Greek Mythology, Medea, and Ancient Demonology: Key Concepts and Texts

Who is Medea in Greek mythology?

A powerful sorceress and princess of Colchis, niece of Circe, transgressed greek norms (family, loyalty, marriage laws)

What are some of Medea's abilities?

She uses herbs, potions, magic, and enchantments.

What themes are explored in Euripides' play 'Medea'?

Betrayal, foreign woman vs Greek society, revenge, injustice, gender. Jason abandons her for Galuce, daughter of Creon (king of Corinth). Medea murders Glauce + her father, and her own children to devastate Jason.

What does Medea do in revenge against Jason?

She murders Glauce, King Creon, and her own children.

Who is Jason in Greek mythology?

The rightful heir to Iolcus, located in Thessaly. A hero and leader of the Argonauts. Hera, goddess of fertility and marriage, was disguised as a old lady and he helped her cross a river, earning her as his patron.

What was Jason's quest?

To retrieve the Golden Fleece by King Pelias. Gathers legendary heroes, the Argonauts. Medea falls in love with Jason, helps him tame fire-breathing bulls, and helps him defeat dragon guarding the fleece using her magic.

How does Medea help Jason in his quest?

She helps him tame fire-breathing bulls and defeat the serpent guarding the fleece.

What does Medea do to escape with Jason?

She killed her brother while he was chasing them by boat. She would fall in love with him via Aphrodite's influence, and save him each time he would have impossible quests; she even betrayed her own family to do so.

What is the significance of the Peliades in Medea's story?

Medea tricks Pelias' daughters into killing their father; her magic is deceptive, deadly, and manipulative. She tricks the daughters by promising to rejuvenate their old father, shows off the magic of killing a ram and boiling it to produce a lamb, the daughters do the same on their father, he doesn't rejuvenate.

Who is Hecate?

The goddess of witchcraft, associated with ghosts and necromancy. Goddess of (moon/magic/night). Daughter of Titans, she is one herself. Medea is the priestess for the temple of Hecate, so Hecate favors her.

How is Medea portrayed in ancient Greek texts?

As a foreign woman associated with the East, viewed as magical and dangerous.

How is Medea portrayed in modern representations?

As sympathetic, conflicted, tragic, and enraged by betrayal. Lack of agency as a foreigner in Greek society, focus on the injustices she faced from society. Aware of horror of her actions yet driven by pain and loss.

What is the Babylonian Talmud?

Central text of Rabbinic Judaism (Jewish law + interpretation)

Mishnah is the earliest layer and is the written versions of earlier oral laws

Germara is Rabbinic commentary, explanation, and debate

Mishnah + Germara + Talmud

Rashi's Commentary - was a Medieval rabbi (11thC), notes helped standardize understanding of Talmud

What are the two main components of the Talmud?

Mishnah and Gemara.

What is the Hebrew Bible?

The foundational scriptures of Judaism, written mostly in Hebrew, some Aramic. Contains history, law, prophecy, and poetry. Reflects Near Eastern context (Mesopotamia, Egypt, Canaan, etc.)

What are Pseudepigrapha?

"Falsely attributed" works - claimed to be written by biblical figures but were written later

Includes

- Testament of Solomon

- Book of Julibees

- 1 Enoch

- Dead Sea Scrolls contain some related texts

What are incantation bowls used for?

To exorcise demons, cure illness, and protect against evil spirits. Aprotopiac --> Panic / Aggressive --> Send harm back / Erotic --> love magic (rare)

What is the meaning of 'Baal'?

It means 'lord' or 'master' and represents local gods. Local Canaanite storm/fertlity god, Hebrew Bible has them as a symbol of foreign false gods. In medieval demonology --> Baal becomes a demon of Hell

What does Beelzebub represent in the New Testament?

Associated with demonic power, seen as in opposition to Jesus. Interpreted as "Lord of the Flies' Pharisees accuse Jesus of casting demons "by Beelzebub"

How does Jesus demonstrate his authority over demons?

By exorcising them and healing the possessed. Has divine authority. Heals the blind and mute, and can resurrect people.

What is the significance of the Desert Fathers?

Early Christian monks who exemplified eremitic life and battled spiritual temptations in Egypt

Eremitic monks --> live alone (Anthony the Great is famous for spiritual warfare in Egyptian desert, and resisting demonic illusions

Cenebitic monks --> live together under a rule

Practicies include fasting, prayer, withdrawal from society, and battles with temptation and demons.

What was the Satanic Panic?

A social phenomenon in the 1980s-1990s involving fear of alleged satanic ritual abuse. Media and churches amplified fear. Rooted in a long Christian tradition of believing in real demons, possessions, and evil influence.

How were demons represented in the New Testament?

Demons are described as unclean spirtis that cause illness and oppose God, they fear Jesus because of his authority. Jesus commands them verbally, turns them into animals, heals physical and mental afflictions, and shows divine authority greater than demonic power.

What is the role of magic in early Biblical texts?

Magic viewed as foreign, dangerous, and forbidden. Associated with Babylonia, Assyria, and Egypt. Only priests were allowed to use divinely sanctioned rituals.

Illicit magic --> foreign, idolatrous

Authorized ritual --> under YHWH's authority

What are the two types of monks in early monastic communities?

Eremitic (living alone) and Cenobitic (living in monasteries).

What was the goal of isolation for monks?

Monks feared temptation, sexual thoughts, illusions, nightmares, and demonic physical attacks. Isolation worsened fear through being in the desert where demons were, monks sought spirits to fight them, and emptiness left them more psychologically vulnerable.

Protection

- prayer

- scripture

- faith in god

- community and support

- amulets/ crosses

- ritual actions

How did early Jewish texts reinterpret older Near Eastern ideas?

By emphasizing the power of YHWH over foreign magic and spirits, as it is the ultimate power

What is the purpose of incantation bowls?

To protect households and repel demons, protect against illnesses, break curses, prevent nightmares and possessions, and guard childbirth.

How did the fear of the demonic influence society during the Satanic Panic?

It amplified anxiety about hidden malevolent forces controlling people.

Moral fear of Satanism, witchcraft, ritual abuse

Media + churches amplified fear

Ordinary events interpreted as "demonic"

Rooted in a long Christian tradition of believing in real demons, possession, and evil influence