Survivals of the Cult of the Matronae into the Early Middle Ages and Beyond
From the late first century to the beginning of the fifth century CE, the area now referred to as the Rhineland was under Roman occupation. During this period, thousands of altars were carved and dedicated by individuals from diverse ethnic backgrounds, in honor of divine beings known as the Matres in Gaul and the Matronae in Germania Inferior
Witchcraft, Weather and Economic Growth in Renaissance Europe
This paper explores the possibility that the witchcraft trials are a large-scale example of violence and scapegoating prompted by a deterioration in economic conditions.