Department of Religious Studies

Professor Michael Satlow’s new book, An Enchanted World

Professor of Religious Studies and Judaic Studies Michael Satlow publishes new book

Professor Michael Satlow publishes his latest book, An Enchanted World: The Shared Religious Landscape of Late Antiquity (February 2026).

“In Late Antiquity (ca. 200–600 CE), the world was alive with unseen forces—divine agents who influenced every aspect of daily life. For most ordinary people, religion was not found in temples, synagogues, and churches, but in lived experience as they interacted with the supernatural in a world of uncertainty and danger. In An Enchanted World, Michael Satlow uncovers a shared spiritual landscape that stretched beyond the confines of Judaism, Christianity, and the pantheon of Greek and Roman deities. From healing rituals to protective amulets, spiritual practices were a matter of necessity, transcending religious labels. To get by in the world required being on good terms with the right supernatural beings and being able to ward off the bad ones.”
— Princeton University Press

For more information on the book, please visit the Princeton University Press website.  
 

An Enchanted World