The Greek Magical Papyrus Scroll „PGM II“

Material: Papyrus
Date: 2nd-3rd century A.D.
Dimensions: PGM II: 35 x 94 cm; PGM VI: 34 x 22 cm
Findspot: Egypt
Current Location: PGM II: Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, Ägyptisches Museum und Papyrussammlung, P. 5026; PG; VI: British Library, London, Papyrus 47

Greek Magical Papyrus PGM II, 2nd-3rd century, Egypt, Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, Ägyptisches Museum und Papyrussammlung, inv. no. P. 5026, CC BY-NC-SA 4.0
Greek Magical Papyrus PGM II, 2nd-3rd century, Egypt, Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, Ägyptisches Museum und Papyrussammlung, inv. no. P. 5026, CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

This ritual manual contains two rituals for revelation and a famous drawing of the Headless Deity. The scroll was not entirely inscribed: To the very right space of the size of a column was left blank.

In 2016, Eleni Chronopoulou presented her discovery that the two Greek magical papyri “PGM II” and “PGM VI” are actually two parts of the same scroll. Her research led to a new dating of the papyri between the late second and early third century.

PGM II (seen here) measures ca. 35 x 94 cm, is well preserved and kept at the Ägyptisches Museum und Papyrussammlung under the inventory number P. 5026.

PGM VI measures ca. 34 x 22 cm, consists of four fragments and is kept at the British Library, London as Papyrus 47. The British Library does not provide a photo of the papyrus on their website.

The scroll was found in Egypt but the exact findspot is unknown.

Greek Magical Papyrus PGM II, 2nd-3rd century, Egypt, Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, Ägyptisches Museum und Papyrussammlung, inv. no. P. 5026, CC BY-NC-SA 4.0
Greek Magical Papyrus PGM II, 2nd-3rd century, Egypt, Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, Ägyptisches Museum und Papyrussammlung, inv. no. P. 5026, CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

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