Magic of Gnats and Scorpions

THE SCENE: Demons are bad. Magic is bad. Or are they? This medieval writer can’t seem to decide, as he decries their use even while marveling at the good they can do.

THE TEXT: It is remarkable what can be accomplished through witchcraft and enchantment. There lived a certain soothsayer named Appollonius of Tyana. He attained celebrity, and journeyed about performing infernal marvels throughout the cities and towns. He came to Antioch, and on being besought by the inhabitants (since Antioch was tormented with scorpions and gnats), he made a brass scorpion and buried it in the earth. After setting a small marble post over it, he bade the inhabitants hold reeds in their hands and walk through the city shaking the reeds and crying “May this city be rid of gnats!” Thus the gnats and scorpions vanished from the city. When he was questioned regarding the earthquakes that threatened the city, he sighed, and wrote on a table these words, “Alas for thee, unhappy city! Thou shalt be much shaken by an earthquake and fall a prey to flame, and this river Orontes shall bewail thee by its shores.” Not only during his life did the demons at his command bring such wonders to pass, but even after his death they hover about his tomb and perform miracles in his name to deceive unhappy men. What shall we say of those who perform works of magic? All these things exist through the sufferance of God and the agency of the devil, that by such means our orthodox faith may be tested as to whether it is firm and secure, cleaving to the Lord and not to be seduced by the Enemy through false miracles and satanic acts performed by the servants and slaves of his wickedness.

– Tales of Bygone Years, Nestor, 12th Century AD