Magic, Myth, Reality and Revelation: The Performance of Divine Power on Dartmoor, (UK)

Harvey, D. C. (Lecturer)
Joanne Parker (Lecturer)

School of Culture and Society - Department of Archeology and Heritage Studies

Activity: Talk or presentation types › Lecture and oral contribution

Description

Julseminar 2019: Magi
Abstract: This paper explores the nexus between the folk heritage of an unusual archaeological site, an early modern account of ‘ball lightning’, and the literary construction of an affective atmosphere. It examines how a violent storm in October 1638 provided a symbolic reservoir for narrative accounts of both the performance of God’s power and the Devil’s trickery, thereby providing lessons for civil conduct alongside magical explanations of some unusual archaeological features. Tracing a biographical life history of how a Seventeenth Century storm was invoked and remembered at different periods since the event, we chart how various narratives of landscape can unfold over several centuries.

Period	3 Dec 2019
Event title	Juleseminar 2019, afholdt af Forskningsenhed for Europæisk Middelalder og Middelaldercirklen ved Aarhus Universitet: Tema: Magi
Event type	Seminar
Location	Aarhus, DenmarkShow on map
Degree of Recognition	National