Cursed! The Power of Magic in the Ancient World

$29.95 at de Young Museum.

A bewitching study of magical objects from ancient societies, including Egypt, Mesopotamia, Greece and Rome. The belief in magic was widespread across ancient Egypt, Mesopotamia, Greece and Rome. In these societies, the world was believed to be populated by divine forces, and magicians (also called sorcerers, witches and shamans) could manipulate supernatural powers through the performance of rituals and recitation of spells to achieve a wide range of aims, including protection from demonic harm, healing…