In the dusty pages of the Old Testament, an intriguing tale has been stirring the imagination for centuries: that of the Witch of Endor. Mentioned in the Book of Samuel, this enigmatic figure captured the minds of believers and fertilized the collective imagination of the Middle Ages. This article explores the metamorphoses of this biblical legend through medieval times, when theology, fear and fascination with the occult were closely woven into the fabric of everyday life.

Introduction

The Witch of Endor in the Bible

1.1 Biblical context

The Book of Samuel reveals the story of how the desperate King Saul seeks to summon the spirit of the late prophet Samuel. He turns to the witch of Endor, renowned for her powers of biblical necromancy. Her divinatory ritual illustrates the quest for communication between the living and the dead in a context where such practices were prohibited.

1.2 Theological Judgment

In ancient Judaism, as in early Christianity, witchcraft was condemned. Scribes and theologians stigmatized these occult practices as an abomination. The moral implications were clear: such actions opposed the divine laws and had to be eradicated.

The Medieval Reception of the Witch of Endor

2.1 Witchcraft in the Middle Ages

The Middle Ages grew up in the shadow of spells and mysteries. The witchcraft was reinvented according to popular beliefs and influenced by artistic and narrative compositions. In this context, the witch of Endor became the archetypal sorceress, the link between residual paganism and new occult rites.

2.2 Theological reinterpretations

Progressively, medieval texts and commentaries by the Fathers of the Church, such as Saint Augustine and Thomas Aquinas, offered new readings of witchcraft. Between condemnation and allegory, the figure of the Witch of Endor evolved within ecclesiastical thought, reflecting the debates and tensions of the time.

Myths and metaphors: the Witch of Endor in medieval literature

3.1 Representation in Chronicles and Legends

Whether through historical chronicles or legends, the figure of the witch has been transformed over time. The Witch of Endor herself- has transmuted, adapting to the narrative needs of different eras and cultures.

3.2 The Witch of Endor and Occult Feminine Figures

The ancient witch has served as a model for other representations of the feminine in the occult. She has been paralleled by legendary figures such as Merlin or Hecate, forging the perception of the role of women healers and even "witches" since the Middle Ages.

The legacy of the Witch of Endor beyond the Middle Ages

4.1 Influence in the Arts and Culture

From the Quattrocento to the Baroque period, from sacred paintings to poems, the Witch of Endor has endured in artistic expression. Her image has influenced numerous works, demonstrating her persistence in culture.

4.2 Contemporary debates: Symbolism and interpretations

Today, contemporary exegesis continues to dust off the legend of the Witch of Endor. Reflections are theological, feminist, and even psychoanalytical, offering new ways of reading this biblical figure through the evolution of patriarchal cultures.

Conclusion

To re-examine the story of the Witch of Endor is to plunge into a past where the irrational was very real. This figure continues to nourish the popular imagination and fuels current debates. Over the centuries, it has embodied not only man's fears and hopes, but also his quest for harmony with the divine and the supernatural. The history of Witchcraft is far from complete, and the ancient necromancer of Endor remains a powerful symbol to be revisited.