Flying ointment

Under witches salve or ointment flight was understood at the time of early modern witch hunts an ointment with which the witches einrieben to fly to the witches' Sabbath. The actual existence of such an ointment and applied for this purpose was controversial in the 16th century.

• 3.1 Process records of witch-hunting
• 3.2 Giambattista della Porta,
• 3.3 Vajkard Freiherr von Valvasor

• 5.1 sources
• 5.2 Research Literature

Antiquity

From ancient times, although no balm recipes have been handed down, but there are two mentions in the seal of a substance that apparently gave flying and you could possibly be understood as a precursor of the late medieval witches' ointments.

The poet Homer mentions in the Iliad ( in Chapter II, XIV ) that the goddess Hera to einsalbte with Ambrosia to get to Zeus on the Idaberg. Homer writes that they " [...] on the top peaks and never touching the ground [ ... ] " came to Zeus, and that this had been very surprised at how quickly they have overcome the distance.

A second mention of a substance that gave similar capabilities, can be found in the novel Metamorphoses of the Roman author Apuleius: The hero of the novel - Lucius - tells of the magical abilities of the witches of Thessaly, who had possessed the ability not only to revive Alraunmännchen, , to let them do any damage, but also to walk in their own form and " extend " ( so fly ) could. The text says that the witch Pamphile naked undressed, took a box of ointment on hand and rubbed from head to toe with it.

" Then she shakes her limbs. These are hardly in a flowing movement, as it already puts forth soft fluff. In an instant, even strong flight feathers have grown, horny and crooked is the nose; the feet are drawn together in claws. It says Pamphile as owl! "

Middle Ages

Abraham of Worms

Abraham of Worms, a Jewish Kabbalist, reported at the end of the 14th century in his book The Jew's Abraham of Worms book of true practice in the divine magic of an ointment, which he himself tried both as well as sober observed in a young woman had and the meant that " I hinflöge to the place that I had wanted in the heart, without saying anything to her ." While the report does not contain information on the recipe, still used Abraham the term " witch " on the young woman, yet allows the testimony as evidence for belief in the existence of " flying ointments " interpret already in the high Middle Ages.

Johannes Hartlieb

The first physician of the late Middle Ages, who wrote a witches' ointments recipe was Johannes Hartlieb (* 1400, † 1468 ), who in the service of the Wittelsbach Duke Albrecht III. stood and served as his advisor and personal physician. John wrote, among others, in 1440, one of the earliest German herbal books and in 1456 the book of all forbidden arts ( Original title: The puch all verpoten art, ungelaubens and zaubrey ). Since this is the first known record of a witches' ointments recipe, here is the full text is reproduced from Hartliebs book:

"At sölichem fern also benefit you [ 19r ] and female, namely the unhulden ( fiends, witches ), ain salb the hayst unguentum Pharelis. The blocking system to make sy Siben krewtern ( herbs) and saying anything yeglichs krautte to ainem day, then listened to the same krautt. As of saying anything at Suntag and dig sy Solsequium, on mentag Lunariam ( Lunaria ), on eretag (Tuesday) Verbenam (Verbena ), on Wednesdays Mercurialem ( Mercurialis ), on pfintztag (Thursday ) Roof Houseleek Barbam jovis, on freytag Capillos Veneris ( Capillus Verneris ). Daruß make sy, then anoint with mix ettlichs pluotz of bird ( with addition of bird blood), and also animal lard; I write as a nit, the yemant be Darvon geergert sol. When sy then wöllen, so brush sy penck ( banks) or Stuel, rake or oven forks and faren then. That is all is right Nigramancia ( Nigromantie ), and vast in size banned ( and is strictly prohibited ). "

Hartlieb called the flying ointment unguentum Pharelis, where the meaning of the name is not known and Pharelis unguentum only " ointment " is.

In Hartliebs recipe each plant is assigned a weekday. Since the Middle Ages the usual in astronomy and astrology planet symbols were also used for the weekdays. In alchemy, these were the same for certain metals. The herbs in turn, planets have been assigned. This allows 6 of 7 herbs to determine with certainty. The 7th herb was however left out " I do not write, be yemant Darvon geergert such that " but you can safely assume that it must have been in this herb to the mandrake. Since this plant were the greatest " magical properties " attributed to it is a plant of Saturn (ie the lack of Saturdays ), and the hallucinogenic effect a " flight experience " possible. So the recipe might have looked like this.

Verbena, Moonwort, Yearling Dog's Mercury, Thunder Beard, mandrake, maidenhair fern, St. John's, Bird blood, animal lard.

The herbs have been well dried, crushed / pulverized, and processed with the blood of birds and the Tierschmaltz to a paste.

It is assumed that neither the furnace nor forks broom, but solar plexus, neck, arm, knees, palms and soles were painted so in order to achieve an optimal effect.

Heinrich Kramer

Heinrich Kramer ( Institoris ) describes in the second part of his famous Malleus that witches could raise behufs an ointment into the air. This will made ​​extremities of children.

Modern Times

Trial records of witch-hunting

From the documents submitted to the persecution of witches no authentic recipes are known. Instead of witchcraft accused knew the herbal ingredients of the ointment only by hearsay, or they have the "smear" ( as the flight ointment was also called ) is not prepared themselves, but they get personally in his own words from the devil. The traditional recipes come from physicians and scientists early, which could explain that they strikingly consistent in composition with time common medicines.

Giambattista della Porta

It is often related to the question of the witches albums on the traditional recipes of the book Magiae naturalis sive de rerum miraculis naturalium ( 1558 ) of the Italian Giambattista della Porta scientist ( 1538-1615 ) directed. He tells of a witches exit due to an ointment. The reproduced by him formula contains mainly the hallucinogenic drugs alkaloid-containing plants, especially from the family Solanaceae, as well as more symbolic components ( bat blood, etc.). However, since della Portas sources are not known, his report can not be verified as authentic.

Some scientific self- tests that were conducted along della Portas recipe early / mid 20th century, while showing the effectiveness of the ointment, the characteristics of reported intoxication, however, applies in general rather than induced by the expectations of the researchers.

Vajkard Freiherr von Valvasor

Vajkard Freiherr von Valvasor reported in 1689 in his book The Glory of the Duchy of Carniola concerning an ointment, which causes the witch " out of sheer dancing, eating, Sauffen, music and the like dreams, so that they vermeynet she was flown". The traditional recipe of it contains as active plants " slack - nightshade " and " Wolffswurtz ", both highly poisonous and intoxicating.

Other names for the witches ointment

The witches ointment also appears under the following names in the old and new literature on: Buhlsalbe, flight ointment, witch goo, sleep ointment, Unguenti Sabbati, Unguentum Pharelis, Unguentum populi, salves somnifera.