In the Company of Demons written by Armando Maggi, is a combination of the stories and creation of demonology from the Italian Renaissance. The study of demonology that Maggi pertains to is between the 13th and 14th century; Maggi discusses how the angelic bodies becoming fallen angels, the creation of Satan, the devil, and the identity of other demons in the Italian renaissance world. In addition, Maggi refers to many influential and historical texts from other authors including close readings of Giovan Francesco Pico della Mirandola, Strozzi Cigogna, Pompeo della Barba, and Ludovico Sinistrari. Maggie uses these readings to become aware of the fact that spirits and demons appearances are interpreted differently in literature. However, Maggi claims In the Company of Demons does not try to analyze as well as compare ancient knowledge and contemporary Christian culture. Maggi states in her introduction “In the Company of Demons is not about the renaissance process with Christian allegorization of the ancient myths.” (In the Company of Demons, page 7, …show more content…
Each chapter is individualized to one question and multiple ideas for the main inquiry. Chapter one gives a biography about Giovan Francesco Pico della Mirandola and discusses his book written in 1523 Strix sive de Ludificatione daemonum to address witches and the deception of demons. Even if you have no familiarity with Giovan Francesco Pico’s life or stories, Maggi inserts a summarized biography of Pico for readers to be informed about. Maggi analyzes Pico’s work as well as his beliefs which include his idea of the strix and creation of satan. Although Pico was known for his humanist uncle, Pico rejected humanism. Maggi’s goal in chapter one was to identify the witches and demons familiarity from past