Witch Hunting and Prosecuting in Early Modern Italy: A Historiographical Survey

Valente, Michaela

doi:10.3390/rel14050610

Cited by 1 publication

(1 citation statement)

References 32 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Gender studies have always had a close relationship with the theme of witch hunts. Whereas past historiography attributed this connection to the stereotype of the witchwoman, in recent decades, this aspect has been elaborated in a more complex way, and new and interesting studies based on the gender perspective have flourished (See Duni et al 2020;Levack 2016;Duni 2008;Rowlands 2013;Valente 2023). My research here contributes to the historiographical debate over the women's perspective and the circulation of ideas and knowledge.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 83%

The Donna de Fora: A Sicilian Fairy–Witch in the Early Modern Age

Geremia

2024

Religions

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

In this paper, my objective is to delve into the history of women accused of practicing witchcraft in Sicily during the early modern period. This investigation draws upon documented evidence from the Spanish Inquisition spanning from 1516 to 1782, along with archival records and the ethnographic works of nineteenth-century scholars. The focal point of my research is the enigmatic figure known as donna de fora (the ladies from outside) in the Italian context. To illuminate this subject, I employ an analysis of seventeenth-century Inquisition trial records and oral traditions documented by anthropologist Giuseppe Pitrè in the late nineteenth century. The donne de fora represent a distinctive and intriguing group as this term appears exclusively within the Inquisitorial records of Sicily. They were perceived as supernatural entities, characterized as “part witches, part fairies”. According to beliefs of the time, these women’s spirits would depart from their bodies during sleep to convene with higher-ranking fairies. Notably, the trials and the Edict of the Diocese of Girgenti (Agrigento) in 1656 document that the most significant gatherings of these figures occurred during the night of Saint John, between the 23rd and 24th of June. Through an examination of trial records, we gain insights into how these women were perceived by their contemporaries, as well as an understanding of their societal roles and the ritual practices they engaged in. Moving forward to the late nineteenth century, ethnologist Giuseppe Pitrè conducted a comprehensive study of local rituals and popular folklore, and he collected various objects and documents related to supernatural beliefs, including those associated with the donne de fora in the regions around Palermo. My research is centered on archival records containing Pitrè’s notes, unpublished drafts, and correspondence with scholars in Italy and Europe discussing this phenomenon. Based on my findings, I aim to establish a connection between Pitrè’s material discoveries and contemporary beliefs regarding donne de fora and witchcraft in Sicily.

show abstract

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 83%

The Donna de Fora: A Sicilian Fairy–Witch in the Early Modern Age

Geremia

2024

Religions

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

Witch Hunting and Prosecuting in Early Modern Italy: A Historiographical Survey

Cited by 1 publication

References 32 publications

The Donna de Fora: A Sicilian Fairy–Witch in the Early Modern Age

The Donna de Fora: A Sicilian Fairy–Witch in the Early Modern Age

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About