During the medieval period, witchcraft was widely feared and believed to be a significant threat to society. As a result, various artifacts related to witches and their practices emerged. One such artifact is the medieval witch artifact, which provides insight into the societal perceptions and beliefs surrounding witchcraft during that time. Medieval witch artifacts can take various forms, including tools and objects used in alleged witchcraft rituals. These objects were often associated with supernatural powers and were believed to enable witches to conduct their malicious activities. Examples of medieval witch artifacts include cauldrons, broomsticks, and grimoires, which were books containing spells and rituals.
This illuminated initial features the canonized Catherine of Alexandria. St. Catherine of Alexandria was tortured for her faith and was killed in the early years of Christendom (c. 305). This illumination pictures Catherine at the scene of her torment, surrounded by her torturers, looking up to the hand of God reaching down in comfort. Her torturers are wreathed in flames, perhaps indicating their eternal destination. This manuscript was commissioned for a Parisian Dominican convent. This image is significant because the Middle Ages was a culture where women were rarely exalted outside their sexual appeal (as in Troubadoric literature.) But within the confines of Catholicism, women who stood up for their faith were praised for their strength of character and boldness. Convents and religion provided a path for some women to gain a higher education. This manuscript was one example of strong women role models in the early church and their impact on their monastic successors.
This image is significant because the Middle Ages was a culture where women were rarely exalted outside their sexual appeal as in Troubadoric literature. Witch bottles were not only created to punish witches who casted evil spells on a person, but were also used to prevent spells from harming a person in the first place.
Examples of medieval witch artifacts include cauldrons, broomsticks, and grimoires, which were books containing spells and rituals. The presence of these artifacts suggests that witchcraft was deeply ingrained in the medieval mindset and was viewed as a tangible threat. People believed that witches used these objects to communicate with demons, cast spells, and harm others.
Peek Inside a Trove of Witchcraft Artifacts at This Rare Exhibit
Ithaca, New York is home to perhaps the world’s spookiest library repository. The Cornell Witchcraft Collection contains more than 3000 books, manuscripts, and artifacts, providing a historic overview of European magic, superstition, and persecution. These items are typically accessible to the public only by appointment—but starting this Halloween, a new exhibition will allow visitors to get up close and personal with an assortment of witchy relics.
“The World Bewitch’d” will be the university’s first full-fledged exhibition dedicated to the Cornell Witchcraft Collection. Containing around 200 items—including rare books, handwritten trial transcriptions, early images of witches in flight, and more—it will trace how societal views of witchcraft have spread and evolved over the past few centuries, in addition to telling the stories of real-life trial victims. It will also include popular culture depictions of the witch, including 20th and 21st century movie posters.
Cornell’s Witchcraft Collection was originally compiled in the 1880s by university co-founder Andrew Dickson White and his librarian, George Lincoln Burr. White “was interested in things at the margin,” Anne Kenney, a now-retired Cornell University librarian who co-curated “The World Bewitch’d,” tells Mental Floss.
In addition to witchcraft materials, White also collected anti-slavery and Civil War pamphlets, and had a particular fascination “with those who were oppressed and subject to discrimination,” Kenney says. White ended up amassing North America's largest collection of witchcraft artifacts, and one of the world's largest collections of slavery and abolitionist materials.
“The World Bewitch’d” will include a mix of contemporary and archival items, says Kenney, who co-organized the exhibit along with Kornelia Tancheva, another former Cornell librarian. It also contains plenty of “firsts”: the first-known book on witchcraft ever printed, the first printed image of witches in flight, and the first-known illustration of the devil claiming an evil spirit, to name a few.
Woodcut illustration of the Berkeley Witch from the Nuremberg Chronicle, ca. 1493. This image popularized the link between the practice of witchcraft and the devil. / Courtesy of Cornell University
The first book on witchcraft was printed in 1471, and was authored by Alphonso de Spina, a Spanish Franciscan bishop, preacher, and writer. Called Fortalitium Fidei (Fortress of Faith), it “describes the various threats to the Catholic faith, and the last of those threats dealt with the war of demons, which also included witchcraft,” Kenney says.
Also on display will be the Nuremberg Chronicle, the 1493 Biblical world history text by Hartmann Schedel. It contains a woodblock print of the Devil carrying off the Witch of Berkeley, a figure from English folklore. This image “helped popularize the link between the practice of witchcraft and the devil,” Kenney says. “It was reproduced around the 16th century, and lots of people mimicked it in their representation of witches.”
Meanwhile, the first printed image of witches in flight comes from legal scholar Ulrich Molitor’s 1489 treatise on witchcraft, De Lamiis et Pythonicis Mulieribus. It was the first witchcraft book to contain woodcut illustrations, although his witches in flight straddle wooden forks instead of brooms. (Brooms were a “later conceit,” Kenney says.) The witches are presented as animals, to demonstrate their purported shape-shifting abilities.
The first printed image of witches in flight. Ulrich Molitor, 1493, De lamiis et phitonicis mulieribus / Courtesy of Cornell University
David Hauber Eberhard, 1695 to 1765, Bibliotheca acta et scripta magica: Gründliche Nachrichten und Urtheile von solchen Büchern und Handlungen, welche die Macht des Teufels in leiblichen Dingen betreffen. / Courtesy of Cornell University
While largely concerned with popular representations of witches, other parts of the exhibition will shift visitors’ focus back to real-life victims of persecution. One exhibition case will focus on two sensational trials that involved men, including the story of Dietrich Flade, a high-ranking judge in the city of Trier, Germany, whose opposition to witch trials led to his own accusation, torture, and execution in 1589. Another will tell the tales of seven individual women who were accused of witchcraft.
The gendering of witchcraft is yet another key theme in the exhibition—around 80 percent of accused witches were women, Kenney says. Most of the accused women included in “The World Bewitch’d” "had reputations of being difficult and ill-tempered—one of the signs of being a witch was if you swore or cursed,” Kenney says. “Women who were highly independent, and not subservient, might have been more subject to being targeted. All of these women suffered torture. Only two of them—two sisters—were declared innocent, because one of them withstood torture for quite a bit of time and did not confess to any crimes.”
Théophile Louïse, De la sorcellerie et de la justice criminelle à Valenciennes (XVIe et XVIIe siècles), 1861 / Courtesy of Cornell University
R.B., 1632 to 1725, The kingdom of darkness: or, The history of daemons, specters, witches, apparitions, possessions, disturbances, and other wonderful and supernatural delusions, mischievous feats and malicious impostures of the Devil. / Courtesy of Cornell University
In short, "The World Bewitch'd" "isn't an exhibition to take trick-or-treaters to," Kenney laughs. But it's still a must-see for anyone interested in the history of witchcraft—or those who prefer to get their thrills from libraries instead of haunted houses.
"The World Bewitch'd" will go on display in Cornell's Carl A. Kroch Library in the Hirshland Exhibiton Gallery on October 31 and run through August 31, 2018.
As a result, numerous witch trials and persecutions occurred during this period, fueled by the fear of witches and their alleged supernatural abilities. Despite the widespread belief in witchcraft during medieval times, it is important to note that the existence of these artifacts does not provide definitive evidence of witchcraft. Many innocent individuals, particularly women, were falsely accused of practicing witchcraft and suffered horrific consequences as a result. The study of medieval witch artifacts provides valuable insights into the cultural and social context of that era. It allows us to understand the prevalent beliefs and fears surrounding witchcraft and its perceived impact on society. By examining these artifacts, researchers can unravel the complex dynamics between religion, superstition, and the persecution of individuals deemed witches during the medieval period. In conclusion, the medieval witch artifact serves as a tangible reminder of the widespread fear and belief in witchcraft during the Middle Ages. These artifacts offer valuable insights into the cultural and societal context of that time, shedding light on the prevailing attitudes and practices surrounding witchcraft. Despite the often tragic consequences of witch trials, the study of these artifacts allows us to better understand and learn from this dark chapter in history..
Reviews for "Seeking answers: interpreting the artifacts of medieval witchcraft"
1. John - 2/5
I was really disappointed with "Medieval witch artifact". The plot was weak and predictable, with no real surprises or twists. The characters were one-dimensional and lacked depth, making it hard to connect or care about any of them. Additionally, the pacing was slow and dragged on, making it difficult to stay engaged. Overall, I found this film to be a forgettable and unremarkable experience.
2. Sarah - 1/5
I have to say I regret watching "Medieval witch artifact". The acting was incredibly wooden and felt forced, which made it difficult to take any of the characters seriously. Furthermore, the dialogue was poorly written and often cringe-worthy, leaving me rolling my eyes throughout the entire film. The special effects were also extremely outdated and laughable. I wouldn't recommend wasting your time on this movie if you're looking for quality entertainment.
3. Alex - 2/5
"Medieval witch artifact" had potential, but it fell flat for me. The storyline was intriguing at first, but it quickly became convoluted and hard to follow. The movie seemed to jump from one scene to another without any clear connection or explanation, leaving me confused and disinterested. The lack of character development made it hard to feel invested in the outcome, and I was left unsatisfied with the resolution. Overall, I was hoping for more from this film and was ultimately let down.