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Vattnet, nymferna och gudinnan - Anna Perennas nymphaeum som en plats för magicae artes

Peukert Stock, Olivia LU (2022) AKSK04 20212
Classical archaeology and ancient history
Abstract
The fountain of Anna Perenna and her nymphs was discovered in an excavation around twenty years ago in northern Rome and its cistern was found to house both religious votives and magical objects, such as curse tablets (defixiones). Thus, this water shrine constitutes a unique setting for magical practices, magicae artes, in the city of Rome and ancient Italia, which this essay aims to further examine. Utilizing epigraphical, historical, and archaeological materials, this contextual study investigates why the fons Annae Perennae was an appropriate place for magical activities and for depositing defixiones by searching for connections between magic and nymphs, magic and the deity herself, and, lastly, magic and water. This research is... (More)
The fountain of Anna Perenna and her nymphs was discovered in an excavation around twenty years ago in northern Rome and its cistern was found to house both religious votives and magical objects, such as curse tablets (defixiones). Thus, this water shrine constitutes a unique setting for magical practices, magicae artes, in the city of Rome and ancient Italia, which this essay aims to further examine. Utilizing epigraphical, historical, and archaeological materials, this contextual study investigates why the fons Annae Perennae was an appropriate place for magical activities and for depositing defixiones by searching for connections between magic and nymphs, magic and the deity herself, and, lastly, magic and water. This research is presupposed by the common notion that the efficacy of ancient magic was dependent upon the fact that all components of the ritual were correctly executed, thereby including the choice of place and setting for the cursing ritual.
The results of the analysis revealed that there are indeed good reasons for believing that the nymphs of the fountain played a role in the curse rituals as executors or transporters of the curses down to the underworld. Some allusions to Anna Perenna being part of her group of nymphs in this aspect could also be observed. However, the research revealed a new, challenging theory: that the reason for choosing this shrine as a place of magical deposition was the water itself as an element thought to constitute a portal to the underworld. (Less)
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author
Peukert Stock, Olivia LU
supervisor
organization
course
AKSK04 20212
year
type
M2 - Bachelor Degree
subject
keywords
Anna Perenna, nymphaeum, fountain, fons, fontän, spring, källa, shrine, helgedom, water, vatten, magic, magicae artes, magi, curse tablets, defixiones, förbannelsetavlor, deposition, magic ritual, magisk ritual, nymph, nymphs, nymf, nymfer, goddess, gudinna, contextual study, kontextuell studie, underworld, underjorden, cistern, källhelgedom, ancient religion, antik religion.
language
Swedish
id
9074263
date added to LUP
2022-02-03 15:45:47
date last changed
2022-02-03 15:45:47
@misc{9074263,
  abstract     = {{The fountain of Anna Perenna and her nymphs was discovered in an excavation around twenty years ago in northern Rome and its cistern was found to house both religious votives and magical objects, such as curse tablets (defixiones). Thus, this water shrine constitutes a unique setting for magical practices, magicae artes, in the city of Rome and ancient Italia, which this essay aims to further examine. Utilizing epigraphical, historical, and archaeological materials, this contextual study investigates why the fons Annae Perennae was an appropriate place for magical activities and for depositing defixiones by searching for connections between magic and nymphs, magic and the deity herself, and, lastly, magic and water. This research is presupposed by the common notion that the efficacy of ancient magic was dependent upon the fact that all components of the ritual were correctly executed, thereby including the choice of place and setting for the cursing ritual. 
	The results of the analysis revealed that there are indeed good reasons for believing that the nymphs of the fountain played a role in the curse rituals as executors or transporters of the curses down to the underworld. Some allusions to Anna Perenna being part of her group of nymphs in this aspect could also be observed. However, the research revealed a new, challenging theory: that the reason for choosing this shrine as a place of magical deposition was the water itself as an element thought to constitute a portal to the underworld.}},
  author       = {{Peukert Stock, Olivia}},
  language     = {{swe}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{Vattnet, nymferna och gudinnan - Anna Perennas nymphaeum som en plats för magicae artes}},
  year         = {{2022}},
}