Jay Johnston

Drawing Spirit Jay Johnston

This is the first holistic study of the art, production, and social function of magical papyri and ritual artefacts in Christian, Gnostic, Jewish, and Mandaean communities in Late Antiquity. It pioneers a new methodology; provides a holistic understanding of the role of visual, oral, and aural aspects of ritual practice; and explores the transmission of traditions of knowledge and the commonality of practice between religious communities.