![]() Because the Romans spoke Latin, these traditions were passed down in that language, and so you see a lot of Latin in magic. Magical amulets, spells written on “curse tablets” and forms of ancient voodoo were present in Ancient Greece and Rome. While the Middle Ages were primetime for magic, traces of sorcery date all the way back to ancient times. Even medieval medicine incorporated elements of what could be considered magic, and medical books from the time were published in - you guessed it - Latin. The book, written in Latin, became very influential, despite its misogynist ramblings that blamed women for witchcraft. During this time, Catholic clergyman Heinrich Kramer published Malleus Maleficarum (“The Hammer of Witches”), which discussed witchcraft. In the 15th century, witches became the new obsession. Much of the writing about necromancy was in Latin, and so people wishing to practice it had to be able to read the language. ![]() In the 14th century, a darker field of magical study arose called necromancy, which involved conjuring the dead. Alchemy dates back to ancient China and India, but it got its name in 12th century Europe, where Latin was spoken, and so related texts were written in the language. It was treated as a hard science at the time, but parts definitely crossed the line into magical territory. One of the earliest popular forms of what could be considered magic was alchemy, a mix of chemistry and speculative philosophy, in which an alchemist attempted to turn base metals into silver or gold in pursuit of immortality. ![]() Latin in magic has become so ubiquitous likely because of the historical precedent set way back in the Middle Ages (and even before that). ![]() Expelliarmus comes from the Latin word expello, which means “I banish,” and arma, meaning “weapons.” Obliviate simply derives from the medieval Latin word obliviscor, which means “I forget.” And lumos comes from the Latin root lumen, which means “light.” The use of Latin in magic is pervasive - from fictional spells to historical texts to religious exorcisms. But what some fans may not know are the Latin roots of these words, which cleverly explain what magic they perform. Loyal fans of the Harry Potter series know the spells by heart: expelliarmus is used to disarm (diswand, really) another magician, obliviate is for erasing memories, and lumos is used to make your wand into a flashlight. ![]()
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