New York City is known for many things - its towering skyscrapers, bustling streets, and vibrant nightlife. But one aspect of the city that often gets overlooked is its magical flavors. From world-famous pastrami sandwiches to mouthwatering pizza, NYC is a food lover's paradise. One of the most iconic flavors of NYC is the hot bagel. With its crispy exterior and soft, chewy interior, it's no wonder why New Yorkers are obsessed with this delicious treat. Whether it's topped with cream cheese, lox, or just eaten plain, a hot bagel is a must-have when visiting the Big Apple.
Even in the Olympics, these kinds of superstitions still reared their heads. The first athletes didn’t always believe in their ability to succeed by their own virtues, and they found ways to get ahead. This was not unlike modern athletes taking steroids or illegal supplements – but the Greeks, with only a few ways to use medicine to get ahead, would have to rely on the help of the divine.
Practitioners of mageia , the magicians, the first of whom, to the Greeks at least, were the Magi magoi priests of Persia, were seen not only as wise holders of secrets but also as masters of such diverse fields as mathematics and chemistry. Though other ancient cultures, like that of Ancient Egypt, favored amulets with symbolism, Ancient Greek and Roman amulets were designed to carry spells, themselves.
Whether it's topped with cream cheese, lox, or just eaten plain, a hot bagel is a must-have when visiting the Big Apple. Another magical flavor of NYC is the street cart hot dog. There's something about grabbing a hot dog from a vendor on the streets of NYC that just feels right.
A Guide to Ancient Magic
Call it a happy accident: When a group of Serbian archaeologists recently uncovered a cache of 2,000-year-old skeletons, they unearthed a set of mysterious scrolls covered with Aramaic curses, too. As Reuters reports, the tiny scrolls were contained in what are thought to be ancient amulets and are covered with spells used in “binding magic” rituals of yore.
While the archaeologists work to decipher the scrolls (a process that could never be complete), why not take a moment to catch up on what historians already know about ancient magical rituals?
Spells were everything
In ancient “binding magic,” it was all about the spells. Unlike modern-day magical phrases like, say, "bippity boppity boo," practitioners of magic in ancient Greek and Rome used spells to “bind” people up to different outcomes in sporting events, business, and personal affairs related to love and even revenge.
As Greek and Roman magic expert Derek Collins writes, binding spells had known formulas and named involved parties, like gods and people, and then connected them to actions or results. You could use a binding spell to invoke an upcoming athletic victory or ensure your happy marriage to a new partner—and to do so, you’d use powerful strings of words passed on by magicians or ordinary people.
Amulets were a must-have magical fashion accessory
Spells weren’t just said in the ancient world—they were written down. And like the objects found in Syria, the spells were often carried around with a person until they came to pass. Amulets designed to carry spells became a must-have fashion accessory and are regularly found in Ancient Greek and Roman grave sites and digs.
Though other ancient cultures, like that of Ancient Egypt, favored amulets with symbolism, Ancient Greek and Roman amulets were designed to carry spells, themselves. In 2011, archaeologists uncovered an amulet in Cyprus that was engraved with a palindromic spell, and in 2008, Swiss archaeologists found a gold scroll in a silver amulet capsule thought to have belonged to an ancient Roman child. Amulets may have looked decorative, but their contents felt like life and death to believers, who paid magicians to give them scrolls and talismans that put their intentions into physical form.
Curses and revenge were very much a thing
One of the more charmingly bitter traditions of ancient Greece and Rome were “curse tablets”—spells written on lead, wax or stone that laid out the ways in which people had been wronged. Think of curse tablets as the takedowns of the ancient world: If someone disrespected or harmed you, you could head to your local magician and pay to curse them. People cursed people who hurt their family members, but they also cursed them when they committed crimes or even entered into court cases against them. Large caches of curse tablets have been found in Roman digs in the modern-day United Kingdom.
One such tablet invokes the god Mercury to bring down a curse on Varianus, Peregrina and Sabinianus, whom the curser thought had brought harm on their animal. “I ask that you drive them to the greatest death, and do not allow them health or sleep unless they redeem from you what they have administered to me,” cursed the aggrieved Docilinus. Ouch.
And then there were the curse dolls
Of course, if someone dissed you, you also had the option of creating a tiny effigy to do harm to. Though sometimes compared to modern-day voodoo dolls, scholars still aren’t entirely sure what the tiny figurines used in binding magic in ancient Greece and Rome were for. What they do know is that the word “binding” was taken literally when it comes to these figures: They have been found in tiny coffins with bound hands and feet or mutilated bodies and seem to have been molded along with binding spells.
Not everyone in ancient Greece and Rome was into magic
The descriptions above might make you think that everyone in the ancient world was into binding magic. But that wasn’t true: Historians now believe that magic was quite separate from ancient religion. Though both involved the gods, magic involved manipulating gods whereas other rituals relied on supplication and offerings in the hopes that the gods might favor the person doing the asking.
Anti-magic legislation existed in both ancient Greece and ancient Rome, even before the days of Christianity, but often such laws only covered magic that actually killed, as when a stepmother was sued for administering a fatal “love charm” to her stepson’s mistress. Lesson learned: If you only use your ancient curses, spells and charms to inflict mild harm instead of death, you should be okay. Now where did that curse tablet go?
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Erin Blakemore is a Boulder, Colorado-based journalist. Her work has appeared in publications like The Washington Post, TIME, mental_floss, Popular Science and JSTOR Daily. Learn more at erinblakemore.com.
To perform black magic, a man would have to enact what was often a long and complex ritual. Ingredients imbued with mystical powers would have to be gathered and prepared, and the man would have to recite words calling upon the gods to curse their enemies.
Whether it's smothered in sauerkraut, onions, or mustard, this classic New York snack is a must-try for any visitor. When it comes to pizza, no city does it better than NYC. The thin, crispy crust, the gooey cheese, and the array of toppings make for a truly magical dining experience. From grabbing a slice on the go to sitting down for a full pie, there's no shortage of incredible pizzerias to try in the city that never sleeps. Lastly, no discussion of magical flavors in NYC would be complete without mentioning the world-famous cheesecake. Creamy, rich, and oh-so-decadent, a slice of New York-style cheesecake is like a taste of heaven. Whether you prefer classic plain or adventurous flavors like chocolate or raspberry, you're sure to find a slice of cheesecake that will leave you craving more. In conclusion, the magical flavors of NYC are a culinary journey like no other. From hot bagels to street cart hot dogs, New York City offers a wide variety of delicious treats that will satisfy even the most discerning taste buds. So go ahead, take a bite out of the Big Apple, and experience the magical flavors that await you..
Reviews for "New York's Secret Speakeasies: Where Magic Meets Mixology"
1. Emma - 2 stars - I was really excited to try out Magical flavors of NYC based on the raving reviews, but I was left disappointed. The food was average at best and the service was extremely slow. The staff seemed disorganized and overwhelmed, which resulted in long wait times and orders being mixed up. Overall, it just didn't live up to the hype for me.
2. John - 1 star - I had such high expectations for Magical flavors of NYC, but it ended up being a complete letdown. The menu was limited and lacked creativity. The dishes I ordered were bland and uninspiring. It felt like the chef put no effort into the flavors or presentation. On top of that, the prices were exorbitant for what we got. I would not recommend wasting your time or money at this restaurant.
3. Sarah - 2 stars - I had been looking forward to dining at Magical flavors of NYC, but unfortunately, it didn't meet my expectations. The atmosphere was loud and chaotic, making it difficult to have a conversation. The food was average and nothing stood out as exceptional. The portion sizes were small and the prices were high for what you received. I wouldn't go out of my way to dine here again.