Reassessing the ‘Christian’ in Christian Magic

This essay examines how “Christian” elements are identified in late antique magical objects, such as amulets and manuals, and questions the criteria used in earlier scholarship. Sanzo emphasizes the need to distinguish different levels of engagement with Christian tradition—from the sophisticated use of Gospel incipits to more basic symbols like the cross or the name of Jesus. He also shows how motifs such as Iaō Sabaōth, originally widespread across the Mediterranean, acquired new meanings in Christian contexts. The study calls for a more refined taxonomy of “Christian” elements in magical materials, attentive to their variety, development, and reinterpretation.