Sources

The Triumph of the Moon: A History of Modern Pagan Witchcraft

Citation Formats

General Reference

Divinity Atlas. "The Triumph of the Moon: A History of Modern Pagan Witchcraft." Accessed August 30, 2026. https://dev-divinity.interactiveatlas.org/sources/the-triumph-of-the-moon-a-history-of-modern-pagan-witchcraft.

APA Style

Divinity Atlas. (n.d.). The Triumph of the Moon: A History of Modern Pagan Witchcraft. Retrieved August 30, 2026, from https://dev-divinity.interactiveatlas.org/sources/the-triumph-of-the-moon-a-history-of-modern-pagan-witchcraft

BibTeX

@misc{divinityatlas-the-triumph-of-the-moon-a-history-of-mod,
  author = {Divinity Atlas},
  title = {The Triumph of the Moon: A History of Modern Pagan Witchcraft},
  year = {2026},
  url = {https://dev-divinity.interactiveatlas.org/sources/the-triumph-of-the-moon-a-history-of-modern-pagan-witchcraft},
  note = {Accessed August 30, 2026}
}

Ronald Hutton is a professor of history at the University of Bristol and not a participant in modern Paganism or the Goddess Movement, and this book was published by an independent university press. It has stood since 1999 as the standard critical history of modern Pagan witchcraft, tracing the movement's actual nineteenth and twentieth century origins against the romantic prehistories many practitioners had accepted as literal history, including the theory of a suppressed, peaceful, goddess worshipping prehistoric culture central to much early Goddess Movement writing. Hutton's own sympathies lean toward the Pagan movements he studies, stated here rather than treating him as a hostile outside critic, and his findings are broadly accepted within academic history of religion even where unwelcome to practitioners invested in an older, literalist self history. This record has not traced scholarly rebuttal to his specific claims. Use it for the documented history of modern Pagan witchcraft and the Goddess Movement's own historical claims; it is not a source for the movement's devotional content.

Facts

Assessment

Reliability Tier

Independent university press monograph by a historian with no membership in modern Paganism or the Goddess Movement.

Notes

The standard scholarly history of the origins and development of modern Pagan Witchcraft (Wicca) in twentieth-century Britain, tracing its sources in earlier folklore, ceremonial magic and Romantic movements. Use for established historical facts about the origins and development of modern Wicca and Paganism; a critical academic history, not a practitioner's guide to practice.

Citation

Author

Ronald Hutton

Publisher

Oxford University Press

Publication Year

1999

URL

https://global.oup.com/academic/product/the-triumph-of-the-moon-9780198870371

Source Type

academic monograph

Cross-Tradition Connections

Associated With

Modern Paganism

This source names Modern Paganism directly: "of Bristol and not a participant in modern Paganism or the Goddess Movement, and this book was published by an independent university press."

Source The Triumph of the Moon: A History of Modern Pagan WitchcraftRonald Hutton

Claims Backed By This Source (795 claims)

This source backs 795 claims across the atlas. As facts: 541 well-attested, 4 partially Attested, 10 scholarly debate, 3 popular myth - corrected. As cited relationships: 126 holds, 3 connected, 1 critiqued Here. Plus 107 entities citing it as a general reference with no single fact or relationship attached.

Disposition By Topic

Articles, 153 claims: 141 well-attested, 4 partially Attested, 1 holds, 2 connected, 5 general references.
Deities, 69 claims: 48 well-attested, 5 scholarly debate, 11 holds, 5 general references.
Holidays & Festivals, 61 claims: 37 well-attested, 14 holds, 10 general references.
Rituals, 59 claims: 31 well-attested, 24 holds, 4 general references.
Religious Events, 45 claims: 23 well-attested, 1 scholarly debate, 1 popular myth - corrected, 13 holds, 7 general references.
Historical Figures, 44 claims: 27 well-attested, 1 scholarly debate, 2 popular myth - corrected, 5 holds, 9 general references.
Denominations, 37 claims: 28 well-attested, 2 holds, 7 general references.
Doctrines, 37 claims: 21 well-attested, 1 scholarly debate, 10 holds, 5 general references.
Magical Weapons, 35 claims: 30 well-attested, 5 general references.
Practices, 31 claims: 28 well-attested, 3 general references.
Calendars, 22 claims: 13 well-attested, 8 holds, 1 general references.
Religious Symbols, 22 claims: 13 well-attested, 7 holds, 2 general references.
Beliefs & Restrictions, 21 claims: 16 well-attested, 1 scholarly debate, 4 general references.
Esoteric Texts, 20 claims: 14 well-attested, 3 holds, 3 general references.
Religions, 19 claims: 10 well-attested, 1 scholarly debate, 5 holds, 3 general references.
Sacred Objects & Ritual Items, 17 claims: 13 well-attested, 1 holds, 3 general references.
Myths & Sacred Narratives, 13 claims: 9 well-attested, 3 holds, 1 general references.
Disciplines, 11 claims: 10 holds, 1 general references.
Scriptures & Texts, 9 claims: 7 well-attested, 1 holds, 1 general references.
Sources, 9 claims: 8 well-attested, 1 holds.
Cities, 7 claims: 5 well-attested, 1 holds, 1 general references.
Colors, 7 claims: 3 well-attested, 4 general references.
Open Questions, 7 claims: 5 well-attested, 1 connected, 1 general references.
Sacred Sites, 7 claims: 3 holds, 4 general references.
Subcategories, 6 claims: 4 well-attested, 2 general references.
Elements, 5 claims: 5 general references.
Organizations, 5 claims: 3 well-attested, 1 holds, 1 general references.
Realms, 5 claims: 3 well-attested, 1 holds, 1 general references.
Tattvas, 5 claims: 5 general references.
Studies, 3 claims: 1 holds, 1 critiqued Here, 1 general references.
Literary Works, 2 claims: 1 well-attested, 1 general references.
Plants, 1 claims: 1 general references.
Religious Roles & Titles, 1 claims: 1 general references.