The Origin of the Magic Art (Pliny the Elder - c. 77 AD)

The Origin of the Magic Art
Adapted from Pliny the Elder's The Natural History
Translated by John Bostock and H.T. Riley. London (1855)
Read and animated by Dan Attrell

#classicalstudies #classics #magic #rome #romanhistory #ancienthistory #astrology #religiousstudies #witchcraft #esotericism #philosophy

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[TheModernHermeticist]

Please like, share, and leave a comment to be a sweet-smelling incense unto the algogods. Make Pliny roll in his grave.

[TheModernHermeticist]

If you're wondering about "Hermippus, who wrote about the whole craft very carefully, compiled abstracts for and commentaries on the two million verses written by Zoroaster", see FGH 1026 F57 (courtesy of Daniel Ogden).

[sonofsothis]

Thank you for reading this classic, I enjoyed it.

[markdpricemusic]

Once again, many thanks for all your work. Very much appreciated!

[GlynWilliams-wzol]

Just would like to say. Thanks for your amazing work. Love and peace. Glyn

[appidydafoo]

One of my favorite books. Great reading. Thank you.

[Marjorie-ytpb]

Making my day . Wonderful artworks and reading 😇

[tedhand]

So stoked you keep cranking these audiobooks out. This is the content I am here to see.

[graceanderson]

Thanks for your work man! Much appreciated 💙

[ChrisLively]

Greetings from Chattanooga, TN. I love the topic and the art presented here is such that I could look at it forever. There's more going on than just art I feel. Thanks for your time and for sharing your knowledge and wisdom.

[garrinking]

I mean, I was glad to see David brought in this year, both these guys are underrated even Chris as a mega pro deserves that rec!

[mrwondering]

Your the best thanks for all you do

I wonder if perhaps you can do a few videos of shamanism/ancestral magic surely all the arts stemmed from it

[SobekLOTFC]

This was awesome, Dan- keep up the excellent work 👏

[macavelli]

Interesting presentation very good video

[rxno]

So happy I’ve found this channel. Thank you 🙏

[Monica]

We could use some legislation banning human sacrifice in these times as well.

[david-jrfn]

The Zoroastrians homeland however was Airyana Vaeja, a place in the far north and so this is the ultimate origin of magic. The Celts themselves say that the knowledge of the druids comes from the Northern islands of the Earth

[sieben.]

“That these doctrines should have been received by any portion of mankind, and transmitted to us by the aid of memory, is to me surprising beyond anything I can conceive”.

Beyond anything you were able to conceive, indeed.

[phillipbernhardt-house]

Lots of interest here...from the discussion of the Druids (which, I think, really needs to be taken into account when discussing the later Insular Celtic "druids" as if they're more sacerdotal rather than sorcerous!) to the mention of the cynocephalus plant, which I am now wondering if it made it into my discussion of Dogheads or not...I remember coming across the reference, but I might not have included it since it was talking about a plant rather than a monstrous race, though I'll have to check, as this is something that I know I agonized over whether or not to include even in a footnote. (Strange how such things that seem so big in the moment of research and writing can be so easily forgotten a decade and more onwards...!?!)

Looking forward to speaking further soon! Thanks for your continued excellent work!

[Judec]

You have a wonderful fireside voice! Please, add no music to your future readings! Listening to your readings makes me feel like I’m in a dark and cosy library chamber in a manor lit only by a fire place!