this post was submitted on 09 Dec 2025
959 points (98.3% liked)

Witchy Memes

6013 readers
331 users here now

Be cool to each other. We'll welcome most occult themes, it's okay if you stray from witchcraft a bit.

No advertising. No trolling. No hate. Violaters will be removed unceremoniously.

We love art credits when possible.

founded 2 years ago
MODERATORS
you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
[โ€“] HexesofVexes@lemmy.world 7 points 2 days ago (1 children)

So, in essence, necromancy was (traditionally) a divinatory art (in short asking questions of the dead who were seen to stand outside time [the notions of time and mortality being intertwined]). Greek and Roman Necromancy by Ogden is a good text on the history here.

Nigromancy, translating to "black divination" (black as in dark/evil magic) was more to do with demonic pacts and spells focused around power (e.g. summoning a feast, calling up a castle, cursing to madness or death, winning the love of a woman). The text forbidden rites gives a good exploration of this from a historical perspective.

[โ€“] coaxil@lemmy.zip 1 points 20 hours ago

Ahh nice right, this is great, and a good TIL, thank you!!