About the Lecture Series
Gresham College are hosting a history lecture series from September 2023 - June 2024.
The lecture series will explore the supernatural in Europe including Goddesses of Sex and War, Mother Nature, Herodias, the British Fairy Queen, Celtic Cailleach, Dragon, Witches, aritual nudity, and magic.. All lectures will be hosted by Professor Ronald Hutton from the University of Bristol.
The Western Magical Tradition
Wednesday 24th April 2024, 18:00 BST
Professor Ronal Hutton will evaluate ceremonial magic in Europe and discuss what makes Western magic so distinctive.
Witch-Hunting in European and World History
Wednesday 5th June 2024, 18:00 BST
Professor Ronal Hutton will explore the worlds phenomenon of witches and demonstrate the unusualness of Europe's stance.
Previous lectures in this series
Ancient Goddesses of Sex and Ware
Wednesday 20th September 2023, 18:00 BST
Professor Ronal Hutton will explore various ancient world female figure from the Middle East and Western Europe. He will discuss their commonalities and dissimilarities, and explore how each figure influenced the development of the next.
Were There Pagan Goddesses in Christian Europe?
Wednesday 8th November 2023, 18:00 BST
Professor Ronal Hutton will explore various medieval and early modern European culture female figures. He will discuss how they prompt us to reconsider our terminology when writing the religious history of Europe.
Dragons: A History
Wednesday 14th February 2024, 18:00 BST
Professor Ronal Hutton will discuss why people believed dragons once existed and the difference between the global perspective of Western and Eastern Dragons. He will also discuss how attitudes towards dragons have changed overtime.
Ritual Nudity in History and Religion
Wednesday 6th March 2024, 18:00 BST
Professor Ronal Hutton will explore of nudity in European religion dating back to ancient times. He will also reveal why nudity is very important in religious and magical practices.