystals for scrying to see visions of angels.
  • Scrying involves staring into reflective surfaces like water, mirrors, or fire for prophecy.
  • Joseph from the biblical book of Genesis had prophetic dreams and a coat of many colors.
  • Joseph interpreted dreams in Egypt, predicted a famine, and became the vizier.
  • The Cup of Jamshid in Persian mythology contained the elixir of immortality and was used for scrying.
  • Self-fulfilling prophecies, like in Macbeth and Oedipus the King, involve events happening due to the prophecy itself.
  • Cyrus the Great’s rise to power involved a self-fulfilling prophecy and deception.
  • The term “magos” in Greek evolved to mean sorcerer or charlatan, with connections to magic and prophecy.

23:08

Origins and Evolution of Cleromancy and Witchcraft

  • Cleromancy is the modern term for fortune-telling by drawing lots, linked to -mancy terms like necromancy and bibliomancy.
  • The word "cleromancy" originates from Greek "kleros" meaning "lot, allotment", evolving from the Proto-Indo-European root *kel- "to strike, cut".
  • Greek "kleros" also led to terms like Latin clericus, English cleric, clerk, and clergy, associated with inheritance and eventually priesthood.
  • In medieval times, clerks, later pronounced clarks, were educated individuals who performed religious duties and accounting, evolving into modern clerks.
  • The word "witch" is gendered, historically linked to women and carrying negative connotations, though modern contexts like Wicca and Harry Potter aim to reclaim it.
  • Witches in the past were accused of various crimes, leading to persecution during witch-hunts, influenced by texts like Malleus Malificarum.
  • The term "wicked" is derived from the same Old English root as "witch", with estimates suggesting thousands to millions of women were persecuted during witch-hunts.
  • The word "witch" has disputed etymology, possibly linked to divination or necromancy, with various proposed origins like "to separate, divide" or "consecrated, holy".
  • The concept of truth, opposite to lies and deception, is explored through words like "soothsayer", "truth", and "Ásatrú", with connections to Zoroastrianism and Norse mythology.
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