Margaret Alice Murray

A Study in Anthropology

Witch Cult in Western Europe

Le streghe nell'Europa Occidentale

This book is intended for the general reader as well as for the student of anthropology. In this volume I have followed one line only of anthropological enquiry, the survival of an indigenous European cult and the interaction between it and the exotic religion which finally overwhelmed it. I have traced the worship of the Horned God onwards through the centuries from the Paleolithic prototypes, and I have shown that the survival of the cult was due to the survival of the races who adored that god, for this belief could not have held its own against the invasions of other peoples and religions unless a stratum of the population were strong enough to keep it alive...Dr Margaret Alice Murray

The God of the Witches

The Witch-cult in Western Europe A Study in Anthropology

The Tomb of Two Brothers

Egyptian Religious Poetry

"An important and fascinating book."--New Statesman and Nation "A book of absorbing interest."--Psychic News This celebrated study of witchcraft in Europe traces the worship of the pre-Christian and prehistoric Horned God from paleolithic times to the medieval period. Murray, the first to turn a scholarly eye on the mysteries of witchcraft, enables us to see its existence in the Middle Ages not as an isolated and terrifying phenomenon, but as the survival of a religion nearly as old as humankind itself, whose devotees held passionately to a view of life threatened by an alien creed. The findings she sets forth, once thought of as provocative and implausible, are now regarded as irrefutable by folklorists and scholars in related fields. Exploring the rites and ceremonies associated with witchcraft, Murray establishes the concept of the "dying god"--the priest-king who was ritually killed to ensure the country and its people a continuity of fertility and strength. In this light, she considers such figures as Thomas a Becket, Joan of Arc, and Gilles de Rais as spiritual leaders whose deaths were ritually imposed. Truly a classic work of anthropology, and written in a clear, accessible style that anyone can enjoy, The God of the Witches forces us to reevaluate our thoughts about an ancient and vital religion. CONTENTS FOREWORD INTRODUCTION I. THE HORNED GOD II. THE WORSHIPPERS III. THE PRIESTHOOD IV. THE RITES V. RELIGIOUS AND MAGICAL CEREMONIES VI. THE DIVINE VICTIM REFERENCES

God of the Witches

Ancient Egyptian Legends

Raven Starhawk Cunningham

A ground breaking work of Anthropology, Margaret Murray tackles the taboo subject of Europe's Pagan roots. Contrary to popular history, Murray contends that our European ancestors did not completely convert to Christianity at an early date- rather, remnants of "The Old Religion" lingered long into the 17th century. She backs up her theories with competant, scholarly research into both archeological and historical records. With the eye of a scientist and scholar, Murray examines the truth behind the Witch Trials, the legend ofRobin Hood, the deaths of Thomas Beckett and Joan of Arc, and the real origins of the elusive Fairy Folk. This book is a truly fascinating, and sometimes shocking, look at our European roots, traced through the lineage of our Pagan roots.

The Genesis of Religion

Margaret Alice Murray's acclaimed history of European witchcraft is accompanied by descriptions of the rituals performed and concoctions made by witches centuries ago. The author's burgeoning knowledge is a service to the subject; what might otherwise be overly dry or arcane is revealed in a manner both exciting and thought-provoking. We are offered historical observations of the witchcraft tradition, with the life and times of the women accused of its practice examined in the context of the era. Readers will be left in no doubt about the traditions, ceremonies and magical rites practiced by witches. Although Murray was later found to be overstating the influence and magnitude of the witchcraft tradition - she considered it to be a popular successor to paganism - she explains its origins, growth and persecution of witches with astute narration. Murray posits that witches were thought to be worshiping the devil; a grave crime in the fervently Christian Europe of yore. The appendices contain a series of subjects, such as a narration of witch trials of the 17th century, certain ointments created by witches with the desire of taking flight, and the presence of witch-like qualities in historical figures such as Joan of Arc. Although certain aspects of her history have since been proven inaccurate, Murray's account as a whole remains an engrossing and detailed anthropological examination of the subject.

Margaret Alice Murray

About

Books

Join the club