Witchcraft and Magic in Europe, Volume 1: Biblical and Pagan Societies

This first volume focuses on evidence for witchcraft and magic in Ancient Mesopotamia (Thomsen) and Syria-Palestine and the Old Testament (Cryer). Throughout the book the authors wrestle with the issue of defining `magic' and how or whether it can be separated from `ritual' practices. Based purely on written sources, these two studies promise much but, with an eclectic mix of approaches and with no concluding remarks, the result is a little disappointing.