The Dark Arts in the Dark Ages: Halloween at the Wagner Free Institute of Science

Wagner Free Institute of Science (WFIS) is hosting their second Weeknights at the Wagner talk of the year– just in time for Halloween.

On Thursday, October 25th, join Dr. Elly Truitt, a Harvard and Cambridge-educated historian who specializes in medieval science and medicine, for an illustrated presentation exploring the occult sciences and natural philosophy in the Middle Ages: The Dark Arts in the Dark Ages: A Halloween Program at the Wagner Free Institute of Science.

Dr. Truitt will discuss a number of legendary figures from medieval history, including Gerbert of Aurillac, said to have created a prophetic head and to have sold his soul to the devil; Gerard of York, a bishop believed to practice necromancy; and Albertus Magnus, a great thinker who was posthumously called a sorcerer.

The pages of medieval history teem with soothsayers, sorcerers, and necromancers who used their knowledge to foretell the future, uncover lost treasure and create animated statues. Were these so-called witches and sorcerers practicing dark arts or were their understandings of science and the natural world misread as magic powers? … uncover the scientific sophistication of the so-called Dark Ages.

When researching this event, I learned Dr. Truitt is totally writing a book on medieval robots! Automata– how cool is that? Don’t miss out on an awesome opportunity to hear her lecture!

Event admission is free and open to the public (like all WFIS evening science courses) with a suggested donations of $10 for adults and $5 for students/seniors. Be sure to stop by early to explore the natural history specimens collection in the Wagner historic building.

For more information, visit the event’s page on the Wagner’s official website.

Wagner Free Institute of Science
1700 West Montgomery Avenue, Philadelphia, PA  19121<
www.wagnerfreeinstitute.org