The Witch King, also known as the Lord of the Nazgûl, is a powerful and feared character in J.R.R. Tolkien's Middle-earth legendarium. He is often depicted as a dark and malevolent figure, symbolizing evil and corruption. His appearance is that of a tall and imposing figure, clad in black armor and a tattered cape.
Even in the Olympics, these kinds of superstitions still reared their heads. The first athletes didn’t always believe in their ability to succeed by their own virtues, and they found ways to get ahead. This was not unlike modern athletes taking steroids or illegal supplements – but the Greeks, with only a few ways to use medicine to get ahead, would have to rely on the help of the divine.
Practitioners of mageia , the magicians, the first of whom, to the Greeks at least, were the Magi magoi priests of Persia, were seen not only as wise holders of secrets but also as masters of such diverse fields as mathematics and chemistry. Though other ancient cultures, like that of Ancient Egypt, favored amulets with symbolism, Ancient Greek and Roman amulets were designed to carry spells, themselves.
His appearance is that of a tall and imposing figure, clad in black armor and a tattered cape. He wears a crown, representing his status as the leader of the Nazgûl, and wields a terrifying weapon known as a mace. His face is hidden beneath a terrifying helmet, obscuring his true identity.
A Guide to Ancient Magic
Call it a happy accident: When a group of Serbian archaeologists recently uncovered a cache of 2,000-year-old skeletons, they unearthed a set of mysterious scrolls covered with Aramaic curses, too. As Reuters reports, the tiny scrolls were contained in what are thought to be ancient amulets and are covered with spells used in “binding magic” rituals of yore.
While the archaeologists work to decipher the scrolls (a process that could never be complete), why not take a moment to catch up on what historians already know about ancient magical rituals?
Spells were everything
In ancient “binding magic,” it was all about the spells. Unlike modern-day magical phrases like, say, "bippity boppity boo," practitioners of magic in ancient Greek and Rome used spells to “bind” people up to different outcomes in sporting events, business, and personal affairs related to love and even revenge.
As Greek and Roman magic expert Derek Collins writes, binding spells had known formulas and named involved parties, like gods and people, and then connected them to actions or results. You could use a binding spell to invoke an upcoming athletic victory or ensure your happy marriage to a new partner—and to do so, you’d use powerful strings of words passed on by magicians or ordinary people.
Amulets were a must-have magical fashion accessory
Spells weren’t just said in the ancient world—they were written down. And like the objects found in Syria, the spells were often carried around with a person until they came to pass. Amulets designed to carry spells became a must-have fashion accessory and are regularly found in Ancient Greek and Roman grave sites and digs.
Though other ancient cultures, like that of Ancient Egypt, favored amulets with symbolism, Ancient Greek and Roman amulets were designed to carry spells, themselves. In 2011, archaeologists uncovered an amulet in Cyprus that was engraved with a palindromic spell, and in 2008, Swiss archaeologists found a gold scroll in a silver amulet capsule thought to have belonged to an ancient Roman child. Amulets may have looked decorative, but their contents felt like life and death to believers, who paid magicians to give them scrolls and talismans that put their intentions into physical form.
Curses and revenge were very much a thing
One of the more charmingly bitter traditions of ancient Greece and Rome were “curse tablets”—spells written on lead, wax or stone that laid out the ways in which people had been wronged. Think of curse tablets as the takedowns of the ancient world: If someone disrespected or harmed you, you could head to your local magician and pay to curse them. People cursed people who hurt their family members, but they also cursed them when they committed crimes or even entered into court cases against them. Large caches of curse tablets have been found in Roman digs in the modern-day United Kingdom.
One such tablet invokes the god Mercury to bring down a curse on Varianus, Peregrina and Sabinianus, whom the curser thought had brought harm on their animal. “I ask that you drive them to the greatest death, and do not allow them health or sleep unless they redeem from you what they have administered to me,” cursed the aggrieved Docilinus. Ouch.
And then there were the curse dolls
Of course, if someone dissed you, you also had the option of creating a tiny effigy to do harm to. Though sometimes compared to modern-day voodoo dolls, scholars still aren’t entirely sure what the tiny figurines used in binding magic in ancient Greece and Rome were for. What they do know is that the word “binding” was taken literally when it comes to these figures: They have been found in tiny coffins with bound hands and feet or mutilated bodies and seem to have been molded along with binding spells.
Not everyone in ancient Greece and Rome was into magic
The descriptions above might make you think that everyone in the ancient world was into binding magic. But that wasn’t true: Historians now believe that magic was quite separate from ancient religion. Though both involved the gods, magic involved manipulating gods whereas other rituals relied on supplication and offerings in the hopes that the gods might favor the person doing the asking.
Anti-magic legislation existed in both ancient Greece and ancient Rome, even before the days of Christianity, but often such laws only covered magic that actually killed, as when a stepmother was sued for administering a fatal “love charm” to her stepson’s mistress. Lesson learned: If you only use your ancient curses, spells and charms to inflict mild harm instead of death, you should be okay. Now where did that curse tablet go?
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Erin Blakemore is a Boulder, Colorado-based journalist. Her work has appeared in publications like The Washington Post, TIME, mental_floss, Popular Science and JSTOR Daily. Learn more at erinblakemore.com.
To perform black magic, a man would have to enact what was often a long and complex ritual. Ingredients imbued with mystical powers would have to be gathered and prepared, and the man would have to recite words calling upon the gods to curse their enemies.
The Witch King's physical appearance reflects his role as the embodiment of evil and fear. His black armor serves as a visual representation of his corrupt and wicked nature, while his imposing stature adds to the aura of power and dominance surrounding him. The tattered cape further enhances his ominous presence, creating an ethereal and otherworldly effect. The crown worn by the Witch King signifies his authority and importance among the Nazgûl. As their leader, he wears this symbol of power to assert his control over his subjects and to strike fear into the hearts of his enemies. The crown is often depicted as twisted and jagged, mirroring the twisted and corrupted nature of the Witch King himself. The Witch King's weapon of choice, the mace, is a heavy and brutal weapon that he wields with deadly proficiency. This choice of weapon further emphasizes his strength and ferocity in battle. The mace is often depicted as a formidable and ominous weapon, capable of causing devastating damage to his opponents. The Witch King's helmet is perhaps the most iconic and recognizable aspect of his depiction. It is typically portrayed as a fearsome and terrifying design, with dark eye slits and sharp, jagged edges. This helmet serves to hide the Witch King's true identity, adding to the mystery and menace surrounding him. The hidden face leaves his opponents guessing and instills a sense of fear and uncertainty. Overall, the depiction of the Witch King is one that is meant to inspire fear and awe. From his dark and imposing armor to his terrifying helmet and formidable weapon, everything about him is designed to instill a sense of dread in those who encounter him. He is a character shrouded in mystery and darkness, representing the very essence of evil in Tolkien's rich and sprawling mythology..
Reviews for "The Witch King's Influence on Halloween Costume Culture"
1. David - 2 stars
I was highly disappointed with the depiction of the Witch King in this movie. As a big fan of the original books, I had imagined a terrifying, formidable figure that would strike fear into the hearts of even the bravest heroes. However, what I got was a watered-down, underwhelming version of the character. The CGI effects used to create the Witch King were lackluster, and the actor's performance felt wooden and unconvincing. Overall, I felt let down by the filmmakers' portrayal of such an iconic Tolkien villain.
2. Emily - 3 stars
While the Witch King depiction in this film wasn't the worst I've seen, it definitely fell short of my expectations. The costume design and makeup were well done, but the overall characterization and development of the character were lacking. There wasn't enough depth to the Witch King's motivations and backstory, and it felt like a missed opportunity to explore a more complex and interesting villain. Additionally, the special effects used to showcase the Witch King's powers seemed exaggerated and out of place. Overall, I found the character's depiction to be average at best.
3. Michael - 2.5 stars
The Witch King in this movie was a major letdown. After building up his character throughout the series, I was expecting a grand, memorable portrayal. Instead, the filmmakers gave us a weak, one-dimensional villain. The decisions made for his character's arc felt forced and contrived, and his dialogues were forgettable and lacking in depth. The battle scenes involving the Witch King were also underwhelming, with the CGI effects failing to create a sense of awe or fear. Overall, I was disappointed with how the Witch King was portrayed in this film.
4. Sarah - 2 stars
I was really looking forward to seeing the Witch King brought to life on the big screen, but unfortunately, the portrayal in this movie fell short. The actor's performance felt flat and uninspired, lacking the intensity and gravitas that I had imagined for such an iconic villain. The makeup and costume design were decent, but the lack of character development and meaningful dialogues made the Witch King feel like just another generic bad guy. In the end, I was left feeling disappointed and unsatisfied with how this character was depicted.