Witch Crimes: Accusations Against the Suspected
Artifact 2: The Elizabethan Era was a very superstitious time period, and witches became the scapegoat for any negative events. A bad harvest, or a bout of the Bubonic plague, or an unexpected death, were all blamed on witches because of the magical powers that they were believed to hold.
This advertisement, printed in London in 1601, reports the execution of six German witches. These witches were accused of murdering hundreds of children and were hung for their crime committed under the influence of witchcraft.
This advertisement, printed in London in 1601, reports the execution of six German witches. These witches were accused of murdering hundreds of children and were hung for their crime committed under the influence of witchcraft.
The Elizabethan Era was a very superstitious time period. Events, such as a bad harvest or a bout of the Bubonic Plague, were often blamed on witches if they could not be otherwise explained. Witches were thought to be aided by familiars who were supernatural spirits. Even pets were accused as familiars.
Witches represented dark and death, and in Christian beliefs, were thought to aid Satan at night in graveyards in evil rites and make poisons. In fact, the general belief was that witches made pacts with the Devil in order to gain magic powers that enabled them to fly on a broomstick, create storms, and transform into animals. The Pope Innocent VIII swore that witches and their malevolent practices would be removed from Christianity and discrimination against witches became a very religious and personal concept.
To this day, some actors and directors in productions of Shakespeare's Macbeth do not refer to the play by name, and instead refer to it as the "Scottish Play." Those who say the name of "Macbeth" are cursed by the Weird Sisters of Macbeth. These witches were supposedly unhappy that Shakespeare revealed too many of their secrets.
Witches represented dark and death, and in Christian beliefs, were thought to aid Satan at night in graveyards in evil rites and make poisons. In fact, the general belief was that witches made pacts with the Devil in order to gain magic powers that enabled them to fly on a broomstick, create storms, and transform into animals. The Pope Innocent VIII swore that witches and their malevolent practices would be removed from Christianity and discrimination against witches became a very religious and personal concept.
To this day, some actors and directors in productions of Shakespeare's Macbeth do not refer to the play by name, and instead refer to it as the "Scottish Play." Those who say the name of "Macbeth" are cursed by the Weird Sisters of Macbeth. These witches were supposedly unhappy that Shakespeare revealed too many of their secrets.
“It was believed that [witches] could see into the future; that they could create
storms, hail, thunder and lightning; that they were able to sink ships; dry up
springs; stop the sun and change the night into day and day into night. They
could also cause the death of their enemies, and could make themselves
invisible... And witches could call up the dead.”
(http://resources.mhs.vic.edu.au/macbeth/historical/witchcraft.html)
However, while society generally saw witches as dangerous creatures that worked alongside the devil, some people also went to the witches for help. The witches created cures and potions that had medicinal needs. In rural villages, these witches were known as "cunning" women, healers that brewed medicines proven more effective than doctors (Lace 96) These potions were made using various plants and herbs such as belladona, wolfsbane and poppy.
Artifact 3: One example of a herb that witches were assumed to have used to create medicine or potions was the mandrake root. Resembling a human figure, it was used as an anesthetic by witches due to their narcotic characteristics. In large doses, it could also cause hallucinations, delirium and comas.
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