ursula callistis

Cotton Mather, a prominent Puritan minister from Boston, Massachusetts, played a significant role in the infamous witch trials that took place in Salem in 1692. Mather was a highly educated and well-respected figure in the community, known for his religious fervor and influential sermons. He firmly believed in the existence of witches and saw it as his duty to combat evil in society. The witch trials in Salem began when a group of young girls claimed to be possessed by witches, and accused several individuals in the community of practicing witchcraft. These accusations quickly spread fear and panic throughout the town, leading to the arrest and imprisonment of many innocent people. The trials were characterized by a lack of due process and an extreme fervor to identify and punish witches.

Beside the invocation of the infernal gods like Pluto, Hecate or Charon, the tablets were often addressed to Hermes. Hermes was considered the messenger of the Olympians Gods, a protector of travellers, merchants and thieves. But the role that made him popular among the curse-casters was that of “Psychopompos”, the guide of the souls into the afterlife. So Hermes himself could deliver their grievance to the more potent Gods of Hades or he could guide the souls of the dead to do the job.

Many of them were also inscribed with love spells and included pieces of clothing or hair from the head of the target love interest, for better results. An ancient voodoo doll from Chalkis, Greece, 3rd century BC and a small Skyphos with a curse, 4th century BC as seen at the Archaeological Museum of Chalkis.

The trials were characterized by a lack of due process and an extreme fervor to identify and punish witches. Cotton Mather, although not directly involved in the trials, played a key role in fueling the hysteria. He firmly believed in the existence of witchcraft and saw it as a serious threat to the Puritan society.

Ancient curses and “voodoo dolls”

Witchcraft was always used to fulfil personal desires, whether good or bad. Models of human figures were mainly made of metal, clay or wax. The symbolic piercing, melting or binding of the body parts were thought effective for achieving every goal. The kolossoi („voodoo dolls”) were usually enclosed inside a lead box bearing binding curses.

An ancient “voodoo doll” from Chalkis, Greece, 3rd century BC and a small “Skyphos” with a curse, 4th century BC as seen at the Archaeological Museum of Chalkis

The skyphos was a two-handled deep wine-cup. The owner of the pot casts a curse on a certain Daiton that ”May all end bad for him”

Curses were usually incised on sheets of lead (in Greek ”katadesmoi” and in Latin ”defixiones”) or on other objects and then folded up and pierced with an iron or bronze nail. This type of cursing was known as the “binding spell” and it was used to summon the underworld (chthonic) deities and the spirits of the departed. For this reason the curse tablets or dolls were placed mainly near cemeteries, in graves or wells.

The Street of Tombs at Kerameikos, the graveyard of ancient Athens

Beside the invocation of the infernal gods like Pluto, Hecate or Charon, the tablets were often addressed to Hermes. Hermes was considered the messenger of the Olympians Gods, a protector of travellers, merchants and thieves. But the role that made him popular among the curse-casters was that of “Psychopompos”, the guide of the souls into the afterlife. So Hermes himself could deliver their grievance to the more potent Gods of Hades or he could guide the souls of the dead to do the job.

Hermes the conveyor of the souls of the dead to Hades. As seen at the Archaeological Museum of Chalkis

The tablets or dolls were not always about curses. Many of them were also inscribed with love spells and included pieces of clothing or hair from the head of the target love interest, for better results.

They were also used to help the immortal souls of the departed, usually the ones that died young or from a violent death, as well as to allow them to rest in peace. Nevertheless, those souls were also considered as most potent to get the message through, so the graves of such persons were preferred for the placing of the tablets.

The raised hands, a symbol of invoking either divine revenge or curse upon somebody. The epitaph is addressed to the underworld gods by Asclepiodes in memory of his children, dead at an early age. 1st century AD. As seen at Constanța (ancient Tomis) History and Archaeology Museum, Romania.

The Street of Tombs at Kerameikos, the graveyard of ancient Athens

Mather's book, "The Wonders of the Invisible World," which documented the trials and put forth his views on witchcraft, further escalated the tension and fear in Salem. Mather's influence extended beyond his writings. As a respected member of the religious community, his support and encouragement of the trials carried weight. He openly endorsed the methods used in the trials, including the use of spectral evidence and the use of physical torture to force confessions. However, as the trials progressed and innocent people were being condemned to death, Mather's support began to wane. He was troubled by the lack of concrete evidence and the reliance on unreliable testimonies. Mather became more cautious in his public statements, suggesting that more evidence was needed before passing judgment. This change in stance may have been influenced by the growing criticism of the trials from other religious leaders and the wider community. The witch trials in Salem came to an end in 1693, with the realization that the evidence and testimonies used were unreliable and unjust. The events of the trials left a lasting impact on the community, tarnishing its reputation and leading to the execution of twenty innocent individuals. Cotton Mather's role in the Salem witch trials remains a controversial topic. While he played a significant part in promoting the witch hysteria, his later doubts and reservations suggest a recognition of the injustices that were being committed. The trials served as a cautionary tale, highlighting the dangers of unchecked fear and the importance of due process in the pursuit of justice..

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