Witches of Antiquity in Baltimore: Profs & Pints at Guilford Hall Brewery

Long before the witches of modern movies and Halloween stories, the ancient Greeks and Romans were telling tales of sorceresses with the power to enchant, terrify, and even raise the dead.

On Wednesday, October 14, 2026, Profs & Pints Baltimore presents “Witches of Antiquity” at Guilford Hall Brewery, an evening exploring the unforgettable witches of ancient Greece and Rome and what their stories reveal about magic, women, sexuality, and power.

The event runs from 6 PM to 8:30 PM, with doors opening at 5 PM and the talk beginning at 6:30 PM.

Explore Witches of Antiquity in Baltimore

Ancient literature is filled with witches, but these characters didn't always resemble the familiar image of the frightening old woman associated with witchcraft today.

Greek writers sometimes portrayed witches as beautiful, alluring, and even helpful. As these stories moved into Roman culture, witches were increasingly depicted as dangerous, lustful, frightening older women.

“Witches of Antiquity” explores how and why those portrayals changed—and what they can tell us about the societies that created them.

Meet Circe, Medea, Canidia and Erictho

The evening will introduce guests to some of the ancient world's most memorable magical women.

There's Circe, the enchantress made famous by Homer's Odyssey. Medea, whose story became one of Greek tragedy's most enduring tales. Canidia, the sinister witch appearing in the works of Roman poet Horace.

Then there's Erictho, the terrifying witch described by Roman poet Lucan as possessing powers so extraordinary that she could raise the dead and compel even the gods to obey her.

These characters provide more than entertaining supernatural stories. They offer a window into how ancient societies thought about people who possessed power outside accepted boundaries.

What Can Ancient Witches Teach Us?

The discussion goes beyond spells and potions.

Ancient depictions of witchcraft can reveal broader cultural anxieties surrounding gender, sexuality, authority, religion, death, and social order.

The presentation examines what happened in ancient stories when familiar boundaries began to break down: male and female, human and divine, living and dead, and order and chaos.

For modern audiences, these stories provide a fascinating way to explore both the supernatural imagination of antiquity and the societies responsible for creating it.

Meet Scholar Barbette Stanley Spaeth

Leading the evening is Barbette Stanley Spaeth, professor emerita of classical studies at William & Mary and a scholar specializing in magic and the supernatural in the ancient world.

Over more than three decades at William & Mary and Tulane University, Spaeth taught courses dealing with ancient magic and supernatural beliefs. She has also published multiple studies of ancient witchcraft and is currently working on a book devoted to the subject.

Her expertise gives guests an opportunity to move beyond pop-culture ideas about witches and explore how these figures actually appeared in ancient literature and society.

A Perfect October Event in Baltimore

October is already associated with witches, ghosts, and the supernatural, making “Witches of Antiquity” an especially fitting addition to Baltimore's fall calendar.

Instead of another haunted attraction or Halloween movie, this event gives guests an opportunity to explore where some of our ideas about witches originated.

And because it's Profs & Pints, you can do it while enjoying food and drinks inside Guilford Hall Brewery.

Profs & Pints at Guilford Hall Brewery

Guilford Hall Brewery hosts Profs & Pints events in Baltimore, bringing expert-led talks into the relaxed environment of a local brewery. The October 14 event will take place at Guilford Hall, located at 1611 Guilford Avenue in Baltimore.

Come early, grab something to eat or drink, find your seat, and prepare for an evening that makes ancient history accessible without putting you back in a classroom.

Witches of Antiquity Event Details

Event: Profs & Pints Baltimore: Witches of AntiquityDate: Wednesday, October 14, 2026Event Time: 6 PM–8:30 PMDoors Open: 5 PMTalk Begins: 6:30 PMLocation: Guilford Hall BreweryAddress: 1611 Guilford Ave., Baltimore, MD 21202Speaker: Barbette Stanley SpaethAdvance Tickets: $13.50 plus taxes and processing feesAt the Door: $17Students at the Door: $15 with student IDSeating: Open seating

Spend an October evening discovering the witches who fascinated and frightened the ancient world. Get your tickets and explore upcoming events at www.guilfordhall.com.