The Encyclopedia of Demonology and Witchcraft, first published in 1959, stands as an historical and human compendium, drawing from original sources in the world's great libraries. This comprehensive work delves into various aspects of witchcraft and demonology, presenting a detailed exploration of the beliefs, practices, and persecutions associated with these phenomena. The book offers a rational, balanced history of 300 years of horror concentrated primarily in Western Europe, spanning from the 15th century through the 18th century. It examines how the meaning of "witch" has evolved and exposes the true nature of witchcraft.
A depiction of witch trials, a key theme in the Encyclopedia of Demonology and Witchcraft.
Contents and Themes
The encyclopedia covers a wide array of topics, providing readers with a thorough understanding of the historical context surrounding witchcraft and demonology. Key themes and subjects explored in the book include:
- The witches' sabbat and pact
- Incubi and succubi
- Eyewitness reports of trials
- Werewolves and vampires
- Sexual relations with the devil
- Demoniacal possessions and exorcism
- Poltergeists
- Barbarous tortures
- The theological and legal theories of the inquisition
The book clarifies these topics with hundreds of illustrations, many reproduced for the first time in several centuries. It is an encyclopedia and reads like one (numerous topical entries), so don't expect it to read like a normal book.
Author: Rossell Hope Robbins
Rossell Hope Robbins was born on July 22, 1912, in Wallasey, Cheshire, England. He began his education at Wallasey Grammar School and proceeded to the University of Liverpool, where he received his B.A. in English Language and Literature. He received his Ph.D. in literature in 1937 as a student of G. G. Coulton. In that year he was awarded a Commonwealth Fellowship by the Harkness Foundation, which brought him to America. (He became a naturalized citizen in 1944.) Here, he continued his work on Middle English Lyrics at New York University with Carleton Brown, work which is still acknowledged as the best of its kind.
Read also: A Journey Through Witchcraft
Critical Reception and Legacy
Lavishly acclaimed in academic and popular reviews, this full-scale compendium of fact, history, and legend covers about every phase of this fascinating subject from its origins in the medieval times to its last eruptions in the 18th century. Some readers have noted that the book can be repetitive if read from cover to cover, but it remains a worthwhile resource for those interested in the subject matter. For readers with even a passing interest in the witch hunts of the 16th-18th centuries, or even those who are willing to be persuaded to what complete nonsense the modern concept of Witches is founded upon, this is an absolute marvel of a book.
Robbins does not mask his contempt for witch-hunters and for the organised religion of the time, to say nothing of his feelings for the hundreds of people who sent their neighbours to their deaths by nothing more than accusations. At the same time, he does attempt to deliver an otherwise unbiased presentation of the facts from the documentation of the time.
The Witch Hunts Begin (Full Episode) | Witches: Truth Behind the Trials
Bibliographic Information
The encyclopedia is a substantial volume, providing extensive information on witchcraft and demonology.
Key Details:
- Pages: 557
- Format: Hardcover
- First Published: January 1, 1959
The book also includes a select bibliography of 1140 items, making it a valuable resource for further research.
Read also: Understanding Witchcraft in Scripture
Table: Key Figures and Concepts
This table summarizes some of the key figures and concepts discussed in the Encyclopedia:
| Topic | Description |
|---|---|
| Witch Sabbat | Secret meetings of witches, often associated with demonic rituals. |
| Incubi & Succubi | Demons believed to engage in sexual relations with humans. |
| Inquisition | A powerful institution within the Catholic Church tasked with suppressing heresy. |
| Exorcism | Rituals performed to expel demons from possessed individuals. |
Illustrations from the period depict various demonic entities and witchcraft practices.
Read also: Urdu Article: Understanding Witchcraft
tags: #encyclopedia #of #demonology #and #witchcraft