Its focus is going to be mainly on the concept of the witch as defined in the treatises, and on the relationship between the image thus created by theologians, and the evidence emerging from the actual witchcraft trials. Scholars will adopt multiple approaches to interpret the witch-hunt, a phenomenon which is now unanimously considered to have a multi-causal nature. Themes discussed will include the Roman Inquisition and witchcraft, demonology and early modern science, the “witches' advocates”, secular courts and witchcraft, demonic possession and exorcism and their uses. A round table among major scholars will conclude the conference. The conference will be held at Syracuse University in Florence, Piazza Savonarola 15 - Firenze, Italy, on October 20th, from 9:00am to 7:00pm; and at the Dipartimento di Storia of the Università di Firenze, Via San Gallo, 10 - Firenze, on October 21st, from 9:00am to 6:00pm.

The conference will be bilingual (Italian/English) with simultaneous translation offered.