24 carat catering

Magic circle quartzite is a type of natural stone that is prized for its unique appearance and exceptional durability. It is a metamorphic rock that is composed mainly of quartz, making it one of the hardest and most resilient stones available. Quartzite is formed when sandstone is subjected to intense heat and pressure, causing the individual quartz grains to recrystallize and fuse together. This process results in a stone that is harder than granite and has a distinctively sparkling appearance. Magic circle quartzite gets its name from the mesmerizing patterns and swirls that are formed during the recrystallization process. These patterns can resemble the shapes of magic circles, giving the stone a mystical and enchanting aesthetic.

By the end of the Middle Ages, a view of women as especially susceptible to witchcraft had emerged. The notion that a witch might travel by broomstick (especially when contrasted with the male who conjures a demon horse on which to ride) underscores the domestic sphere to which women belonged.

The notion that a witch might travel by broomstick especially when contrasted with the male who conjures a demon horse on which to ride underscores the domestic sphere to which women belonged. Flying through the skies on a broomstick, the popular image of a witch is as a predominantly female figure so much so that the costume has become the go-to Halloween outfit for women and girls alike.

These patterns can resemble the shapes of magic circles, giving the stone a mystical and enchanting aesthetic. The color palette of magic circle quartzite can vary widely, ranging from subtle whites and creams to bold grays and blacks. These colors are often accompanied by striking veining and banding patterns, further enhancing the stone's visual appeal.

A very brief history of witches by Suzannah Lipscomb

Between 1482 and 1782, thousands of people across Europe – most of them women – were accused of witchcraft and subsequently executed. But why were so many innocent people suspected of such a crime? Historian and broadcaster Suzannah Lipscomb explores the history of witches.

• Professor Suzannah Lipscomb

Witches are everywhere. In fairytales, fantasy and satire, they appear time and again as a versatile synonym for evil and transgression. But, in the late 16th and early 17th centuries, men and women of both high and low status believed in witches’ ubiquity in a far more disturbing way. Lord chief justice Anderson noted in 1602: “The land is full of witches… they abound in all places” – not as a symbol or figure of fun, but as a deadly threat to life, livelihood and divine order.

• 10 of Britain’s most infamous witch trials

Witches in numbers: how many people were killed?

The large-scale persecution, prosecution and execution of witches in these centuries was an extraordinary phenomenon. It is also an episode of European history that has spawned many myths and much inaccuracy. Dan Brown’s Da Vinci Code is one of the purveyors of such erroneous hype, stating: “The church burned at the stake an astounding 5 million women”, which would be astounding if true. The actual numbers are far lower, but still striking: between 1482 and 1782, around 100,000 people across Europe were accused of witchcraft, and some 40–50,000 were executed.

• Listen | Historian Ronald Hutton reveals how the witch has been a symbol of fear across the globe for more than 2,000 years

Neither were witches (with the exception of some targeted by the Spanish Inquisition) generally persecuted by the church. Although belief in witches was orthodox doctrine, following Exodus 22.18, the 16th and 17th-century witch trials were the result of witchcraft becoming a crime under law, and witches were prosecuted by the state. In England, witchcraft became a crime in 1542, a statute renewed in 1562 and 1604. As such, most witches across Europe received the usual penalty for murder – hanging (though in Scotland and under the Spanish Inquisition witches were burned).

• Conjuring up the dead: Helen Duncan and her ectoplasm spirits

Male witches

Nor were all witches women – men could be witches too. Across Europe, 70–80 per cent of people accused of witchcraft were female – though the proportions of female witches were higher in certain areas: the bishopric of Basel; the county of Namur (modern Belgium); Hungary; Poland; and Essex, England. But one in five witches were male across Europe, and in some places, males predominated – in Moscow, male witches outnumbered women 7:3; in Normandy 3:1.

• Were ducking stools ever used as punishment for crimes other than witchcraft during the Middle Ages?

Nevertheless, because women were believed to be morally and spiritually weaker than men, they were thought to be particularly vulnerable to diabolic persuasion. Most of those accused were also poor and elderly; many were widows, and menopausal and post-menopausal women are disproportionally represented among them.

More like this

In my two-part series, Witch Hunt: A Century of Murder (which aired in October 2015 on Channel 5), we seek to investigate witchcraft prosecution in the British Isles. Although witchcraft trials happened in every county in the country, the best evidence survives from three major witch crazes in the British Isles – in 1590s Edinburgh; 1612 Lancashire; and 1640s Essex and East Anglia, and we focus on those.

James VI and I

Above all, we have tried to consider the perspective of the victims – that is, those who were accused of witchcraft. We consider the circumstances in which alleged witches were accused, and the power of both neighbourhood accusation and elite sanction (James VI and I’s book on the subject of witchcraft, Daemonologie, published in 1597, is a case in point). We examine the way that torture – though illegal in England – was employed in late 16th-century Scotland and during the upheaval of the Civil War. We explore the role of the witchfinder, but also the willing collaboration of ordinary people in ridding the land of witches. And we look at what someone accused of witchcraft experienced as their fate.

It is a sad, sorry and often harrowing tale – but it is one that needs to be heard.

Suzannah Lipscomb is professor of history at the University of Roehampton and is the writer and presenter of 13 TV history documentary series . You can follow Lipscomb on Twitter @sixteenthCgirl or visit her website suzannahlipscomb.com.

This article was first published on HistoryExtra in 2015

Some wicked women, turning back to Satan and seduced by the illusions and phantasms of demons, believe [that] in the night hours they ride on certain animals with the pagan goddess Diana and a countless multitude of women, and they cross a great span of the world in the stillness of the dead of night.

In addition to its beautiful appearance, magic circle quartzite is highly resistant to heat, scratches, and stains. This makes it an ideal choice for use in kitchen countertops, bathroom vanities, and other surfaces that are exposed to daily wear and tear. To maintain the beauty of magic circle quartzite, regular cleaning and sealing are recommended. This will help protect the stone from potential damage and ensure its longevity. Overall, magic circle quartzite is a stunning and durable natural stone that can elevate the aesthetic of any space. Its unique patterns and exceptional durability make it a popular choice among homeowners and designers alike..

Reviews for "24 carat catering"

24 carat catering