The History of Magic

I chat to archaeologist, author and British Museum Trustee Chris Gosden about the history of magic through the ages.

It is a good one this. I’ve read around the subject of Magic, quite a bit and great magicians and scientists have featured heavily in the Z List Dead List podcast. I think we mention Joanna Southcott and Paracelsus as well as the origins of writing being magical spells…

The British Museum Membercast is a monthly podcast made available to ‘all studious and curious persons’. Comedian, podcaster and super-fan Iszi Lawrence (The Z List Dead List) presents snippets from exclusive Members’ lectures at the Museum, artfully woven together with interviews and her own musings.

Please share your comments and feedback about the podcast! You can talk to us on Twitter @britishmuseum using the hashtag #membercast or email friends@britishmuseum.org

 
 
Featured
The British Museum Untold!
The British Museum Untold!

In a new series the British Museum Untold sees Dr Julia Farley and Iszi Lawrence discover all the different ways The British Museum has been supporting international conversation projects and bringing the past to life!

Return of the Membercast - ish!
Return of the Membercast - ish!

The first in a new series, this episode of British Museum Untold sees Dr Julia Farley and Iszi Lawrence discover how explosions have affected objects, from bomb damage at the Museum during the Second World War, to the 2020 explosion in Beirut. They meet expert conservators, curators and archivists to find out how these objects have been painstakingly repaired.

Ancestors with Prof Alice Roberts
Ancestors with Prof Alice Roberts

Iszi and Dr Alice Roberts discuss her favourite ancient burial sites in the UK

The History of Emotion
The History of Emotion

Iszi and Richard Firth Godbehere discuss the history of Human emotion

Roman Mysteries with Caroline Lawrence
Roman Mysteries with Caroline Lawrence

Iszi and Caroline Lawrence discuss some of the Objects that inspired the Roman Mysteries series.

Nero - the Man VS the Myth
Nero - the Man VS the Myth

Iszi gets charmed by a curator into thinking Nero wasn’t as bad as all that.

Contemporary Art in the Middle East
Contemporary Art in the Middle East

Middle Eastern and North African Art - how does the British Museum chose what to add to its collection?

1666 and all that
1666 and all that

Historian Rebecca Rideal on what London was like before the Great Fire of 1666

Sutton Who, What, Where - the Story of The Dig
Sutton Who, What, Where - the Story of The Dig

Curator Sue Brunning tells Iszi about the true story behind the excavation at Sutton Hoo, and how this famous discovery changed our understanding of the past.

Egyptologists' Notebook
Egyptologists' Notebook

From making up hieroglyphs to pinching obelisks, the history of Egyptology is nearly as fascinating as Egyptology itself.

podcasts, British Museum Membercastiszi lawrenceobjects, british museumComment