Waking the Witch: Exploring Gender, Magic, and Power Dynamics in Ancient Rome

Author

Diana Gibson, University of New HampshireFollow

Date of Award

Spring 2025

Project Type

Senior Honors Thesis

College or School

COLA

Department

History

Program or Major

History

Degree Name

Bachelor of Arts

First Advisor

Michael Leese

Second Advisor

Elizabeth Mellyn

Third Advisor

Gregory McMahon

Abstract

This thesis explores the presence of witches and magic in the literature of the Roman Empire. The study ranges from the 1st century BCE to the 6th century CE, and relates the prevalence of female witches in the Roman literature to particularly turbulent social contexts, such as the fall of the Republic and the rise of Christianity. The piece considers the rhetorical nature of accusations of witchcraft, and how the concepts of magic and witchcraft themselves were defined and shaped by those in power to uphold imperial hegemony and structures of patriarchy. The project seeks to highlight a distinction between language and its historical context-- how words are constructed and wielded by those in power, and how the worldview they create may contribute to upholding systems of oppression.

Recommended Citation

Gibson, Diana, "Waking the Witch: Exploring Gender, Magic, and Power Dynamics in Ancient Rome" (2025). Honors Theses and Capstones. 908.
https://scholars.unh.edu/honors/908