Witchcraft can be defined as the use and application of magical powers typically obtained from sorcery or evil spirits in performing unbelievable things. Or it can as well be defined as the invocation and exercise of alleged powers which are supernatural in nature in controlling events or people with the involvement of magic or sorcery. Therefore, a witch can be described as an individual who performs these supernatural scenes. In most cases, the unavoidable element of witchcraft is the infliction of painful feeling to one party in efforts of satisfying the wants of the other party. These painful inflictions are mostly demonstrated through sacrifices that are often demanded by the witches and evil spirits in general.
Comparison of Various Texts
“The Odyssey” Book 10
Euripides “Medea”
In the text “Witchcraft in Ancient Greece”, the term ‘witch’ is applied to Medea. Here the word ‘witch’ can be referred to imply that Medea either had dealings involving the devil or that she could possess supernatural powers over individuals by using some evil spirits. However, in this sense, she cannot be considered to be a witch since she did not know anything concerning the Devil because the Devil never formed part of the religion affiliated to Greeks neither did the Greeks, in this sense, bear any idea of evil spirits. Nonetheless, she was aware of charms, potions and spells, and even how to actually use them. This element, therefore, brings the concept and belief that there was witchcraft and sorcery in the ancient Greece though it seemed to have been actually a component of their religion and was used in different ways a part of what Christians understand.
According to the ancient Greek religion, various kinds of people could be engaged in witchcraft. Circe, for instance, was a witch though she is also an immortal goddess. Of course by nature, a goddess possesses supernatural power. Interestingly, her power has limitation, for which Odyssseus may use such limitations to his own advantage. Yes Medea may be a goddess, but she acts as if she is a mortal one. She, therefore, appears more of a mortal witch. Thus in ancient Greece, there existed real witches who could deliver results while others just acted on others fears. And with regards to Medea, it seems she was a real one.
Seneca’s Medea as Witch
Interestingly, in the starting point, the Nurse confesses that she has witnessed Medea’s previous witchcraft and fears that Medea’s current anguish status will likely cause greater evil. Surprisingly, Medea, in her actions, which are then acted on stage, appears as one character with whom the Nurse can no longer appeal as she has virtually separated herself from known human realm. In summary, her spells owe a lot to witch descriptions in the literature of Augustan and Medea portrayals in the poetry of Ovid (Trinacty, p. 111-130).
Lucan’s “Pharsalia”
Goodcole’s “Wonderfull Discoverie of Elizabeth Sawyer”
In this text, neighbors of Elizabeth Sawyer often complained of her as being a witch. Henry Goodcole was a man of God who made great discoveries relating to the death of Agnes Sawyer, who died only four days after falling sick with her mouth generating foam. Sawyer’s cause of malice was becoming greater day by day and as such she was put to the trial of God in order to prove her innocence. The husband of the deceased woman, Agnes Ratcliefe confessed that her wife said that if she died at that time it would all be due to Sawyer’s acts of witchcraft. Thereafter, after several question and answer sessions between Henry Goodcole and Elizabeth Sawyer, it was clear that Sawyer was for the devil and as such had powers of the Devil which she used to polarize her neighborhood.
Japanese Witchcraft
Japanese witch animals, for example, are creatures which are believed to have the capacity of assuming invisible and discarnate form, and as such may penetrate inside human body and have the pleasure of inflicting various painful torments. The two main categories of witch animals are snakes and four-legged varieties normally referred to as dogs or foxes (Blacker, p. 1-20). Of great concern is the reason why such creatures would opt for penetrating into humans. Here two answers appear; firstly, such creatures would do it out of their own volition with perhaps a malice, desire or greed motive. In essence, the animal might be looking for something that which might be difficult to realize in its natural shape. Secondly, it may want some small shrine set up and worship paid every day, and such a wish can only be made known through the mouth of humans (Blacker, p. 1-20). In normal circumstances, an animal would not get inside a human being unless associated with supernatural powers as can be seen with the above described Japanese instances.
Uganda Witchcraft (children sacrifice)
In Uganda, witch doctors have managed to convince the elite superstitious that mutilating them will not only make them richer but also bestow power and authority upon their hands. As a result, hundreds of children are abducted on their way to school then decapitated or castrated. Business people offer them lots of cash in exchange for such children mutilations. This vice often increases during election periods as the fight for political power is evident across the country.
Latin America Witchcraft (mainly Peru)
In Peru, occultists from United States, Europe and Africa troop in to attend witchcraft gatherings as they consider Peru to be the New Age Energy’s central power center. Witchcraft is on the rise, and human sacrifice continues to take place. Witches visit Peru mainly because there is a lot of blood sacrifice especially during the Inca period. Usually in the jungles, many people sell their teenagers as sacrifice to rituals. Out and inside Cusco, for instance, are witchcraft markets where sales of spells and potions take place. Male witches, also known as Brujos are available anywhere within Peru. Charms or Potions can be bought for nearly anything, like cures for stomach complications to being wealthy. For example, dried fetuses of Ilama are purchased for good luck to businesses and homes and are mostly walled into the corner side of buildings. Liquidized frog drink is believed to improve the memory while dried armadillo keeps off thieves. Sorcerers are even paid to cast spells on others.
Conclusion
In summary, many people perhaps misunderstand the meaning of a witch or the generalization of the acts of witchcraft. Although the basic concept involves use or association with supernatural powers but witchcraft is manifested in various forms ranging from use of animals (like in Japan), offering sacrifices-majorly children (as evident in Uganda), use of other items for protection (like in Peru) and other supernatural powers that are demonstrated in literary work like ‘The Odyssey’, ‘Medea’ among others. In my own view coupled with the above readings, I think witchcraft exist. As such, we need to be very careful when observing non-natural events that fascinates or scares people.
Work Cited
Trinacty, Christopher V. Senecan Tragedy and the Reception of Augustan Poetry. Oxford University Press, USA, (2014): 111-130
Braund, Susanna. Lucan: Oxford Bibliographies Online Research Guide. Oxford University Press, (2010): 10-15
Blacker, Carmen. The catalpa bow: a study of shamanistic practices in Japan. Routledge, (2004): 1-20
