David Frankfurter

David Frankfurter, a Boston University scholar of ancient Mediterranean religions and magical texts, guides a tour of how scholars define and study ancient magic. He outlines the book's three-part structure and key sources. Short, lively takes cover language, material amulets, protective figurines, and why simplistic magic-to-modernity stories mislead.

David Frankfurter, a Boston University scholar of ancient Mediterranean religions and magical texts, discusses the Brill guide he edited. They explore how ancient cultures labeled ambiguous rituals, the range of texts and artifacts treated as magical, and material and social contexts that shape perceptions of ritual power. Short, clear, and provocative conversations about terminology, sources, and why magic still fascinates.

David Frankfurter, professor of religion at Boston University and editor of The Brill Guide to the Study of Ancient Magic, explores how scholars define and study ancient “magic.” He outlines the book’s three-part approach: native terminology, textual and material sources, and ritual contexts. The conversation highlights surprising artifacts, the power of writing and names, everyday ritual control, and issues of stereotyping and efficacy.