Free Online Talk · Is Cogas: Witches in Ancient Sardinia with Design Archaeologist Marco Peralta
Monday, June 23, 2025
7pm ET (NYC time)
Free! RSVP with email at checkout
PLEASE NOTE: A link to a recording of this talk will be sent out to ticket holders after its conclusion. It will also be archived for our Patreon members. Become a Member HERE.
Ticketholders: A Zoom invite is sent out two hours before the event to the email used at checkout. Please check your spam folder and if not received, email hello@morbidanayomy.org . A temporary streaming link will be emailed after the event concludes.
Sardinia’s witches, known as is cogas in the island’s dialect, are enigmatic figures steeped in mystery and folklore, captivating imaginations for centuries. Join Sardinian storyteller Marco Peralta for a night devoted to their origins and enduring cultural legacy, exploring why these figures remain potent symbols of Sardinian heritage.
Preserved through generations of oral tradition, tales of the cogas offer profound insights into how Sardinian communities interpret the unexplainable, navigate shared fears, and define their cultural identity. Both feared and revered, the cogas embody a complex interplay of mysticism, morality, and societal norms, securing their place as some of Sardinia’s most intriguing folkloric figures.
Over the course of this illustrated talk, we will trace the historical and mythological roots of the cogas. Exploring ancient Sardinian spiritual practices, we’ll uncover how these witches evolved in the collective consciousness over centuries. We’ll also investigate their symbolic role in Sardinian society, reflecting hidden fears, unspoken desires, and shifting social boundaries.
We will also examine the supernatural powers attributed to the cogas—their ability to cast curses, influence dreams, and manipulate destinies—as well as their rituals, with a focus on the role of wax. This fascinating substance—known for its transformative properties—serves as a bridge between the physical and the metaphysical, embodying deeper cultural connections and spiritual meanings.
This journey into Sardinian witchcraft offers a captivating glimpse into the island’s intricate tapestry of culture, spirituality, and magical belief, inviting us to rediscover the enduring power of is cogas.
Marco Peralta is a London-based researcher and storyteller with a passion for untold stories and forgotten objects. At the heart of his practice, Design Archaeology, is lore. More than a historical celebration, for Marco lore is a vital tool for preserving culture and unlocking new pathways to innovation.
Born in Sardinia, Italy, just a stone’s throw from a sacred Neolithic site, Marco’s early environment fostered his curiosity about the relationship between place, culture, and materials. Over the past decade, Marco has worked with globally leading names in fashion and design, with a focus on how objects and their stories shape human experience.
In 2024, Marco launched his own practice, curating a collection of over 2,000 items, from 18th-century textiles to antique denim and rural garments. Like a modern cabinet of curiosities, Marco’s archive serves as both a resource and an invitation for rediscovery, for those eager to view the past through fresh lenses.
In 2025, Marco is set to open a space in London, where material, culture, and dialogue will converge. Here, the past, far from being static, sparks the imagination, shaping future ideas.
Monday, June 23, 2025
7pm ET (NYC time)
Free! RSVP with email at checkout
PLEASE NOTE: A link to a recording of this talk will be sent out to ticket holders after its conclusion. It will also be archived for our Patreon members. Become a Member HERE.
Ticketholders: A Zoom invite is sent out two hours before the event to the email used at checkout. Please check your spam folder and if not received, email hello@morbidanayomy.org . A temporary streaming link will be emailed after the event concludes.
Sardinia’s witches, known as is cogas in the island’s dialect, are enigmatic figures steeped in mystery and folklore, captivating imaginations for centuries. Join Sardinian storyteller Marco Peralta for a night devoted to their origins and enduring cultural legacy, exploring why these figures remain potent symbols of Sardinian heritage.
Preserved through generations of oral tradition, tales of the cogas offer profound insights into how Sardinian communities interpret the unexplainable, navigate shared fears, and define their cultural identity. Both feared and revered, the cogas embody a complex interplay of mysticism, morality, and societal norms, securing their place as some of Sardinia’s most intriguing folkloric figures.
Over the course of this illustrated talk, we will trace the historical and mythological roots of the cogas. Exploring ancient Sardinian spiritual practices, we’ll uncover how these witches evolved in the collective consciousness over centuries. We’ll also investigate their symbolic role in Sardinian society, reflecting hidden fears, unspoken desires, and shifting social boundaries.
We will also examine the supernatural powers attributed to the cogas—their ability to cast curses, influence dreams, and manipulate destinies—as well as their rituals, with a focus on the role of wax. This fascinating substance—known for its transformative properties—serves as a bridge between the physical and the metaphysical, embodying deeper cultural connections and spiritual meanings.
This journey into Sardinian witchcraft offers a captivating glimpse into the island’s intricate tapestry of culture, spirituality, and magical belief, inviting us to rediscover the enduring power of is cogas.
Marco Peralta is a London-based researcher and storyteller with a passion for untold stories and forgotten objects. At the heart of his practice, Design Archaeology, is lore. More than a historical celebration, for Marco lore is a vital tool for preserving culture and unlocking new pathways to innovation.
Born in Sardinia, Italy, just a stone’s throw from a sacred Neolithic site, Marco’s early environment fostered his curiosity about the relationship between place, culture, and materials. Over the past decade, Marco has worked with globally leading names in fashion and design, with a focus on how objects and their stories shape human experience.
In 2024, Marco launched his own practice, curating a collection of over 2,000 items, from 18th-century textiles to antique denim and rural garments. Like a modern cabinet of curiosities, Marco’s archive serves as both a resource and an invitation for rediscovery, for those eager to view the past through fresh lenses.
In 2025, Marco is set to open a space in London, where material, culture, and dialogue will converge. Here, the past, far from being static, sparks the imagination, shaping future ideas.
Monday, June 23, 2025
7pm ET (NYC time)
Free! RSVP with email at checkout
PLEASE NOTE: A link to a recording of this talk will be sent out to ticket holders after its conclusion. It will also be archived for our Patreon members. Become a Member HERE.
Ticketholders: A Zoom invite is sent out two hours before the event to the email used at checkout. Please check your spam folder and if not received, email hello@morbidanayomy.org . A temporary streaming link will be emailed after the event concludes.
Sardinia’s witches, known as is cogas in the island’s dialect, are enigmatic figures steeped in mystery and folklore, captivating imaginations for centuries. Join Sardinian storyteller Marco Peralta for a night devoted to their origins and enduring cultural legacy, exploring why these figures remain potent symbols of Sardinian heritage.
Preserved through generations of oral tradition, tales of the cogas offer profound insights into how Sardinian communities interpret the unexplainable, navigate shared fears, and define their cultural identity. Both feared and revered, the cogas embody a complex interplay of mysticism, morality, and societal norms, securing their place as some of Sardinia’s most intriguing folkloric figures.
Over the course of this illustrated talk, we will trace the historical and mythological roots of the cogas. Exploring ancient Sardinian spiritual practices, we’ll uncover how these witches evolved in the collective consciousness over centuries. We’ll also investigate their symbolic role in Sardinian society, reflecting hidden fears, unspoken desires, and shifting social boundaries.
We will also examine the supernatural powers attributed to the cogas—their ability to cast curses, influence dreams, and manipulate destinies—as well as their rituals, with a focus on the role of wax. This fascinating substance—known for its transformative properties—serves as a bridge between the physical and the metaphysical, embodying deeper cultural connections and spiritual meanings.
This journey into Sardinian witchcraft offers a captivating glimpse into the island’s intricate tapestry of culture, spirituality, and magical belief, inviting us to rediscover the enduring power of is cogas.
Marco Peralta is a London-based researcher and storyteller with a passion for untold stories and forgotten objects. At the heart of his practice, Design Archaeology, is lore. More than a historical celebration, for Marco lore is a vital tool for preserving culture and unlocking new pathways to innovation.
Born in Sardinia, Italy, just a stone’s throw from a sacred Neolithic site, Marco’s early environment fostered his curiosity about the relationship between place, culture, and materials. Over the past decade, Marco has worked with globally leading names in fashion and design, with a focus on how objects and their stories shape human experience.
In 2024, Marco launched his own practice, curating a collection of over 2,000 items, from 18th-century textiles to antique denim and rural garments. Like a modern cabinet of curiosities, Marco’s archive serves as both a resource and an invitation for rediscovery, for those eager to view the past through fresh lenses.
In 2025, Marco is set to open a space in London, where material, culture, and dialogue will converge. Here, the past, far from being static, sparks the imagination, shaping future ideas.