Michael L. Satlow, "An Enchanted World: The Shared Religious Landscape of Late Antiquity" (Princeton UP, 2026)

About this episode

Michael L. Satlow discusses the shared spiritual landscape of Late Antiquity and the lived experiences of ordinary people interacting with the supernatural.

In Late Antiquity (ca. 200–600 CE), the world was alive with unseen forces—divine agents who influenced every aspect of daily life. For most ordinary people, religion was not found in temples, synagogues, and churches, but in lived experience as they interacted with the supernatural in a world of uncertainty and danger. In An Enchanted World, Michael Satlow uncovers a shared spiritual landscape that stretched beyond the confines of Judaism, Christianity, and the pantheon of Greek and Roman deities. From healing rituals to protective amulets, spiritual practices were a matter of necessity, transcending religious labels. To get by in the world required being on good terms with the right supernatural beings and being able to ward off the bad ones.Rejecting traditional narratives that focus on institutional religion and theological divisions, Satlow presents a compelling case for viewing the period through the lens of “lived religion.” This was not a religion of abstractions formulated by rabbis and priests, but an enchanted world populated by divine beings who had as much—if not more—agency as any person. Drawing on archaeological evidence, historical documents, and a rich trove of…

People in this episode

Guest: Michael L. Satlow

Topics covered

• Late Antiquity
• lived religion
• spiritual practices
• supernatural
• religious landscape

Keywords

• Late Antiquity
• religion
• supernatural
• spirituality
• Michael L. Satlow

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Princeton UP

Books & works: An Enchanted World: The Shared Religious Landscape of Late Antiquity

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