Magonia (mythology)
Encyclopedia
According to the treatise on weather magic composed by Carolingian
bishop Agobard
of Lyon
in 815, Magonia is the name of the cloud realm from where felonious aerial sailors were said to have come.
The inhabitants of this realm, the Magonians were said to travel the skies in "cloud ships" (storm clouds) and worked with Frankish tempestarii
, "tempest-raisers" or weather-magi, to steal grain from the fields during magically raised storm
s.
However, in his writings against popular superstitions, Agobard denounced the belief in witchcraft
and the ascription of tempests to magic.
inspired UFO related material, see Magonia (magazine).
Carolingian
The Carolingian dynasty was a Frankish noble family with origins in the Arnulfing and Pippinid clans of the 7th century AD. The name "Carolingian", Medieval Latin karolingi, an altered form of an unattested Old High German *karling, kerling The Carolingian dynasty (known variously as the...
bishop Agobard
Agobard
Agobard of Lyon was a Spanish-born priest and archbishop of Lyon, during the Carolingian Renaissance. The author of multiple treatises, ranging in subject matter from the iconoclast controversy to Spanish Adoptionism to critiques of the Carolingian royal family, Agobard is best known for his...
of Lyon
Lyon
Lyon , is a city in east-central France in the Rhône-Alpes region, situated between Paris and Marseille. Lyon is located at from Paris, from Marseille, from Geneva, from Turin, and from Barcelona. The residents of the city are called Lyonnais....
in 815, Magonia is the name of the cloud realm from where felonious aerial sailors were said to have come.
The inhabitants of this realm, the Magonians were said to travel the skies in "cloud ships" (storm clouds) and worked with Frankish tempestarii
Tempestarii
In medieval lore, Tempestarii were magicians, specifically weather-makers, dwelling amongst the common people, who possessed the power to raise or prevent storms at will. For this reason, anyone reputed as a weather-maker was the subject of respect, fear, and hatred in rural areas...
, "tempest-raisers" or weather-magi, to steal grain from the fields during magically raised storm
Storm
A storm is any disturbed state of an astronomical body's atmosphere, especially affecting its surface, and strongly implying severe weather...
s.
However, in his writings against popular superstitions, Agobard denounced the belief in witchcraft
Witchcraft
Witchcraft, in historical, anthropological, religious, and mythological contexts, is the alleged use of supernatural or magical powers. A witch is a practitioner of witchcraft...
and the ascription of tempests to magic.
Modern usage
Due to its association with entities coming from the sky, the name MagoniaMagonia
Magonia is a British journal focused on UFO phenomena. Its name comes from Passport to Magonia, a book by Ufologist Jacques Vallée. Vallée in turn had borrowed the term from Magonia, a magical land described by French folklore....
inspired UFO related material, see Magonia (magazine).