As its full title, the hammer of witches which destroyeth witches and their heresy as with a twoedged sword, indicates, it was intended to crush witchcraft. Throughout the middle ages and the entire period of the witchcraft hysteria, the malleus maleficarum was the most influential guide used. For nearly three centuries malleus maleficarum the witches hammer was the professional manual for witch hunters. The malleus went through 28 editions between 1486 and 1600 and it did much to spur on and sustain some two centuries of witchhunting hysteria in europe britannica online. For the first time ever, an international investigation team joins forces to unravel the mysteries of the malleus maleficarum, or hammer of witches. This volume offers a unique insight into the fifteenthcentury mind and its sense of sin, punishment, and retribution. This incredibly influential book attributed to the deaths of thousands if not millions of people, and has had a colossal impact on western culture. Malleus maleficarum book share on twitter or facebook. The malleus maleficarum shop you can help support this effort to keep the malleus maleficarum project online and raise awareness of a dark time in history before it repeats itself by purchasing products through our links.
Malleus maleficarum, the medieval witch hunter book. The malleus maleficarum shop the malleus maleficarum. The malleus maleficarum witch hunters handbook historic. Kramer and sprenger were careful to affirm that they collected, rather than furnished, their materials originally. He states that demons can collect semen from one human and transfer it to another. The malleus provides philosophical, physiological, and theological reasons for the particular proclivity of women for witchcraft, namely their inferior mental and spiritual capacities and their greater susceptibility to demonic temptation. National geographic documentaries witch hunters bible. Whether or not the work was ever officially banned by the catholic church, the malleus maleficarum became the defacto handbook for witchhunters and inquisitors throughout late medieval europe. This book has clearly been well maintained and looked after thus far. Between the years 1487 and 1520, it was published thirteen times, and between 1574 to 1669 it was again published sixteen times.
The hammer the witch hunters bible was referred to in latin as the malleus maleficarum, which translates to mean the hammer of the witches. National geographic explores the people, places and events of our world. Authorship of the book is credited to two german dominican monks, heinrich kramer and jacob sprenger. The malleus maleficarum, which translates from latin into the hammer of witches, is less of a grimoire and more of a medieval treatise on witches. The witches hammer is a book written on witchcraft, and how to find a witch and destroy them. It was written by the discredited catholic clergyman heinrich kramer under his latinized name henricus institoris and first published in the german city of speyer in 1487. Augustus montague summers 10 april 1880 10 august 1948 was an english author and clergyman. A complete translation of the malleus maleficarum 2006. The malleus maleficarum of heinrich kramer and james sprenger. The malleus maleficarum latin for the hammer of witches, or hexenhammer in german is one of the most famous medieval treatises on witches. This weekend, mackay will be featured on the national geographic channels program about books used to hunt and try witches. The malleus maleficarum is one of the most famous manuals of witch hunting, perhaps due to its lurid focus on sexual misconduct and penis theft. For the first time ever, an international investigation team joins forces to unravel the mysteries of the malleus maleficarum.
Though some of the claims in this work are perhaps humorous to the modern reader, countless individuals lost their lives due to the prevalence of this book. I watched a national geographic documentary this morning about the malleus maleficarum, or witches hammer. Malleus maleficarum project gutenberg selfpublishing. This work by two of the most famous inquisitors of the age is still a document of the forces of that eras beliefs. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Every purchase you make in our shop and stores helps fund the project. Translator montague summers consistently uses the malleus maleficarum or simply the malleus in his 1928 and 1948 introductions. Nothing left to fight for music community nothing left to fight for by malleus maleficarum. Often known as the hammer of witches, the malleus consists of a demonstration of the existence. Also known as the witch hammer, the malleus maleficarum was a handbook for hunting and punishing witcheswritten by inquisitors heinrich kramer c.
It was used by the church and is a big reason for all the witch trials, and beliefs about witchcraft. Available in the national library of australia collection. Proclaimed to be the great witchhunting manual of the latemedieval and early. Introduction to online edition the malleus maleficarum. The malleus maleficarum this book is in very good condition and will be shipped within 24 hours of ordering. The malleus maleficarum by heinrich kramer goodreads. The malleus maleficarum, first published in 14867, is the standard medieval text on witchcraft and it remained in print throughout the early modern period.
Witch hunters bible, a spellbinding special on national geograhic channel. Apr 07, 2020 in 1487 during the inquisition, two dominican friars, heinrich kramer and jacob sprenger published the witchhunters book, malleus maleficarum hammer of witches. This text was written in 1486, published in 1487, and. National geographic showcases leading explorers, scientists, environmentalists, film makers and renowned photographers. What are the best books to read to get a good understanding. He is the author of, among many books and articles, ancient rome. Mar 26, 2011 he is the author of, among many books and articles, ancient rome. Johann sprenger, dean of the university of cologne.
The national library of medicine believes this item to be in the public domain more information. I read it as background research into peoples viewpoints on heresy back then. The malleus maleficarum is one of the worlds few books written sub specie aeternitatis. The malleus maleficarum or hammer of witches is the best known and the most important treatise on witchcraft. The malleus maleficarum accuses women of sexually consorting with incubi male demons that have sex with sleeping women and the devil a relationship from which children can sometimes result. Mackay explains the terminology at length sorcerer is used to preserve the relationship of the latin terminology. The malleus maleficarum is the most famous early modern text on witches and witch hunting. The malleus maleficarum, also known as the hammer of witches. The malleus malefic arum and baldungs witches sabbath jane schuyler the malleus maleficanim the witch hammer or hammer of witches is one of the most infamous renaissance books. The misogynistic manual promoted the idea that women are inherently evil and form pacts with the devil. Shipping may be from multiple locations in the us or from the uk. Aug 09, 2011 in 1487, heinrich kramer and jacob sprenger wrote the malleus maleficarum, the premiere manual for exposing, capturing, prosecuting, and burning witches used by every rightthinking european magistrate of the late middle ages. Malleus maleficarum by montague summers dark books magic.
I hadnt heard of this before its a book that was written by a pair of male catholic inquisitors in germany in the 1400s, and was a treatise on witchcraft and how to eradicate witches. Malleus maleficarum nothing left to fight for, released 11 september 2006 1. The pdf file is a list of books and journal articles pertaining to witchcraft, available at. The malleus maleficarum, usually translated as the hammer of witches, is the best known treatise on witchcraft. The cover may have some limited signs of wear but the pages are clean, intact and the spine remains undamaged. Witch hunts and the hammer of witches or sin, punishment. The malleus is a historical document therefore reflects the views of some people at a specific time. Its appearance did much to spur on and sustain some two centuries of witchhunting hysteria in europe. He even questions whether a witch can be born of such a union.
The malleus maleficarum, a latin book written in 1486 and 1487, is also known as the hammer of witches. This, the first booklength study of the original text in english, provides students and scholars with an introduction to. The malleus maleficarum latin for the hammer of witches, or hexenhammer in german is one of. It was written by one of the most notorious witch hunters in history. Malleus maleficarum is an instruction manual for inquisitors of the catholic faith written in 14frozetodeath, in germany. Kramer and sprenger were careful to affirm that they collected, rather than furnished, their materials originally bibliotheca diabolica, 4. The malleus maleficarum, first published in 14861487, is the standard medieval text on witchcraft.
Malleus maleficarum, detailed legal and theological document c. Under a bull of pope innocent viii, kramer and sprenger. Malleus maleficarum digital collections national library. The truth is, although kramer and sprenger were catholic monks, their. Project muse the malleus maleficarum and the construction. Shipping may be from multiple locations in the us or from the uk, depending on stock availability. It was written by the catholic clergyman heinrich kramer under his latinized name henricus institoris and first published in the german city of speyer in 1486. The malleus maleficarum of heinrich kramer and james sprenger dover occult by james sprenger, heinrich kramer and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. It endorses extermination of witches and for this purpose develops a detailed legal and theological theory.
Written in 1486, this infamous medieval manual changed the way the western world saw evil. Throughout the middle ages and the entire period of the witchcraft hysteria, the malleus maleficarum was the most influential guide used for the persecution and torture of witches and heretics. First of all, you need to be rather sceptical about ehrenreichs thesis that the witch trials were part of the masculination of medicine and some kind of repression of female folk healers and midwives. Its descriptions of the evil acts of witches and the ways to exterminate them continue to contribute to. Pronunciation of malleus maleficarum with 1 audio pronunciation, 1 meaning, 4 translations and more for malleus maleficarum. Mostly a compilation of superstition and folklore, the book was taken very seriously at. There is perhaps no historical text more associated in the popular imagination with the horrors of the european witch hunts than the infamous malleus maleficarum, commonly ascribed to the dominicans heinrich kramer institoris and jacob sprenger in fact much evidence points to kramer as the sole author. For nearly three centuries malleus maleficarum the witche. Malleus maleficarum first edition bauman rare books. A complete translation of the malleus maleficarum 2006, 2009. Malleus maleficarum, latin for the hammer of the witches, was a guide written in 1486 on how to identify, hunt and try witches. The malleus maleficarum and the construction of witchcraft. Yet broedel locates the root of its attitude toward women primarily in its greater acceptance of popular. The malleus maleficarum, usually translated as the hammer of witches, is the best known and the most thorough treatise on witchcraft.
A military and political history 2005 as well as the hammer of witches. Witch hunters bible national geographic channel international. When christopher s mackays acclaimed and monumental bilingual edition of malleus maleficarum appeared in 2006, a common criticism was that the price for this twovolume set placed both the original work and its modern translation beyond the means of the average university student. You can help support this effort to keep the malleus maleficarum project online and raise awareness of a dark time in history before it repeats itself by purchasing products through our links. First published in 1486, the malleus maleficarum was one of the most widely referenced and infamous books of its time. Oct 27, 2019 the witches hammer is a book written on witchcraft, and how to find a witch and destroy them. The truth is, although kramer and sprenger were catholic monks, their views were not the views of the church or the. The malleus is an important text and is frequently quoted by authors across a wide range of scholarly disciplines. Read online view original purchase search libraries. According the da vinci code, the catholic inquisition published the malleus maleficarum instructing the clergy how to locate, torture, and destroy the freethinking women. This paperback makes the full translation accessible to the readers as a single volume. The national library of medicine believes this item to be in the public domain more information extent.
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