Paredroi, czyli magiczni asystenci - stałe źródło mocy maga
Paredroi, or Magical Assistants - a Constant Source of a Mage's Power

Summary/Abstract: In my article, I examine the problem of πάρεδροι, or the so-called ‘magical assistants’. Πάρεδροι are a special group of supernatural beings which are found in the Papyri Graecae Magicae; we have eleven spells which form the whole source material. The πάρεδροι were so powerful that some of them not only could do anything for the mage, but they also could change his ontic status. The problem of πάρεδροι has not received much attention from scholars around the world. I believe that its examination is crucial for studies on ancient magic and religion. However, in my text I purposely did not define either magic or religion. I am convinced that the subject of πάρεδροι is among the best arguments for the thesis that it is not possible to draw a line between them, and that in fact the two realms are not opposed to each other. I would like to show how ancient mages perceived and experienced divinity and how important it was to them to acquire a ‘magical assistant’.

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