About this Event
For thousands of years, demons have haunted the human imagination. They have been blamed for illness and misfortune, accused of whispering forbidden desires into our minds, and feared as beings capable of entering the human body and taking control. But where did demons come from? And why have we found it so difficult to get rid of them? Join Dr Moretti in journeying through the dangerous spirits of the ancient world to the demons of Christianity; meet seductive incubi and succubi, possessed nuns, exorcists and witch-hunters; and discover why some of history's greatest thinkers took demons seriously.
Along the way, we will confront some surprisingly modern questions. If a demon makes you do something, are you still responsible? Is temptation an outside force - or does it reveal desires already lurking within us? Why did apparently ordinary people believe that their bodies had been invaded by supernatural beings? As medicine, psychology and psychiatry developed, evil increasingly became something to locate not in an invisible supernatural world, but within the human mind itself. From ancient spirits and medieval demonology to modern psychology and popular culture, this talk explores the strange and disturbing history of the beings that have haunted the human imagination for thousands of years.
Doors open at 7, talk starts at 7:30pm - come down early to grab a good seat!
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Speaker Bio
Dr Debora Moretti is a social historian and archaeologist specialising in the history of magic and witchcraft from the medieval to early modern periods and beyond. She is a Researcher at the University of Hertfordshire on the Alternative Healers project. Her research broadly explores the history of beliefs in witchcraft and magic practices, as well as the intersections of witchcraft, magic, folk medicine, and material culture, with a particular focus on how European societies understood illness, healing, and the supernatural.
Debora has published extensively in Italian and English, including, most recently, contributions to the Bloomsbury A Cultural History of Magic series, and has co-authored two archaeological monographs. She regularly presents at international conferences and is the organiser of the annual York Magic and Witchcraft Conference series. Debora is also an experienced public speaker, sharing the history of witchcraft and magic with wider audiences. She is an Associate Fellow of the Royal Historical Society and a member of the Scientific and Organising Committee of the Laboratorio Giuseppe Bonomo, a research centre dedicated to the study of magic and witchcraft.
This talk is 16+
Testimonials from our guests
⭐ Truly riveting talks, always enjoy these - a great way to spend an evening with some pals. Already looking forward to the next one. - Alexander P
⭐ Expertly run, talks are always super informative and a lot of fun! Couldn’t recommend these enough! 5 star. - Owen S
⭐ Been to a few talks and all have been super interesting. An enjoyable evening to go to either alone or with friends. The talks make for stimulating conversation. Highly recommend! - Daisy J
Agenda
🕑: 07:00 PM
Doors open
🕑: 07:30 PM
Talk starts
Event venue & nearby stays
Sir Devonshire Square Hotel, part of Sircle Collection, 5 Devonshire Square, London, United Kingdom
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