Magic in the Byzantine World

The Eastern Roman Empire was hardly as averse to using the Hypatic knowledge as were the successors to the Western Empire. Among those who practiced magic in the Byzantine Empire, it was fairly well-known that their beloved Saint George had had a hand in bringing forth magical knowledge from the depths of obscurity. However, rather than being considered the proper realm of theologians, magic existed outside of the pale of the church altogether. Churchmen, though willing to acknowledge the efficacy of magic, felt that it smacked of idolatry and sinful pride too much to be of use to them, and strongly advised against its widespread use, except to heal the sick and comfort the dying. Such warnings did little to prevent Byzantine nobles and merchants from capitalizing upon the power of magic in everyday life. In fact, Byzantine rulers licensed and taxed users of magic, regulating the industry just as they did such trades as mining, construction, transportation, and the use of arms and weapons. After a time, magic became so common that it upset the traditional class systems in the Byzantine Empire, leading to frequent revolts and tyrannical rule.
It was in the Eastern Empire that monsters first began to threaten human society in historically verifiable incidents. Dragons, elemental spirits, ethereal parasites, and undead creatures began to terrorize towns and villages, particularly along the coasts. Christian theologians noted that there seemed to be a correlation between the unchecked use of magic and the appearance of such monsters, as if they were attracted by the magic, or perhaps sent by God to punish sinners.