Material: Papyrus
Date: 5th-6th century
Dimensions: 10.8 cm
Findspot: Egypt (purchased in the Fayoum)
Current Location: Papyrus Collection University of Cologne, inv. 10208
Photo #1 – Introduction
This phylactery against fever was inscribed in two ancient languages: Egyptian-Coptic and Greek.
The inscription comprises various popular elements of ancient magic belief: vowels, magic signs, secret names of higher powers, a demand, and decreasing triangles. We are going to take a look at all of them in the following graphics.
The inscription starts with a description of the function of the artefact:
φυλακτηριον ετβε πεϩμανα
Phylaktêrion etbe pechmana
Amulet against the fever
Photo #2 – The Header
A description like this is typically found at the beginning of a ritual instruction but it is very unusual to find it inscribed on an artefact.
Photo #3 – Magic Signs and Greek Letters
The block following the description of the function consists of two lines of magic signs, below them 7x the Greek letter Chi framed by magic signs, a group of Greek vowels to the very right, and a group of four signs to the very left.
Photo #4 – The Demand
Following the block of magic signs and Greek vowels is the very brief demand:
Heal Biktor, […] Maria, from fever! Now! (2x) Quickly! (2x)
A common formula in ancient Greek magic at the end of a demand is “Now, now! Quickly, quickly!” with every word written twice to enhance its power. In Greek this reads: ηδε ηδε ταχυ ταχυ which is pronounced: êde êde, tachy tachy. In the inscription of the amulet each word was only written once due to the lack of space, but with an additional Greek letter Beta (β’ ) which indicates “2x”.
Photo #5 – Two Triangular Inscriptions
To the left and to the right of the bottom half of the papyrus amulet are two triangular inscriptions. These two triangle-formations are a good example of ancient analogy magic: Ritually transferring the decrease of the words to the fever which is supposed to decrease as well.
The inscription to the left reads: Ablanathanalba (αβλαναθαναλβα)
The inscription to the right reads: Akramachamari (Ακραμαχαμαρι)
In some ritual instructions in the Greek magical papyri Ablanathanalba and Akrammachamar(e)i are referred to, and invoked as, higher powers.
Photo #6 – Very Large Greek Letters
In between the two triangular inscriptions there are three more blocks written above one another. The block at the top shows several Greek letters which were written especially large and with thick endings similar to ring signs, but instead of rings the thick endings here are entirely black.
CCCCH […] HƆƆ
=> note that the three mirrored letters at the end of the line are the result of the folding of the amulet while the ink was still wet
CNIH ϯ CHH(?)
The reading is partially uncertain, the ink is rubbed off and the papyrus damaged in several instances . The meaning of the letters is unknown. Repetitions of the two Greek letters Sigma and Eta (C and H) are attested on other magical artefacts but without providing any more information concerning their role and reading.
Photo #7 – An Instruction
The middle section is unexpected and reveils a bit about the practitioner. The text reads:
Against fever, on clean papyrus write: aaaooooeieieiei.
Details concerning the materiality of an artefact are commnoly found within ritual instructions, but it is very unusual to find them inscribed on an amulet. One interpretation is that the scribe did not understand the language of the original instruction well enough and decided to rather write down everything than leaving out something potentially important for the ritual.
Photo #8 – A Repetition of the Demand
The final section of the inscription repeats the demand from above and reads:
Heal Viktor, [..] Maria! Now! (2x)Quickly, quickly!
Photo #9 – Close-Up
This close-up offers the chance to dive into this ancient magical artefact and to get a better idea about its materiality and the writing. I hope you enjoyed this detailed introduction of this fascinating ancient papyrus amulet.
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