Description: (Same as Ancient Near East M167.) Lecture, three hours; discussion, one hour (when scheduled). Requisite: course 10 or 20. Exploration of art of influencing natural course of events by occult means as practiced in ancient world at large. Coverage of beliefs in supernatural forces, rites aimed at controlling these forces effectively, and character and social roles of ritual experts in various cultures of ancient world. Source material includes types of magical spells, literary texts about magic and magicians, and artifacts such as amulets and ritual implements. P/NP or letter grading.

Units: 4.0