The “Great Paris Papyrus” – Greek Magical Papyrus PGM IV

Material: Papyrus
Date: 4th century A.D.
Dimensions: H: 27 and 30.5 cm, W: 9.5 and 13 cm
Findspot: Egypt
Current Location: Bibliothèque Nationale de France, Paris, P. supplemément grec 574

The “Great Paris Papyrus” or ”Grand Papyrus Magique” (PGM IV), 4th century, Egypt, H: 27-30.5 cm, W: 9.5-13 cm, Bibliothèque Nationale de France, Paris, P. supplemément grec 574, Images source gallica.bnf.fr / BnF
The “Great Paris Papyrus” or ”Grand Papyrus Magique” (PGM IV), 4th century, Egypt, H: 27-30.5 cm, W: 9.5-13 cm, Bibliothèque Nationale de France, Paris, P. supplemément grec 574, Images source gallica.bnf.fr / BnF

PGM IV is the most comprehensive Greek Magical Papyrus known to us today. It is dated to the fourth century and was found in Egypt, the exact findspot is unknown. The book consists of 36 now lose papyrus sheets providing 72 pages for inscription. Of these 72 pages 66 were actually inscribed with over 3.200 lines.

In opposite to our modern books, the page width of PGM IV is quite narrow and varies between just 9.5 and 13 cm. The page hight measures between 27 and 30.5 cm and is close to the hight of our standard A4 paper size.

The manual contains over 50 individual sections with the majority of the content being ritual instructions. But the compiler included additional information, like a prayer that can be used in various rituals, astrological data, information about the picking of plants, and a salutation.
The ritual instructions cover most of the common topics for which people went to see a magician, or magicians were concerned with for themselves: Divination, love spells of attraction, gaining favour and friends, being successful in a business, restraining anger, and driving out demons. What is missing in PGM IV is medical magic.
This bokk contains the famous “Mithras Liturgy”, a uniquely attested ritual for divination which requires temporary immortality – and teaches how to gain it.

The papyrus book is kept in Paris at the Bibliothèque Nationale de France with the inventory number “P. supplemément grec 574”.

The “Great Paris Papyrus” or ”Grand Papyrus Magique” (PGM IV), 4th century, Egypt, H: 27-30.5 cm, W: 9.5-13 cm, Bibliothèque Nationale de France, Paris, P. supplemément grec 574, Images source gallica.bnf.fr / BnF
The “Great Paris Papyrus” or ”Grand Papyrus Magique” (PGM IV), 4th century, Egypt, H: 27-30.5 cm, W: 9.5-13 cm, Bibliothèque Nationale de France, Paris, P. supplemément grec 574, Images source gallica.bnf.fr / BnF

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