"Chilling adventures of Sabrina" in classical reception. A thread

“Chilling Adventures of Sabrina” is a remake of "Sabrina, the Teenage Witch" from 1996. As in the original series, references to antiquity are numerous. #Sabrina

In the original series, we sometimes crossed, among others, Ciceron. https://twitter.com/e_pe_me_ri/status/1028089046407491584

First, we can think of the many formulas in Latin used by #Sabrina (witches of the 21st century still use Latin). But this Latin rather echoes christian and medieval latin texts . See a list: https://www.reddit.com/r/latin/comments/9sdndn/latin_spells_used_in_the_chilling_adventures_of/

In the same vein, a rather biblic latin reference goes to the "malum malus" (evil apple (scientific name for an apple tree is malus), an apple whose consumption allows to acquire a lot of knowledge.

During the exorcism of Uncle Jesse's, #Sabrina and other witches reference multiple classical women, like Hecate, a Greek goddess of magic and witchcraft, Artemis, the Greek goddess of hunting, Circe the magician of the Odyssey , Juventas and Juno, roman godesses...

Speaking of Hecate... The three sisters are reminiscent of her and her three heads ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hecate )

The Demon they attack is called "Apophis", the ancient snake of chaos in Egypt... An evil character often present in horror productions.

In one episode, a witch is hungry for pizza, or rather for a pizza delivery boy. She therefore places an order with Persephone's Pizza. Who knew that the Queen of Hell had reconverted? #PersephoneSPizza

Another obvious reference to Antiquity: the name of the boutique-bar in which the characters often meet, "Cerberus books" (Cerberus is the three-headed dog that keeps the Greek underworld).

There are many references to grek hells. We thus find the idea of psychopomps, these characters responsible for accompanying the dead in hell. The puzzle that Sabrina must solve, Acheron, is named after one of the infernal rivers of the Hades.

On a different level, Antiquity can be present in the decor. There are classical temples in the dining room of the Spellmann for example. But, more interesting, there is an ancient statue in the court that judges Sabrina. It's the discobolus : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Discobolus 

@BuffyAntiqua and @opietasanimi have already discussed it there : https://twitter.com/BuffyAntiqua/status/1057786079212986368

There woudl be many other instances, like when the BFF of Sabrina dressed up as an egyptian queen (Cleopatra?). Given the internal discourse on sexism and racism, it refers, in my opinion, to the controversy over the skin color of Cleopatra and its reputation as a whore.

References to Antiquity allow greendale witches to anchor in a long time. Their power resting on their ancestors (going back to the greek Circe). It also plays on the idea of an esoteric world both distant and reachable, neighbour, relying on the fantasy imaginary of Antiquity.

But #ClassicalReception also allows a discourse on feminism, the "antiquity" of women's struggle and solidarity. Finally, Antiquity is the basis and the breeding ground of the medieval and modern imagination of the witch, summoned by the series

End of the thread! I hope it interested you. Do not hesitate to comment and propose your interpretations! #Sabrina