Themis, a study of the social origins of Greek ... - Warburg Institute

CHAPTER IV.
MAGIC.
eyAdJMooN tc ka) oABioc 6c taA€ n^NTA
eiAcoc epr^zHTAi ana(tioc aGanatoicin,
GpNlGAC KpfNCON kai Y ne pBAcfAC AAeefNCON.
(a) Magic and Tabu.
The word fiajeia from which our word magic is derived,
was, among the Greeks of classical days, never really at home.
Plato 1 on the one occasion that he uses it thinks it necessary
to add a definition, and this definition, we shall see, is highly
significant. In the first dialogue that bears the name of
Alcibiades Socrates is urging on Alcibiades to an exceptionally
high standard of conduct and education. Such a standard is best
(he says) exemplified by the training of the Spartan and Persian
kings. ' When
the young prince is fourteen years old he is given
into the charge of certain persons who are called the " Royal
paedagogues." These are four Persians in the flower of their age
who are selected as being reputed foremost in certain virtues : one
is the wisest, one the most just, one the most prudent, one the
bravest. Of these the one who is wisest teaches the magic
(fiayetav) of Zoroaster the son of Horomazos ' ; and then to our
surprise Socrates adds by way of explanation, ' the art of the I
magician is the service {depaireia) of the gods. The same man
gives instruction in kingly duties' (ra fiaaCKuca).
1 Or the author of the Alcibiades, 122 b wv 6 nev (6 (to^tcitos) fiaydav re
SiddaKei tt)v ZwpodiTTpov toD 'iipofid^ov • Icrrt 5e rovro OeGiv depaireia SiddffKei 5e nal ra