Witches of Benevento

What it is

The Witches of Benevento represent a cluster of beliefs surrounding sorcery in an ancient Samnite city. Popular tradition holds that these women gathered at night for magical rites. They were known as janaras, a term linked to doors or the goddess Diana. The legend blurred lines between historical events and imagination, becoming a central part of the region's identity.

Where it comes from

Scholars trace the roots to multiple sources. Roman times saw a cult of Isis, who merged with Hecate and Diana. Later, Lombard invaders practiced pagan rites involving a golden viper and a sacred tree near the Sabato river. Christians interpreted these frenzied customs as devil worship. A legend claims Saint Barbatus destroyed the tree, but historians note this conflicts with recorded dates and names.

How it is done

Accused witches were said to anoint their bodies with unguent before flying on brooms of sorghum. They rode horses until they foamed, then used the sweat for magic. Gatherings involved banquets and dances with spirits. To enter homes, they slipped under doors. People left salt or brooms on thresholds to delay them until dawn.

Tools and materials

Brooms of sorghum served as vehicles for flight. Unguents enabled transformation into incorporeal spirits. Salt and brooms acted as protective charms at doorways. The sacred walnut tree was the focal point of the sabbats. Horses provided materials for spells through their hair and sweat.

What it is for

Believers feared the witches caused harm, including abortions and deformities. They were blamed for nightmares and oppression felt by sleepers. Some stories claimed they kidnapped infants. Others described pranks like braiding horse manes. The belief served to explain misfortune and natural disasters through supernatural agency.

Who does it

The figures were primarily women accused of witchcraft. Inquisitors and judges coerced confessions using torture. Many were executed by burning or hanging. The accusations were fueled by preachers like Saint Bernardino of Siena and texts like the Malleus Maleficarum. Scholars now view these accounts as products of persecution rather than reality.

Peoples and places

The legend is specific to Benevento in southern Italy. It incorporates elements from Lombard pagan traditions and Roman religious practices. Other local figures include the zucculara, a lame spirit, and the manalonga, who lives in wells. These beings reflect regional fears of crossroads and pits. The myth persists in local anecdotes and superstitions.

What people believe

Christianity demonized pagan rituals, framing them as pacts with the Devil. Witches were seen as opposites to the Madonna, dedicated to sterility and orgies. The walnut tree was viewed as a site of demonic power. Spirits were believed to take animal forms like cats or goats. The belief system relied on fear of the unknown and moral corruption.

When it is done

Rites were performed at night, especially during storms. Witches were thought to be most active when weather was bad. No specific festivals are tied to the legend, though it emerged after reports began circulating in the thirteenth century. Accusations peaked during the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries.

How scholars and sceptics see it

Historians analyze the legend as a mix of cultural memory and fabrication. Pietro Piperno wrote essays debunking the myths in the seventeenth century. Anthropologists see the story as an example of how Christianity absorbed and twisted pagan symbols. Skeptics note inconsistencies in trial records and legendary accounts.

Compare and confuse

The legend shares traits with other European witch myths, such as flying on brooms and attending sabbats. It resembles the cult of Artemis in Caria regarding tree rituals. The term janara parallels concepts of door spirits in other cultures. Unlike some traditions, it lacks a unified theological structure.

Questions people ask about Witches of Benevento

Good reading and sources

• Witches of Benevento on WikipediaEncyclopedia
• More photos on Wikimedia CommonsPhotos and video
• Wikidata recordOpen data