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KYPRIANOS T120

Manuscript: M361
Sigla:

British Library MS Or 5899 (1)
P. Lond. Copt. 1007

Text no. question mark icon Position of the text within the manuscript.2
Coptic Scriptorium:
Date: 901 – 1000

Text position:

Vo ll. x+1-12

Type of text:

Magical (formulary, grave and favour)

Original title:
Original title (translated):
Conventional title: Invocation to bring grace and favour

Language:

Egyptian (Coptic)

Dialect:

Sahidic (non-standard)

Script:

Coptic

Image:

Text: Translation:

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
1. ⳨̣̣[ ca. 50 ]
2. ⲇ̣ⲁ̣ⲑ̣ⲓ̣ⲏ̣ⲗ̣ ⲉ̣ⲃ̣ⲑ̣ⲓ̣[ⲏⲗ ca. 17 ]
3. ⲕⲁ̅ⲣ̅ⲇ̅ⲓ̅ⲏ̅ⲗ︥ · ⲗⲁ̅ⲃ̅ⲇ̅ⲓ̅ⲏ̅ⲗ · ⲙⲩⲣ̣̅ⲙ̅ⲫ̅ⲁⲏⲗ · ⲛ̣[ . ]ⲣ̣[ ca. 13 ]
4. ⲟⲭ̅ⲁ̅ⲏ̅ⲗ̅ · ⲡⲓ̅ⲑ̅ⲓ̅ⲏ̅ⲗ︥ · ⲣ︤ⲟ̅ⲩ̅ⲏ̣̅ⲗ̣̅ ⲥⲉ̅ⲣ̅ⲱ̅ⲁ̅ⲏ̅ⲗ̅ · ⲧⲁ̅ⲩ̅ⲣ̅ⲓ̅ⲏ̅ⲗ · ⲩ̣ⲙ̣[ⲛⲟⲩ]ⲏ̣ⲗ̣
5. ⲫⲁ̅ⲛ̅ⲟ̅ⲩ̅ⲗ̅ · ⲭⲣⲓ̅ⲥ̅ⲧ̅ⲩ̅ⲏ̅ⲗ · ⲯⲉⲣ̅ⲁ̅ⲑ̅ⲁ̅ⲏ̅ⲗ · ⲱⲗ̅ⲓ̅ⲑ̅ⲓ̅ⲏ̅ⲗ̅
6. ⲧⲓⲱⲣⲕ ⲉⲣⲱ̣ⲧⲛ ⲛ̣ⲛⲉ̣ⲧ̣ⲛⲏⲩ ⲉϩⲣⲁⲓ ⲙⲛ ⲛⲓⲛⲟϭ ⲉⲛⲥⲓⲟⲩ
7. ⲉⲧⲣ ⲟⲩⲟⲉⲓⲛ ⲉϩⲣⲁⲓ ⲉϫⲛ ⲡⲕⲁϩ ⲉⲧⲉ ⲛⲁⲓ ⲛⲉ ⲛⲉⲩⲣⲁ̣ⲛ
8. ⲁ︤ⲣ̅ⲁ̅ⲏ̅ⲗ̅ — : ⲁⲣⲁ̅ⲛ̅ⲁ̅ⲏ̅ⲗ̅ — : ⲁⲛ̣̅ⲁ̅ⲡ̅ⲟ̅ⲩ̅ⲏ̅ⲗ̅ · ⲟⲩ̅ⲣ̅ⲓ̅ⲏ̅ⲗ̅
9. ⲁⲛⲁⲧ̅ⲁ̅ⲗ̅ⲁ̅ⲏ̅ⲗ̅ : ⲉⲙ̅ⲁ̣︦[ⲏ]ⲗ̣ : ⲁⲣ̅ⲟ̅ⲩ̅ⲏ̅ⲗ : ⲙⲁ̅ⲏ̅ⲗ : ⲁⲥ̅ⲟ̅ⲩ̅ⲣ︦ⲓ̣︦ⲏ̣︦ⲗ̣
10. ϫⲉⲕⲁⲁⲥ ⲉⲕⲉϯ ⲛⲟⲩⲛⲟϭ ⲛⲭⲁⲣⲓⲥ ⲙⲛ ⲟⲩⲛⲟϭ ⲛϫⲓⲥⲉ ⲉϥⲧⲁ-
11. ϫⲣ̣ⲏ̣ⲩ : ⲙⲛ ⲟⲩⲡⲁⲣⲣⲏⲥⲓⲁ ⲛⲇ̣̅ⲇ̣̅ ⲛⲡⲉⲙ̣[ⲧⲟ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ⲛ]ⲇ̣̅ⲇ̣̅ [ . . . . ]
12. ⲛⲧ̣ⲉ̣ⲣ̣ⲉ̣ϥⲏⲣ . [ ca. 24 ]
13. ⲡⲧⲁ̣ . . [ ca. 28 ]
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

[1] ⳨̣̣ […] [2] Dathiēl, Ebthiel […] [3] Kardiēl, Labdiēl, Murmphaēl, N[…] [4] Okhaēl, Pithiēl, Rouēl, Serōaēl, Tauriēl Umnouēl (?) [5] Phanoul, Khristuēl, Pserathaēl, Ōlithiēl; [6] I adjure you (pl.) by those who rise with those great stars [7] that shine upon the earth – whose names are these: [8] Araēl, Aranaēl, Anapouēl, Ouriēl, [9] Anatalaēl, Emaēl, Arouēl, Maēl, Asouriēl – [10] that you (sg. m.) give great favour and great, firm exaltedness [11] and ability to speak openly to NN in the presence [of] NN … [12] so that he (?) … [13]

Tableau:
Tracing by:

Apparatus:

1-2. Crum omits
3. ⲙⲩⲣ̣̅ⲙ̅ⲫ̅ⲁⲏⲗ ⲫ corrected from ⲣ̣ by overwriting : ⲙⲩⲣⲱⲫⲁⲏⲗ Crum, Goehring
4. ⲩ . . . . ⲗ (Crum)
5. ⲭⲣⲓⲥⲧⲟ̣ⲩⲏⲗ (Crum)
6. ⲉⲛⲥⲓⲟⲩ : i.e. Sahidic ⲛ̅-ⲥⲓⲟⲩ
10. ⲭⲁⲣⲓⲥ i.e. Greek χάρις
11. ⲇ̣̅ⲇ̣̅ l. ⲇ(ⲉ)ⲓ(ⲛⲁ) ⲇ(ⲉⲓⲛⲁ) i.e. Greek δεῖνα δεῖνα | ⲡⲁⲣⲣⲏⲥⲓⲁ i.e. Greek παρρησία | ⲛⲡⲉⲙ̣[ⲧⲟ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ⲛ] : ⲛⲡⲉⲙ̣[ⲧⲟ ca. 10 ] Crum | ⲇ̣̅ⲇ̣̅ :l. ⲇ(ⲉ)ⲓ(ⲛⲁ) ⲇ(ⲉ)ⲓ(ⲛⲁ) i.e. Greek δεῖνα δεῖνα

Notes:

1 – 5: As Crum notes, the first letters of the names of the invoked beings follow the order of the Greek alphabet; this allows us to estimate an additional lost line. The initial sign visible at l. 2 is likely a staurogram, but since such scribal marks are almost always written on the first line, it is probable that we have a very tall staurogram which extends from l. 1 to l. 2. As noted by Łajtar & van der Vliet (pp. 184-190) the alphabetic names belong to a series well known from other magical and literary texts, which allows us to identify them as those of the 24 Presbyters of Revelation 4.4. Based on the close parallel in P. Berol. 11347 ro ll. 16-32 (KYP M220/KYP T425) and the burial vault from Dongola l. 43 (Łajtar & van der Vliet pp. 96-97; KYP M501/KYP T1616), we could suggest that the missing names would have been something like ⲁⲭⲁⲏⲗ, ⲃⲁⲛⲟⲩⲏⲗ, ⲅⲁⲛⲁⲏⲗ or ⲅⲁⲛⲟⲩⲏⲗ (l. 1), ⲍⲁⲣⲇⲓⲏⲗ or ⲍⲁⲣⲧⲓⲏⲗ, ⲏⲗⲓⲏⲗ or ⲉⲑⲁⲏⲗ, ⲑⲓⲇⲁⲏⲗ or ⲑⲁⲑⲓⲏⲗ, ⲓⲱⲭⲁⲏⲗ (l. 2), ⲛⲁⲣⲁⲏⲗ or ⲛⲉⲣⲁⲏⲗ, ⲝⲓⲫⲓⲏⲗ (l. 3), ⲩⲙⲛⲟⲩⲏⲗ (l. 4). The names of l. 1 would not fill the width, so the text likely began with an invocation, adjuration, or description of the names (such as “these are the names of the 24 Presbyters…”).
6. ⲛ̣ⲛⲉ̣ⲧ̣ⲛⲏⲩ ⲉϩⲣⲁⲓ ⲙⲛ ⲛⲓⲛⲟϭ ⲉⲛⲥⲓⲟⲩ cf. PCM I 11 p. 15 ll. 15-17: ⲛⲓⲥⲱⲛⲧ ⲉⲧⲛⲏⲩ ⲉϩⲣⲁⲓ̅ ⲙ̅ⲛ̅ ⲡⲛⲟϭ ⲛ̣ⲥ̣ⲓ̣̅ⲟⲩ (“O creatures rising up with the great star”). For the “great star”, perhaps cf. Revelation 8:10: “he trumpeted and a great star, burning like a lamp, fell” (ⲁϥⲥⲁⲗⲡⲓⲍⲉ ⲁⲩⲱ ⲁϥϩⲉ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ϩⲛ ⲧⲡⲉ ⲛϭⲓ ⲟⲩⲛⲟϭ ⲛⲥⲓⲟⲩ ⲉϥϫⲉⲣⲟ ⲛⲧϩⲉ ⲛⲟⲩⲗⲁⲙⲡⲁⲥ).
9. ⲉⲙⲁ̣[ⲏ]ⲗ : There are traces that suggest the third letter is an alpha. Compare the same name in British Library MS Or 6796 (1-3) recto l. 44 (KYP M118/T337): ⲉ̅ⲙ̅ⲁ̅ⲏⲗ̣.
11. ⲟⲩⲡⲁⲣⲣⲏⲥⲓⲁ : The basic meaning of this word seems to be the possibility for one to act directly or proactively, often in speech; Förster (p. 626-627) gives three basic meanings 1. “Freedom” (Freiheit), 2. “confidence” (Zuversicht), 3. “right of appeal” (Einspruchsmöglichkeit (?)). See also TLA lemma no. C10104 in the Coptic Dictionary Online (ⲡⲁⲣⲣⲏⲥⲓⲁ) and LSJ 1344a s.v. παρρησία and Preisigke 2:272. Beer distinguishes between different categories in the meaning of the word: 1. In Jewish texts it generally refers to “freedom from fear of God” (Freiheit von Angst gegen Gott), prophets “speaking openly against someone” (offen gegen jemanden sprechen); in Proverbs “ethical parrhesia in the sense of sincerity and openness” (Konzept der ethischen Parrhesia: Aufrichtigkeit und Offenheit gegenüber eines Freundes); in Job “confidence to face God openly” (die Zuversicht, Gott aufrichtig gegenüberzutreten); in Philo “freedom from fear, i.e. boldness” (Freiheit von Angst, i.e. Mut); in a Graeco-Roman context, including Josephus, “freedom of speech and action” (Rede- und Handlungsfreiheit); in the Gospels being “open and clear” (offen und klar), characteristic of Jesus; in Acts it refers to “courage” (Mut zur Verbreitung), but in the sense of freedom of speech; in the Pauline and Deuteropauline letters “confidence” (Zuversicht) cf. I Thessalonians 2.2; in the Acts of the Martyrs it refers to “confidence, steadfastness and presupposes a freedom from affects” (Zuversicht und Standhaftigkeit und dadurch frei sein von Affekten); in the Patristics “freedom” (Freedom).
11. ⲛⲛⲡⲉⲙ̣[ⲧⲟ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ⲛ]ⲇ̣̅ⲇ̣̅ : For the restoration, cf. P. Gieben Copt. 1 vo l. 10 (KYP M401/T328); ⲉϥϫⲓ ⲭⲁⲣⲓⲥ ⲛⲡⲉⲙⲧⲟ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ⲛⲇͅⲇͅ (“he finds favour in the presence of NN”); P. Iand. inv. 9 p. 7 ll. 4-6 (KYP M134/T654): ⲁ̅ⲛ̅ⲁ̣̅ⲏ̅ⲗ̅ ⲙⲁⲣⲉϥⲧⲓ ⲭⲁⲣⲓⲥ ⲉⲡⲁϩⲱ ⲙⲡⲉⲙⲧⲟ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ⲙⲡⲕⲉⲛⲟⲥ [ⲧⲏⲣ]ⲉ̣ϥ̣ ⲉⲛⲁⲇⲁⲙ (“Anaēl: may he give favour to my face in the presence of all the generation of Adam”).

Bibliography:

Beer, Beate. “Parrhesia” Reallexikon der Antike und Christentum 26 (2015): 1014-1033.

Crum, Walter E. Catalogue of the Coptic Manuscripts in the British Museum. London: British Museum, 1905, p. 417-418 (no. 1007).

Förster, Hans. Wörterbuch der griechischen Wörter in den koptischen dokumentarischen Texten. Berlin: Walter de Gruyter, 2002, 626-627.

Goehring, James E., in Marvin W. Meyer and Richard Smith. Ancient Christian Magic: Coptic Texts of Ritual Power. Princeton (New Jersey): Princeton University Press, 1999, p. 103-104 (no. 57).

Łajtar, Adam and Jacques van der Vliet. Empowering the Dead: The Texts from a Medieval Funerary Complex in Dongola. Warsaw: Raphael Taubenschlag Foundation, 2017.


Editor:

EL’s transcript from the original, incorporating Crum (19/12/2019); preliminary translation by KD (7/7/2020); KD + SG (20/1/2025)

How to cite:
Korshi Dosoo, Edward O.D. Love & Markéta Preininger (chief editors). "KYP T120: Invocation to bring grace and favour," Kyprianos Database of Ancient Ritual Texts and Objects, www.coptic-magic.phil.uni-wuerzburg.de/index.php/text/kyp-t-120. Accessed on 12/05/2025

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