Demonology and Witch Hunt. Medieval Grimoires, Sabbaths, and Demonic Junkies

A scientific review of the phenomenon of witch hunting in Europe and Russia.

What signs were used to identify witches in different countries? Why was Joan of Arc and Elizabeth Báthory judged? How were witch sabbaths described and what do these... stories say about the morals of the era? The author of the book reflects on who magicians, witches, and necromancers really were and why their persecution reached such proportions.

The author traces the evolution of ideas about demons, magic, and feminine power from the Middle Ages to modern times. Through historical documents, trials, and cultural archetypes, Marina Golubeva, historian, PhD in philosophy, and associate professor of psychology, shows how fear, superstitions, and misogyny fostered mass hysteria.

The book pays special attention to the differences in Russian tradition and the contemporary return of the image of the witch.