ΝΕΚΡΟΜΑΝΤΕΙΑ

Definition

Necromancy (from the Greek νεκρός + μαντεία) is the practice of invoking the souls of the dead to gain knowledge, typically concerning the future, or to perform magical acts. In ancient Greece, the most famous account is found in the "Nekyia," the eleventh book of Homer's Odyssey, where Odysseus, following Circe's instructions, descends to Hades to consult the seer Teiresias. There, he offers sacrifices and blood to attract the souls of the dead, who, after drinking the blood, temporarily regain the ability to speak and prophesy.

The practice of necromancy was not limited to invocation for divination. It also encompassed attempts to influence the dead to perform actions in the world of the living, often through curses or incantations. This dimension placed it on the fringes of magic (γοητεία) and frequently made it an object of superstition, fear, and prohibition.

Ancient authors, such as Plato and Xenophon, refer to seers and divinatory arts, but necromancy specifically was often met with skepticism or even contempt by intellectuals, while lawmakers frequently forbade it as dangerous and immoral. During the Hellenistic and Roman periods, necromancy became more widespread, with detailed descriptions of invocation rituals appearing in texts like Lucan's Pharsalia.

With the advent of Christianity, necromancy was unequivocally condemned as an idolatrous and demonic practice, contrary to the teachings of the faith. The Church Fathers regarded it as one of the most serious forms of magic, prohibiting believers from any participation in it. Despite these prohibitions, elements of necromantic practices persisted in popular beliefs and traditions for many centuries.

Main Meanings

1. The art of invoking the dead for divination — The primary and dominant meaning, as described in Homer and other ancient authors.
2. Prediction of the future through the dead — The main function of necromancy, the acquisition of knowledge about future events.
3. Communication with the souls of the dead — The broader practice of contacting the world of the dead, not necessarily for divination.
4. Magical practice involving the dead — Includes curses, spells, or other actions utilizing the power of the deceased.
5. Superstitious or forbidden practice — The societal and legal perception of necromancy as dangerous or immoral.
6. Literary theme or motif — The use of necromancy as a plot element in literary works, such as Homer's Nekyia.
7. Metaphorical use for "dark" or "forbidden" knowledge — Modern or later usage to describe the acquisition of knowledge through unethical or unorthodox means.

Word Family

nekr- & mant- (roots of νεκρός and μάντις)

The word "necromancy" is a compound of two powerful Ancient Greek roots: "nekr-", referring to death and the dead, and "mant-", signifying prophecy and divine inspiration. The coexistence of these two roots creates a concept that describes humanity's attempt to bridge the gap between life and death, seeking knowledge from the realm of the departed. Each member of this family highlights an aspect of mortality or the divinatory art, whether as a state, an action, or a quality.

In Ancient Texts

Three of the most significant passages referring to necromancy or related practices:

The 18 Methods

Applying the 18 traditional lexarithmic methods to the word ΝΕΚΡΟΜΑΝΤΕΙΑ:

Sources & Bibliography

• Liddell, H. G., Scott, R., Jones, H. S. — A Greek-English Lexicon. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1940.
• Homer — Odyssey. Loeb Classical Library, Harvard University Press.
• Plato — Laws. Loeb Classical Library, Harvard University Press.
• Basil the Great — Homilies. Patrologia Graeca, Migne.
• Lucan — Pharsalia. Loeb Classical Library, Harvard University Press.
• Ogden, Daniel — Greek and Roman Necromancy. Princeton University Press, 2001.
• Johnston, Sarah Iles — Restless Dead: Encounters with Souls in Ancient Greece. University of California Press, 1999.