Ancient Wisdom Atlas

Motif

Ritual restoration through plant, wand, and spoken formula

ritual_restoration_through_plant_wand_and_spoken_formula

A motif of the Curse, Blessing, and Performative Sacred Speech family, within the sub-family Blessings, Healing, and Protective Charms. Every row below is a tagged passage; each rests on a quote in its source text.

1 occurrences

1 traditions


roman

  • The Metamorphoses of Ovid, Books VIII-XV EXPLANATION. / EXPLANATION. / EXPLANATION. / EXPLANATION.; lines 10987-11030 confidence: high

    The group is sprinkled with harmless plant juices, struck on the head with an inverted wand, and restored as reverse charms are chanted; bristles and cloven-foot features vanish and human shoulders and arms return.

    The restoration occurs through a sequence of ritual elements: plant juices, a wand-blow, and repeated charms opposite to earlier charms.

    read in the book