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Demoniacs, Dissent, and Disempowerment in the Late Roman West: Some Case Studies from the Hagiographical Literature

In the hagiographical literature of the late Roman West, demonic possession is a recurring motif providing a recognizable, culturally appropriate means for expressing societal dysfunction. This paper complements existing scholarship on demonic possession by developing a methodology for exploring the factors motivating the demoniacs themselves. Some episodes of possession in the hagiographical literature of the period are examined using recent anthro-pological studies of spirit cults and psychosomatic illness as an analytical framework. These episodes are interpreted as examples of individuals consciously or subconsciously expressing anger at or anxiety about the world in which they lived and their place in that world.