Between the Living and the Dead: A Perspective on Witches and Seers in the Early Modern Age

Éva Pócs

Published by Central European University Press 1998

Between the Living and the Dead

A Perspective on Witches and Seers in the Early Modern Age

Éva Pócs

https://doi.org/10.1515/9786155225307

Overview
Contents

About this book

Éva Pócs, one of the most highly respected scholars of historical anthropology, has undertaken extensive research on the history of folk beliefs connected with communication and the supernatural sphere. In this book, she examines the relics of European shamanism in early modern sources, and the techniques and belief-systems of mediators found in the records of witchcraft trials from the sixteenth to the eighteenth century. The book explores the various communication systems known to early modern Hungarians, describes the role of these systems in everyday village life, and shows how they were connected to contemporary European systems, as well as new types of mediators and systems which function right up to the twentieth century. Representing a major contribution to the most up-to-date international research, Eva Pócs draws on significant East European material and literature not previously co-ordinated with that from the West.

Author / Editor information

Pócs Éva :

Éva Pócs is Professor emeritus at the Department of Ethnology and Cultural Anthropology, University of Pécs, Hungary.

Reviews

“Éva Pócs has a deserved reputation as an important scholar of folk beliefs in East Central Europe … we can be thankful to George Soros and the efforts of the Central European University Press for bringing sorely needed and significant new findings on Hungary to an English audience. Pócs’ contribution to the debate on witchcraft and popular beliefs certainly meets these criteria and should be well received.”

"Fascination with the phenomenon of medieval witchcraft and witch hunting has produced a plethora of works detailing new discoveries and theories in a continuing attempt to understand one of Europe's most enduring historical legacies. Until recently, however, English-language works have neglected Southeastern European regions. This newly translated work by Pócs begins to fill some gaps while providing valuable insights into parallels between this region and Western Europe. Pócs argues that fairies, magicians, seers and witches each played a dualistic mediatory role in the life of the early modern Hungarian village. Rather than seeing these systems of mediation as evolving from benevolent to demonic, she convincingly shows that they were interactive and concurrent. Excellent bibliography."

Topics

Frontmatter Publicly Available Download PDF	1
Contents Publicly Available Download PDF	5
Introduction Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	7
1. The Limitations and Potential of the Documentary Sources Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	21
2. General Conditions for Communication with the Supernatural Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	29
3. The Belief Figure of the Witch Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	37
4. The Malefactor Witch Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	59
5. The Alternative World of the Witches' Sabbat Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	73
6. The Healing Witch Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	107
7. The Enemies of the Witch: Seers, Magicians, and Healers Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	121
Afterword Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	165
Bibliography Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	167
Documentary Sources Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	185
Abbreviations Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	187

Language: English
Publisher: Central European University Press
Audience: Professional and scholarly;
Pages
- Main content: 188
Keywords: Anthropology; Cultural studies; Early modern Europe; Folklore; Witchcraft

eBook

Published: January 1, 1998
ISBN: 9786155225307