Greek Magical Amulets: The Inscribed Gold, Silver, Copper, and Bronze Lamellae Part I Published Texts of Known Provenance

467 Pages·1994·12.92 MB·German

by  Roy Kotansky (auth.)

Papyrologica Coloniensia 22/1
Roy Kotansky
Greeiz Magical
Amulets
The Inscribed Gold, Silver, Copper,
and Bronze Lamellae Part I
Published Texts of Known
Provenance
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Vol. XXll/1
PAPYROLOGICA COLONIENSIA ·Vol. XXII/1
GREEI< MAGICAL AMULETS
The Inscribed Gold, Silver, Copper,
and Bronze Lamellae
Part I
Published Texts of
I<nown Provenance
Text and Commentary
by
Roy Kotansky
Springer Fachmedien Wiesbaden GmbH
In Zusammenarbeit mit cler Arbeitsstelle fiir Papyrusforschung
im Institut fiir Altertumskuncle cler Universităt zu Koln
Leiter: Professor Dr. Reinholcl Merkelbach
Das Manuskript wurcle von cler
Klasse fur Geisteswissenschaften
am 24. November 1993
in clie Sonclerreihe cler Abhancllur;tgen aufgenommen.
Dic Dcutsche Bibliothek - CIP-Einheitsaufnahmc
Kotansky, Roy:
Grcek magica! amulcts : the inscribed gold, silver, copper, and
bron?.e lamellae / text and commentary by Roy Kotansky. [In
Zusammenarbeit mit der Arbeitsstelle fiir
Papyrusforschung im
Institut fUr Altertumskunde dcr Universitar 7:u KblnJ. - Opladen
: \X'cstdt. Veri.,
(Abhandlungen cler Rheinisch-Westfalischen Akademie cler
\X"isscnschaftcn : Sonderreihe Papyrologica Coloniensia ; Voi. 22)
NF.: Rheinisch-W'cstf<ilische Akademie dcr \X'issenschaften
< Diisseldorf>: Abhandlungen cler Rheinisch-Westf;ilischen Akadcmie
cler Wissenschaften / Sonderreihc Papyrologica Coloniensa
Pt. 1. Published tcxts of known provenance. - 1994
Der Westcleutsche Verlag ist ein Unternehmen cler Verlagsgruppe
Bertelsmann International.
© 1994 by Springer Fachmedien Wiesbaden
Originally published by Westdeutscher Verlag GmbH Opladen in 1994.
Herstellung: Westcleutscher V erlag
ISBN 978-3-663-19965-6 ISBN 978-3-663-20312-4 (eBook)
DOI 10.1007/978-3-663-20312-4
ISSN 0944-8837
For my wife, Jeanne
PREFACE
This book has its origin in a 1988 University of Chicago doctoral
dissertation supervised under Professor H. D. Betz of the Department of
New Testament and Early Christian Literature. But aside from the general
arrangement of the texts and bib! iography, any resemblance between the
thesis and the present corpus now proves almost impossible to descry.
Entirely new readings have been incorporated, dates assigned, and the
Commentary thoroughly revamped. Also, this volume contains only those
previously published texts whose specific provenances are known;
published materials of unknown provenance, as well as unpublished pieces
- whose number continues to grow - are reserved for a subsequent
volume. Hebrew and Aramaic texts are also omitted. I It was further felt
expedient to postpone any introductory study of the origin and background
of the magical lamellae until the full publication of the texts themselves.
For such introductory matters as those treated in the first volume of my
Chicago dissertation, the reader is kindly directed to the survey found in
the fourth chapter of Magika Hiera (edd. C. A. Faraone & D. Obbink).2
In repaying thanks for much help received in the course of the study
of the magical lamellae, I run the risk of omitting the names of colleagues
and friends who have provided assistance in one way or another over the
course of the years. So I limit myself here to acknowledging those who
have been of particular support during my stay here in Germany: Thomas
Corsten, Klaus Maresch, Cornelia Romer, R. W. Daniel, D. Hagedorn,
H. J. Thissen, W. Brashear, and David Jordan (Athens). More specifi
cally, David Jordan provided much help by way of bringing new texts to
I For these see, J. N aveh & S. Shaked, Amulets and Magic Bowls (Jerusalem &
Leiden, 1985); and now, idem, Magic Spells and Formulae (Jerusalem, 1993)-the lat
ter title having just appeared as this book was going to press (and hence it could not be
used in the Commentary).
2Roy Kotansky, "Incantations and Prayers for Salvation on Inscribed Greek
Amulets," in: C. A. Faraone & D. Obbink, Magika Hiera. Ancient Greek Magic and
Religion (New York & Oxford, 1991 ), pp. I 07-137.
Vlll Preface
my attention and supplying some photographs; Bill Brashear in Berlin read
through the manuscript in its entirety and caught many oversights that
would surely have escaped my notice; H. J. Thissen cheerfully provided
possible readings on a number of Egyptian names; D. Hagedorn and R.
Daniel were consulted for palaeographical matters; and Cornelia Romer,
Klaus Maresch, and Thomas Corsten gave much advice on sundry matters
- besides making my stay here in Cologne a more pleasant one. None of
the above-named persons can be held accountable for anything expressed
or not expressed in this volume; I am fully culpable for any shortcomings
it may still contain but equally claim responsibility for whatever in it
might be found deserving.
I should like to extend my gratitude, in particular, to my host and
supervisor at the Universitat zu Koln, Professor R. Merkelbach. He is the
one who first kindly undertook the project of seeing the book to publica
tion and has patiently guided me through to its completion. The many
recommendations and insights of his that I have taken over have surely
upgraded the final outcome of the book. So, too, has he perhaps rightly
criticized some of my interpretations as being a bit too venturesome. If in
some cases I have stubbornly held to my own point of view, it should in
no way detract from the full stature of the improvement that his ideas have
come to bear upon the end product.
This study would not have been made possible without the generous
backing of the Alexander von Humboldt Stiftung which funded my
research here in Cologne from 1990-1991 and again from 1992-1993. The
Foundation also contributed generously towards the cost of the book's
production.
Finally, I should like to convey my most sincere expression of
tender love and kinship with my wife, Jeanne, who though miles away
during the course of this difficult year, constantly offered the most uplift
ing inspiration towards the completion of this project. To her I lovingly
dedicate this volume in special gratitude for her immeasurable support,
gladdening encouragement, and constant love during my stay in Germany.
Cologne, October, 1993 R. Kotansky
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Preface. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . vii
Explanation of Sigla ............................................................. xiii
Introduction ........................................................................ xv
Table of Texts .................................................................... xxi
List of Illustrations .............................................................. xxv
List of Plates.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . xxvii
Text and Commentary ............................................................. 1
1 'Lord of the God' .................................................................................. 1
2 Jewish Liturgical Fragments in Greek .......................................................... 3
Excursus: 'Being' and 'Excellent Living' in the Context of Death ............... 10
3 Fragment from a Romano-Celtic Temple ..................................................... 13
4 Amulet with Magic Aoyoc; ...................................................................... 16
5 Magic Names (Fragment) ....................................................................... 22
6 Magic Signs ....................................................................................... 24
7 An Amulet for a Group of Litigants ........................................................... 25
8 Gallo-Romano Amulet for Justina ............................................................. 31
9 A Magic Square of Vowels ..................................................................... 41
10 'Semesilam' ....................................................................................... 44
11 Twin Amulets against Hailstorm .............................................................. .46
Appendix: Inscription from Sidi Kaddou .............................................. 52
12 Magic Names (Fragment) ............................. , ......................................... 54
13 Antaura, the Migraine Demoness .............................................................. 58
14 'Sabaoth' .......................................................................................... 72
15 'Ablatanalba' ..................................................................................... 73
16 'lao' and Magic Names (Fragment) ........................................................... 76
17 Magic Names (Latin) ............................................................................ 77
18 The 'Romulus' Amulet (for Elephantiasis) ................................................... 81
19 Amuletic Text (Unread) ......................................................................... 89
20 Fragment of an Amulet. ......................................................................... 91
21 Amulet with Capsule ............................................................................ 93
22 Magic Signs and Letters ......................................................................... 94
X Table of Contents
23 A Magical Underworld 'Totenpaj3' ............................................................ 95
24 A Demon Sent to Julia Cyrilla ................................................................. 97
25 Amulet to Expel an Evil Spirit ............................................................... 101
26 The Four Archangels .......................................................................... 104
27 A Late 'Orphic' Underworld Amulet ....................................................... 107
28 A Victory Charm ............................................................................... 113
29 A Magical 'Time God' ........................................................................ 118
30 A Magic A6"(or; (for Gout?) .................................................................. 121
31 An Amulet for Affliction of the Eyes ....................................................... 124
32 The Phylactery of Moses ...................................................................... 126
Appendix 1 : Kauro ..................................................................... 148
Appendix 2: The New Fragment of Aquila ......................................... 149
33 Jewish Amulet with Angel-Names ........................................................... 155
34 Magic Signs and Names ....................................................................... 167
35 Liturgical Exorcism ............................................................................ 169
Excursus: Liturgical Exorcism, Solomon, and Magic Lamellae ................. 174
36 'King of Kings' on an Amulet from Pontus ................................................ 181
Excursus: 'King of Kings,' Mithridates, and Pontus .............................. I 96
Appendix: The cf>ap~J-aKov of Mithridates ........................................... 200
37 Triangular Formation of 153 Vowels ....................................................... 202
38 Protection for Phaeinos from Demons ...................................................... 206
39 "Save Euphiletos!" ............................................................................. 211
40 Aphrodite's Name for Favor and Success .................................................. 216
41 House Amulet of John and Georgia ......................................................... 220
42 Egyptian Magic Names ........................................................................ 232
43 Fragment (Magic Names) ..................................................................... 234
44 Votive Fragment ............................................................................... 235
45 Christian Amulet for Health and Favor ..................................................... 236
46 Protection against Sorcery and Demons .................................................... 239
47 An Adjuration of Pantokrator ................................................................ 245
48 An Amulet from Emesa ....................................................................... 248
49 Magic Names or Cipher ....................................................................... 257
50 Magic Text ...................................................................................... 262
51 A Jewish 'Exorcism' of the Womb .......................................................... 265
52 The Great Angelic Hierarchy ................................................................. 270