Ancient Christian Magic

by Meyer, Marvin W.

• ISBN13: 9780691004587
• ISBN10: 0691004587
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 1999-03-15
• Publisher: Princeton Univ Pr

Summary

This thought-provoking collection of magical texts from ancient Egypt shows the exotic rituals, esoteric healing practices, and incantatory and supernatural dimensions that flowered in early Christianity. These remarkable Christian magical texts include curses, spells of protection from "headless powers" and evil spirits, spells invoking thunderous powers, descriptions of fire baptism, and even recipes from a magical "cookbook." Virtually all the texts are by Coptic Christians, and they date from about the 1st-12th centuries of the common era, with the majority from late antiquity. By placing these rarely seen texts in historical context and discussing their significance, the authors explore the place of healing, prayer, miracles, and magic in the early Christian experience, and expand our understanding of Christianity and Gnosticism as a vital folk religion.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments	xiii
Introduction	1	(12)
MARVIN MEYER
RICHARD SMITH
PART 1: RITUAL POWER IN EGYPT	13	(66)
CHAPTER 1 Old Coptic Texts of Ritual Power	13	(14)
Introduction	13	(8)
EDMUND MELTZER
1. A woman's complaint about neglect (Old Coptic Schmidt Papyrus)	21	(1)
EDMUND MELTZER
2. Invocation of Egyptian and Jewish deities for revelation (Great Magical Papyrus of Paris, 1-25)	22	(1)
MARVIN MEYER
3. Isis love spell (Great Magical Papyrus of Paris, 94-153)	23	(4)
MARVIN MEYER
CHAPTER 2 Greek Texts of Ritual Power from Christian Egypt	27	(32)
Introduction	27	(4)
MARVIN MEYER
4. Spells and healing legends for medical problems (Oxyrhynchus 1384)	31	(1)
MARVIN MEYER, passim
5. Amulet to heal eye ailments (Berlin 21911)	32	(1)
6. Healing ostracon (Paris, ostracon from the Egger collection)	32	(1)
7. Healing spell using the Gospel of Matthew (Oxyrhynchus 1077)	33	(1)
8. Amulet for help from god and the saints (Berlin 11858)	33	(1)
9. Spell for healing and protection, using biblical quotations (Berlin 9096)	34	(1)
10. Spell invoking Christ for protection against illness and ill treatment (Cairo, Egyptian Museum 10263)	35	(2)
11. Amulet to heal and protect Joseph from fever (Cologne 851)	37	(1)
12. Amulet to heal and protect Megas (Amsterdam 173)	37	(1)
13. Healing amulet for a woman (Florence, Istituto Papirologico "G. Vitelli," 365)	38	(1)
14. Another healing amulet for a woman (Berlin 21230)	39	(1)
15. Amulet to protect Aria from fever (Oxyrhynchus 924)	39	(1)
16. Amulet to heal and protect Joannia from fever (Oxyrhynchus 1151)	40	(1)
17. Amulet to protect a woman from pain and distress (Vienna, Rainer 5 [13b])	41	(1)
18. Amulet to protect Silvanus and give him good health (Berlin 954)	42	(1)
19. Spell to drive out demons (Great Magical Papyrus of Paris, 1227-64)	43	(1)
20. Amulet to protect against the mischief of evil spirits (Vienna G 337, Rainer 1)	44	(1)
21. Protective spell using the Lord's Prayer and the Exorcism of Solomon (Ianda 14)	45	(1)
22. Spell for protection against evil spirits (Cairo, Egyptian Museum 67188)	46	(1)
23. Spell for protection against headless powers (Zereteli-Tiflis collection, 24)	47	(1)
24. Amulet for protection against a headless power (London, amulet from the Edward collection, University College)	48	(1)
25. Amulet to protect the entrance to a house from vermin (Oxyrhynchus 1060)	48	(1)
26. Amulet to protect a house and its occupants from evil (Oslo 1.5)	49	(1)
27. Spell seeking relief from the wrongs of Theodosios (from the Hermitage)	50	(1)
28. Spell for a person seeking vengeance (Vienna G 19929 [Rainer])	51	(1)
29. Mesa's curse against Philadelphe and her children (from the Institut francais d'archeologie orientale, Cairo)	51	(1)
30-35. Six oracular texts (Oxyrhynchus 925; Oxyrhynchus 1150; Oxyrhynchus 1926; Harris 54; Berlin 21269; Berlin 13232)	52	(3)
36. Invocation of divine power to bring success and good luck (Prague 1, Wessely collection)	55	(1)
37. Biblical names of power and their translations (Heidelberg G 1359)	56	(3)
CHAPTER 3 Ritual Power in Coptic Gnostic Texts	59	(20)
Introduction	59	(4)
RICHARD SMITH
38. A Gnostic fire baptism (Second Book of Jeu, chapter 46)	63	(3)
RICHARD SMITH, passim
39. Spell for ascending through the heavens (Second Book of Jeu, chapter 52)	66	(2)
40. The Gospel of the Egyptians (Nag Hammadi Codex III)	68	(2)
41. The First Stele of Seth (Nag Hammadi Codex VII)	70	(3)
42. Prayers, hymns, and invocations for transcendent initiation (Zostrianos, Nag Hammadi Codex VIII)	73	(6)
PART 2: COPTIC SPELLS OF RITUAL POWER	79	(180)
CHAPTER 4 Healing Spells	79	(26)
Introduction	79	(4)
DAVID FRANKFURTER
43. Book of ritual spells for medical problems (Michigan 136)	83	(7)
MARVIN MEYER
44. Spells for medical problems and the protection of a house (Vienna K 8303)	90	(1)
MARVIN MEYER
45. Spell for various diseases (Berlin 8324)	91	(1)
MARVIN MEYER
46. Spell to heal a foot (Vienna K 8638)	92	(1)
MARVIN MEYER
47. Spell using legends about Horus and Abimelech, to bring sleep (Berlin 5565)	92	(2)
MARVIN MEYER
48. Another spell using legends about Horus and Abimelech, to bring sleep (or sex?) (Schmidt 1)	94	(1)
NEAL KELSEY
49. Spells for relieving the pain of childbirth and stomach pain (Berlin 8313)	95	(2)
MARVIN MEYER
RICHARD SMITH
50. Amulet to heal and protect a woman (Vienna K 7093)	97	(1)
MARVIN MEYER
51. Amulet to heal and protect Poulpehepus from fever (Oxyrhynchus 39 5B.125/A)	98	(1)
MARVIN MEYER
52. Amulet to heal and protect Phoibammon from fever (amulet from the Moen collection)	99	(1)
NEAL KELSEY
53. Another amulet against fever (Heidelberg Kopt. 564)	100	(1)
NEAL KELSEY
MARVIN MEYER
54. Amulet to heal Ahmed from fever, evil eye, and other problems (Heidelberg Kopt. 544)	101	(1)
NEAL KELSEY
55. Amulet against snakebite (Yale 1792)	101	(1)
NEAL KELSEY
56. Spell for a cup of healing (Berlin 8319)	102	(1)
JAMES E. GOEHRING
57. Spell for healing with water, oil, and honey (London Oriental Manuscript 5899 [1])	103	(1)
JAMES E. GOEHRING
58. A monk's prayer for good health (Yale 2124)	104	(1)
STEPHEN EMMEL
CHAPTER 5 Protective Spells	105	(42)
Introduction	105	(5)
DAVID FRANKFURTER
59. Invocation of the sun for protection (Cologne 20826)	110	(2)
MARVIN MEYER
60. Invocation of god for protection (Freer collection, fragment 10)	112	(1)
MARVIN MEYER
61. Spell for protection against illness and evil (Vienna K 8302)	113	(2)
MARVIN MEYER
62. Amulet to protect Philoxenos from all evil (amulet from the collection of M. Robert Nahman)	115	(2)
MARVIN MEYER
63. Ritual spell to heal and protect (a woman and her children?) (Berlin 11347)	117	(3)
MARVIN MEYER
64. Exorcistic spell to drive evil forces from a pregnant woman (London Oriental Manuscript 5525)	120	(5)
RICHARD SMITH
65. Spell for healthy childbirth (Rylands 100)	125	(1)
RICHARD SMITH
66. Spell for protection during childbirth (caesarean section?) (Michigan 1190)	125	(2)
STEPHEN H. SKILES
67. Spell for the well-being of a child (Vienna K 70)	127	(1)
MARVIN MEYER
68. Spell for protection against reptiles (Rylands 104, section 4)	128	(1)
JAMES E. GOEHRING
69. Spell for protection against violent attack (London Oriental Manuscript 4721[5])	129	(1)
RICHARD SMITH
70. Spell, with Gnostic characteristics, to protect from filthy demons (London Oriental Manuscript 5987)	129	(4)
RICHARD SMITH
71. Rossi's "Gnostic" tractate against the powers of evil (from the Biblioteca Nazionale, Turin)	133	(14)
MARVIN MEYER
CHAPTER 6 Sexual Spells	147	(36)
Introduction	147	(5)
DAVID FRANKFURTER
72. Spell using a Horus legend for erotic purposes (Schmidt 2)	152	(1)
NEAL KELSEY
73. Erotic spell of Cyprian of Antioch (Heidelberg Kopt. 684)	153	(5)
HOWARD M. JACKSON
74. Erotic spell to attract a woman (Yale 1791 [second text])	158	(1)
STEPHEN EMMEL
75. Another erotic spell to attract a woman (Berlin 8314)	159	(1)
MARVIN MEYER
76. Another erotic spell to attract a woman (Berlin 8325)	160	(1)
MARVIN MEYER
77. Another erotic spell to attract a woman (Heidelberg Kopt. 518)	161	(3)
DAVID FRANKFURTER
78. Another erotic spell to attract a woman (London Hay 10376)	164	(2)
DAVID FRANKFURTER
79. Spells for sex and business (London Hay 10414)	166	(3)
DAVID FRANKFURTER
80. Spells for favor, honor, and passion (London Hay 10434)	169	(2)
DAVID FRANKFURTER
81. Spell for gathering (to a business?), for menstrual flow (London Hay 10122)	171	(4)
DAVID FRANKFURTER
82. Spell for mutual love between a man and a woman (Michigan 4932f)	175	(1)
STEPHEN H. SKILES
83. Spell to make a woman become pregnant (Pierpont Morgan Library M662B 22)	176	(1)
MARVIN MEYER
84. Spell for a man to obtain a male lover (Ashmolean Museum 1981.940)	177	(1)
DAVID FRANKFURTER
85-87. Three sexual curses to leave a man impotent and protect a woman from sexual advances (Chicago Oriental Institute 13767; Heidelberg Kopt. 682; Strasbourg Coptic Manuscript 135)	178	(5)
MARVIN MEYER
CHAPTER 7 Curses	183	(44)
Introduction	183	(4)
ROBERT K. RITNER
88. Curse against Victor Hatre, David, and Papnoute (London Oriental Manuscript 5986)	187	(1)
RICHARD SMITH
89. A widow's curse against Shenoute (Munich Coptic Papyrus 5)	188	(2)
MARVIN MEYER
90. Curse against several violent people (Papyrus Lichacev)	190	(2)
MARVIN MEYER
91. Jacob's curse against Maria, Tatore, and Andreas (Oxford, Bodleian Coptic Manuscript C. [P] 4)	192	(2)
RICHARD SMITH
92. Curse against perjurers (Berlin 10587)	194	(2)
RICHARD SMITH
93. Curse of a mother against her son's female companion (London Oriental Manuscript 6172)	196	(1)
RICHARD SMITH
94. Curse to make a man tongue-tied (Cambridge University Library T. S. 12,207)	197	(2)
MARVIN MEYER
95. Abdallah's curses to weaken Mouflehalpahapani (Berlin 8503)	199	(3)
MARVIN MEYER
96. Lead curse against the health of Kyriakos (lead tablet, Cologne T 10)	202	(1)
ROBERT K. RITNER
97. Bone curse to make Apollo burn (bone, Florence 5645)	203	(1)
ROBERT K. RITNER
98. Bone curse to bring the powers of darkness down upon Aaron (bones, Cairo A and B)	204	(2)
ROBERT K. RITNER
99. Spell for a bone and corpse (from the Liverpool Institute of Archaeology)	206	(1)
ROBERT K. RITNER
100. Mary's curse against Martha (from Aberdeen)	206	(1)
ROBERT K. RITNER
101. Jacob's curse to give someone an ulcerous tumor (from the Institut francais d'archeologie orientale, Cairo)	207	(2)
ROBERT K. RITNER
102. Victor's curse to silence Semne (Wurzburg 42)	209	(1)
ROBERT K. RITNER
103. Invocation of a power for blessing and cursing (Cologne 10235)	210	(1)
ROBERT K. RITNER
104. Apa Victor's curse against Alo (Michigan 3565)	211	(1)
STEPHEN H. SKILES
105. Curse against a woman's face and work (Heidelberg Kopt. 681)	212	(3)
DAVID FRANKFURTER
106. Curse to bring seventy different diseases upon a victim (Yale 1800)	215	(1)
STEPHEN EMMEL
107. Possible curse through the power of Shafriel (Yale 882[A])	216	(1)
STEPHEN EMMEL
108. Curse against Joor and his wife (Michigan 1523)	217	(1)
STEPHEN H. SKILES
109. Curse to separate a man and a woman, using necromancy and a blade-shaped parchment (Louvre E.14.250)	218	(4)
MARVIN MEYER
110. Curse to harm a person through the use of wax dolls (Heidelberg Kopt. 679)	222	(2)
MARVIN MEYER
111. Curse to disable the body of an enemy (Berlin 8321)	224	(1)
MARVIN MEYER
112. Spell for the return of a stolen object and a curse upon the thief (Vienna K 8304)	225	(2)
MARVIN MEYER
CHAPTER 8 Spells with Other Applications	227	(32)
Introduction	227	(1)
RICHARD SMITH
113. Spell invoking Bathuriel and other heavenly powers (Cairo, Egyptian Museum 49547)	228	(2)
DAVID FRANKFURTER
114. Invocation of Orphamiel (ostracon, Moen 34)	230	(1)
MARVIN MEYER
115. Spell of summons, by the power of god's tattoos (Rylands 103)	231	(1)
RICHARD SMITH
116. Spell for power to dominate adversaries (Berlin 8322)	232	(1)
MARVIN MEYER
117. Spell invoking Michael and the heavenly powers for business and other purposes (Moen 3)	233	(4)
MARVIN MEYER
118. Spell invoking a thundering power to perform every wish (from the H. O. Lange collection)	237	(2)
MARVIN MEYER
119. Spell invoking Aknator the Ethiopian to perform every wish (Coptic Museum 4959)	239	(4)
RICHARD SMITH
120. Spell invoking the divine to accomplish whatever is requested (Coptic Museum 4960)	243	(1)
MARVIN MEYER
121. Spell for a good singing voice (Berlin 8318)	244	(2)
RICHARD SMITH
122. Another spell for a good singing voice (Yale 1791 [first text])	246	(2)
STEPHEN EMMEL
123. Spell to bind or silence a dog (London Oriental Manuscript 1013A)	248	(2)
MARVIN MEYER
124. Amulet with words and names of power (Michigan 3023a)	250	(1)
PAUL ALLAN MIRECKI
125. Another amulet with names of power (Michigan 3472)	251	(1)
PAUL ALLAN MIRECKI
126. Collection of oracles (Vatican Coptic Papyrus 1)	251	(8)
MARVIN MEYER
PART 3: COPTIC HANDBOOKS OF RITUAL POWER	259	(84)
CHAPTER 9 Collections of Recipes	259	(16)
Introduction	259	(4)
DAVID FRANKFURTER
127. The London Hay "cookbook" (London Hay 10391)	263	(7)
DAVID FRANKFURTER
MARVIN MEYER
128. A "cookbook" from Cairo (Cairo 45060)	270	(5)
MARVIN MEYER
CHAPTER 10 A Portfolio of Spells from the British Library	275	(18)
Introduction	275	(4)
RICHARD SMITH
129-32. London Oriental Manuscript 6794; 6795; 6796 (2), (3), (1); 6796 (4), 6796	279	(14)
MARVIN MEYER
RICHARD SMITH
CHAPTER 11 The Coptic Hoard of Spells from the University of Michigan	293	(18)
Introduction	293	(11)
PAUL ALLAN MIRECKI
133. Michigan 593	304	(7)
PAUL ALLAN MIRECKI
CHAPTER 12 The Coptic Book of Ritual Power from Leiden	311	(12)
Introduction	311	(3)
RICHARD SMITH
134. Leiden, Anastasi No. 9	314	(9)
RICHARD SMITH
CHAPTER 13 A Coptic Book of Ritual Power from Heidelberg	323	(20)
Introduction	323	(3)
MARVIN MEYER
135. Heidelberg Kopt. 686	326	(17)
MARVIN MEYER
AFTERWORD	343	(2)
APPENDIX: Previously Unpublished Coptic Texts of Ritual Power in the Beinecke Library, Yale University	345	(14)
STEPHEN EMMEL
TEXTUAL NOTES	359	(30)
GLOSSARY	389	(6)
ILLUSTRATION CREDITS	395	(2)
BIBLIOGRAPHY	397