The obole was a coin placed in the mouths of the dead in ancient Greek and Roman traditions. This practice was associated with paying the ferryman Charon for passage across the river Styx in the underworld. The tradition reflects beliefs about the afterlife and the necessity of providing the deceased with means for their journey. … Read more
In ancient Media (an ancient kingdom in modern-day Iran), certain stones, particularly black or green ones, were believed to possess healing properties. These stones were thought to cure blindness and gout when applied to the affected area with a compress of ewe’s milk. Such beliefs illustrate the intersection of folklore and traditional medicine in ancient … Read more
Medea, in Greek mythology, was a sorceress from Colchis. Known for her role in assisting Jason and the Argonauts in obtaining the Golden Fleece, Medea used her magic to overcome obstacles and defeat monsters. She is also associated with the murder of her own children, though some ancient sources dispute this. Medea’s magical abilities were … Read more
Ithyphallus (Greek: Ἰθύφαλλος) refers to a type of amulet depicting an erect phallus. In ancient Greece and Rome, it was worn around the neck of children and Vestal Virgins and believed to possess protective qualities. Pliny the Elder mentions its use as a safeguard against envy, even for emperors. Ithyphallic imagery appears in various forms … Read more
Ichthyomancy (from Greek ikhthus “fish” and manteia “divination”) is an ancient form of divination practiced by inspecting the entrails of fish. Polydamas, a Trojan hero in the Iliad, and the blind prophet Tiresias are said to have used ichthyomancy. Fish from the fountain of Apollo at Myra were believed to be prophetic, and Apuleius (c. … Read more