Europe's inner demons
- Автор: Кон Норман
- Год: 1975
- Язык: английский
- Год: BASIC BOOKS,.INC., PUBLISHERS
- ISBN: 465-0131-X
- Жанр: История
Электронная книга - «Europe's inner demons». Краткое содержание книги:
Who were these “witches” and “devils” and why did so many people believe in their terrifying powers? What explains the trials, tortures, and executions that reached their peak in the Great Persecutions of the sixteenth century? In this unique and absorbing volume, Norman Cohn, author of the widely acclaimed Pursuit of the Millennium, tracks down the facts behind the European witch craze and explores the historical origins and psychological manifestations of the stereotype of the witch.
Professor Cohn regards the concept of the witch as a collective fantasy, the origins of which date back to Roman times. In Europe's Inner Demons, he explores the rumors that circulated about the early Christians, who were believed by some contemporaries to be participants in secret orgies. He then traces the history of similar allegations made about successive groups of medieval heretics, all of whom were believed to take part in nocturnal orgies, where sexual promiscuity was practised, children eaten, and devils worshipped.
By identifying' and examining the traditional myths — the myth of the maleficion of evil men, the myth of the pact with the devil, the myth of night-flying women, the myth of the witches' Sabbath — the author provides an excellent account of why many historians came to believe that there really were sects of witches. Through countless chilling episodes, he reveals how and why fears turned into crushing accusation finally, he shows how the forbidden desires and unconscious give a new — and frighteningly real meaning to the ancient idea of the witch.
Ulli Meyer says, she had an ox, it was sprightly and ran up and down in the lane in front of the women’s house. Next day it was dead. That they had killed it he did not say, nor did he know it.
Schinnouwer says he went down to cut a joist and found Anna fishing in the Luthern and as he was coming home, a big storm blew up. But he did not say she had made it, for he did not know that.
Ulli of Aesch says, the women went fishing four times, and each time, just as they were coming home, a great storm came up. Also, a beggar told him he had seen the two women sitting in the stream; and as he passed by they called him back, saying: “Be a good fellow, give us our shifts” (they were hanging on a bush). He did so, and saw clearly that they were holding something or other between their legs; though he did not know what it was. That same night there was a great hailstorm.
Next Ulli Hüsly told how once his wife had called a midwife in, and not Dichtlin, and God gave her a child. Then Dichtlin threatened his wife, wagging her finger and saying “What will you bet, you will be the worse off?” And a storm came and a thunderbolt fell on his house and burned up everything he possessed. And he says he will swear on his life that this came from Dichtlin.
Ulli Ruttiman says: When the two women were recently released* they went home. Herr Peter Wechter and he also went there. And they all met, and the women said many things in anger. Among other things Anna said, “We won’t forget the way the rogues treated us, and we won’t forget how the piper tied us up on the cart.” And they made many threats and said: “We’ll go away.” And the daughter said: “If anything happens after this, it will happen to me just as much as to my mother, I’ll be blamed for everything.”
Jörg Tanner says that when he was Hentz Cläwi’s servant Dichtlin’s husband, Hans in der Gassen, walked up with him from Altishofen. Hans in der Gassen said to Jörg: “You and your master have put a fir-tree in the cavity. It could easily happen that that will bring him more harm than profit.” Two or three days later Hentz Cläwi, a healthy, sprightly fellow, fell ill and soon he was dead. But Jörg did not know that Hans in der Gassen did it, or who did it.
And then Ulli Schärer, Ulli Mor and Hans Wellenberg said unanimously that the two women went fishing a fourth time. As they came home it thundered all the way and they hardly escaped the storm.