Superstition and magic were intertwined with the lives of the Byzantines. They were beliefs and a way of life that were inherited in Byzantium from the past and continued to function seamlessly throughout the 4th to 7th centuries AD, deeply influencing the perceptions and functioning of society. The existence of magic in Byzantium served to eliminate political, religious, and professional opponents and neutralize individuals and groups who opposed the established order...
Magicians, diviners, and healers acted freely - reaping huge profits - not only in the Hippodrome, theaters, brothels, that is, in the lower classes, but they even became associated with kings and courtiers, thus influencing the political structure of the Byzantine Empire. [...]