CHAPTER 1

Witchcraft in Ancient Greece and Rome

What witch, what magician will be able to free you from Thessalian sorceries?

—Horace, Roman poet

It is a known historical fact that in classical times, magical processes wereused by the ancient Greeks and Romans to produce a myriad of effects ranginganywhere from causing rain and stopping hailstorms to healing animals andincreasing one's wealth. In addition to the beneficial uses of magical power,there was also a widespread use of magick for destructive purposes, such asdestroying an enemy's crops or even causing a person to die. There was also astrong belief in erotic magical techniques (see The Great Rite, chapter 12).Thus it is important when thinking about the techniques of magick, especiallythe magick of the ancients, to take into account the motive behind the spell. Togive a modern example, if a person shoots and kills an animal and uses it tofeed a hungry family, it would be considered a positive thing in our society'seyes. However, if you shoot and kill an animal without reason, that isconsidered a wrongful act. In both cases the result is the death of an animal,and in both cases a gun is used, but the intention behind the use of the gun iswhat determines whether the act is good or bad.

Thus the practice of magick for beneficent purposes was considered necessary inGreece and Rome, and written laws existed that allowed for it. Magick waspracticed by a wide variety of people ranging from priests and priestesses ofspecific deities to doctors and even thieves!

Divination was also of extreme importance to the Greeks and Romans, and theoracles of ancient times are a testament to this desire to know what the futureholds. The governments of both Greece and Rome supported those whose business itwas to foretell of future events or solve dilemmas that affected the people ofthe state or town.

On the other side of the coin, those who practiced magick with the intent ofcausing harm or destruction were scorned, and laws were made to condemn thoseguilty of this practice. Death was the usual sentence for those found guilty ofperforming or even attempting or professing to perform magick to bringdestruction. These magicians who practiced maleficent magick were often reportedto use certain objects and incantations to threaten the gods into doing theirwill. Thus they could circumvent the fates and produce a myriad of "miracles."While this method of threatening is not recommended to the reader, it isinteresting to note that it was a common practice in the days of old.

With just a small amount of research into ancient history you will quickly findthat the rituals used within the framework of most modern Wiccan groups arebased on the Rites of Dionysus, Orpheus, and Eleusis in ancient Greece and Rome.Gerald Gardner mentions in his book Witchcraft Today that upon visiting theVilla of Mysteries in Pompeii he noticed striking similarities between thereliefs depicted there and the rites of witchcraft, particularly the initiationrite. The Villa consists of a large hall the walls of which are painted withtwenty-nine nearly life-sized figures that depict what appears to be theinitiation of a young female into the mysteries of Dionysus. These rites oftenpassed the initiate through a series of "tests" in which he or she was allowedto watch a reenactment of the life of a deity. Particularly in the festivals ofDionysus and Eleusis, there was also a symbolic death and rebirth of theinitiate along with the deity, thus making the connection, on a subconsciouslevel, of the inner divinity of the initiate. It is my opinion that the modernwitchcraft movement is primarily patterned on these ancient Greek and Romanrites of initiation and is not entirely Celtic in origin, as some believe. Whyelse would the traditional witch's goddess and god be Diana and Pan, both Greco-Romandeities?

Another indication that the origins of witchcraft were in the rites of theancient Greeks is the famous witch's chant of "Eo Evohe." I have used this chanton many occasions, and not one person, whether a high priest or high priestess,has ever been able to answer to me what the words mean. They simply say that itis traditional and that it works, which it does. Now, I understand that theorigin of something is not quite as important as the effectiveness of it, but mynatural curiosity always pushes me to know why. So I delved deep into the booksand found the origin of the word and what it meant. In Gardner's version of theBook of Shadows, he makes reference to the Greek call of Evoe Evoe—much like theEo Evoe of modern witches. The origins of this chant began with the festival ofDionysus/Bacchus. During this festival, female priestesses of the god wouldconsume large amounts of wine and work themselves into a frenzy. After this theywould run through the fields and shout the words Evoe, Bacche! O Iacche! IoBacche! Evoe Sabae! Eventually the festival no longer was practiced, and thewords were only remembered in the minds of those who partook or witnessed therites. The words eventually became altered into the witch's Eo Evoe. But what dothe words mean? Well, they are derived from a myth associated with the godDionysus/Bacchus. When the young god had slain a giant, Zeus complimented him bysaying: "Evie Evoe," which means, "Well done, son." So there you have it. Whenyou chant the rhythmic and powerful Eo Evoe, you are intoning the words of Zeushimself.

Gardner was not the only person who implied that the origins of some witchcraftrituals are rooted in ancient Greece and Rome. There was also a witch who livedin England in the later half of the 1800s who was a most influential, thoughobscure, figure. This man was called George Pickengill. Old George was anotorious figure who was said to have been the leader of nine covens in England.It is rumored that Gerald Gardner was initiated into one of these covens. Manyof these stories are mere speculations on the part of various individuals, butsome do make strong points.

One of the stories of Old George was that he calculated astrologically and/orthrough spiritual means that the priests and priestesses of ancient Greece andRome would begin to be reincarnated in the later half of the twentieth century.Therefore, he devised a series of rituals patterned on...