Spuma lunaris. Bringing the Moon Down to Earth, Extraction of ‘Moon Foam’ and Its Use in Ancient Magic

Abstract

The article is devoted to the ancient ritual of bringing the moon down to the earth. The author has compiled all sources in which you can read about it and discuss in detail how to obtain the so-called ‘Moon foam’ (spuma lunaris), focusing on its use in ancient magic. In addition, the article suggests that in the stories of the seduction of Selene by the god Pan and the hero Endymion may be elements of some aitiological myth explaining the genesis and phenomenon of bringing the moon to the ground. The annex to this article shows a similar ritual in Maroccan magic of the 19th and 20th centuries.

http://dx.doi.org/10.5913/pal.2017.25220655