The Art of Exorcisms

Demons and the demonic appear in nearly every society, but they are especially prominent in one of the world's oldest living religions, Zoroastrianism. Once the state religion of the Persian Empire, this tradition continues to be practiced today and offers a vivid example of how demons crossed religious borders, how writing became exorcism, and how purification rituals continue to shape how we imagine the sacred and the profane. Across fire altars and desert skies, priests waged war not with swords but with words, binding demons through sacred spirals. Our course explores cosmic battles between Light and Darkness, demon-catching bowls buried beneath ancient homes, exorcism manuals, and visions of realms beyond our own. Materials explored include hymns, ritual texts, incantations, and the artifacts that carried them. We will also examine Jewish and Christian discussions of demons to see how people named, negotiated, and neutralized evil. This course welcomes students from all backgrounds; no prerequisites are required.