KYP T-134

KYPRIANOS DATABASE OF ANCIENT RITUAL TEXTS

KYPRIANOS T134

Manuscript:	M7
Sigla:	Chicago OIM E13767 Chicago OIM E 13767
Text no. Position of the text within the manuscript.	1
Coptic Scriptorium:
Date:	901 – 1100

Text position:	Ro ll. 1-12, Vo ll. 1-2
Type of text:	Curse against virility (anti-love spell, applied, magical)

Original title:
Original title (translated):
Conventional title:	Applied curse against a man's sexual virility

Language:	Egyptian (Coptic)
Dialect:	Sahidic (non-standard)
Script:	Coptic
Image:	https://oi-idb.uchicago.edu/id/00e5fadc-de79-47a5-98a1-ce4d39392b00

Text:

Translation:

Recto

1. ⲡ̣ⲙⲟⲩⲣ ⲉⲧⲡⲉ ⲡⲙⲟⲩⲣ ⲉⲡⲕⲁϩ ⲡⲙⲟⲩⲣ ⲉⲡⲁⲏⲣ ⲡⲙⲟⲩⲣ ⲉⲡⲉⲥⲧⲣⲉⲱⲙⲁ ⲡⲙⲟⲩ⧸ⲣ⧹
2. ⲉⲧϭⲉϥⲙⲟⲩⲧⲉ ⲡⲙⲟⲩⲣ ⲉⲡⲣⲏ ⲡⲙⲟⲩⲣ ⲉⲡⲟⲟϩ ⲡⲙⲟⲩⲣ ⲉⲛϩⲁⲗⲁⲧⲉ ⲡⲙⲟⲩⲣ ⲉ-
3. ⲡⲉⲝⲟⲩⲣ ⲉⲉⲡⲓⲱⲧ ⲡⲙⲟⲩⲣ ⲉⲛⲧⲁⲩⲣⲟⲣ ⲓ̅ⲥ̅ ⲡⲉⲭ̅ⲥ̅ ⲛϩⲏⲧϥ ϩⲓϫⲛ ⲡϣⲉ ⲙⲡⲉⲥ⳨ⲥ
4. ⲛϩⲏⲧⲃ ⲡⲙⲟⲩⲣ ⲉⲡⲥⲁϣϥ ⲛϣⲁϫⲉ ⲛⲧⲁϩⲓⲗⲓⲥⲉⲟⲟⲥ ϫⲟⲟⲥ ⲉϫⲛ ⲧⲁⲡⲉ ⲛⲉⲧ-
5. ⲧⲟⲩⲁⲁⲃ ⲉⲧⲉ ⲛⲁⲓ ⲛⲉ ⲛⲉⲩⲣⲁⲛ ⲯ̅ⲩ̅ⲭ̅ⲟ̅ⲩ̅ ⲭ̅ⲁ̅ⲥ̅ⲛ̅ⲁⲓ ⲭ̅ⲁ̅ⲥ̅ⲛ̅ⲁⲓ ⲑ̅ⲟ̅ⲩ̅ⲙ̣̅ⲓ̅ ⲁ̅ⲛ̅ⲁ̅ϣ̅ⲛ̅ⲥ̅ ϣ̅ⲟ̅ⲩ̅ⲣ̅ⲁ̅ⲛⲓ
6. ϣ̅ⲟ̅ⲩ̅ⲣ̅ⲁ̅ⲛ̅ⲁ̅ⲓ̅ ⲙⲁⲣⲉⲡⲙⲟⲩⲣ ⲉⲧⲛⲙⲁⲁⲩ ϣⲱⲡⲉ ϩⲓϫⲟ ⲡⲥⲟⲙⲁ ⲛϩⲟⲟⲩⲧ ⲛⲫⲁⲣⲁⲟⲩⲱ
7. ⲙⲉⲛ ⲧⲉϥⲥⲁⲣⲝ ⲛⲧⲉⲧⲛϣⲟⲟⲩⲉ ⲙⲟⲥ ⲛⲑⲉ ⲛⲟⲩϣⲉ ⲁⲩⲱ ⲛⲧⲉⲧⲉⲛⲁⲁⲥ ⲛⲑⲉ ⲛⲟⲩⲧⲟⲉⲓⲥ ϩⲓ-
8. ϫⲛ ⲧⲕⲟⲩⲡⲣⲓⲁ ⲛⲛⲉⲡⲉϥⲥⲉⲧ ⲇⲱⲥ ⲛⲛⲉϥⲧⲱⲟⲩⲛ ⲛⲛⲉϥϯⲥⲡⲉⲣⲙⲁ ⲛⲛⲉϥⲕⲉⲛⲟⲛⲓ⧸ⲁ⧹
9. ⲙⲉⲛ ⲧⲟⲩⲁⲓⲉⲛ ⲧϣⲏ ⲛⲕⲁⲙⲁⲣ ⲙⲉⲛ ⲗⲁⲁⲩ ⲛⲥϩⲓⲙⲉ ⲟⲩⲧⲉ ϩⲟⲟⲩⲧ ⲟⲩⲧⲉ ⲧⲉϥⲛⲏ ϣⲁⲛⲧⲁ-
10. ⲱϣ ⲁⲛⲱⲕ ⲁⲗⲗⲁ ⲙⲁⲣⲉϥϣⲟⲟⲩⲉ ⲛⲡⲥⲱⲙⲁ ⲛϩⲟⲟⲩⲧ ⲛⲫⲁⲣⲁⲟⲩⲱ ⲡϣⲏ ⲛⲕⲓⲣⲁⲛⲡⲁⲗⲉⲥ ⲛⲛⲉ⧸ϥ-⧹
11. ⲕⲟⲛⲱⲛⲓⲁ ⲙⲉⲛ ⲧⲟⲩⲁⲉⲓⲛ ⲧϣⲏ ⲛⲕⲁⲙⲁⲣ ⲛⲑⲉ ⲛⲟⲩⲣⲉϥⲙⲟⲟⲩⲧ ⲉϥⲕⲏ ϩⲛ ⲟⲩ-
12. ⲧⲁ̣ⲃⲱⲥ ⲉⲛⲛⲉⲫⲁⲣⲁⲟⲩⲱ ⲡϣⲏ ⲛⲕⲓⲣⲁⲛⲡⲟⲗⲉⲥ ⲛⲏϣ ⲕⲏⲛⲟ-

Verso

1. ⲛⲓⲓⲁ ⲙⲉⲛ ⲧⲟⲩⲁⲉⲛ ⲧϣⲏ ⲛⲕⲁⲙⲁⲣ
2. ⲁⲓⲱ ⲁⲓⲱ ⲧⲁⲭⲏ ⲧⲁⲭⲏ

[Right: 6 complex kharaktēres]

[1] The binding of the sky, the binding of the earth, the binding of the air, the binding of the firmament, the binding [2] of the Pleiades, the binding of the sun, the binding of the moon, the binding of the birds, the binding of [3] the ring of the Father, the binding with which Jesus Christ was bound (?) upon the wood of the cross [4], the binding of the seven words which Elisha spoke over the head of the [5] saints, whose names are: Psukhou, Khasnai, Khasnai, Thoumi, Anašns, Šourani, [6] Šouranai; let that binding be upon the male member of Pharaouō [7] and his flesh so that you (pl.) dry it up like wood and make it like a rag upon [8] the dung heap! His penis will not become hard! He will not become erect! He will not ejaculate! He will not have intercourse [9] with Touaein, the daughter of Kamar, nor any woman, nor man, nor beast until I [10] read ⟨it⟩, myself! But let the male member of Pharaouō, the son of Kiranpales, dry up! He will not [11] have intercourse with Touaein, the daughter of Kamar, like a dead man lying in a [12] tomb! Pharaouō, the son of Kiranpoles, will not be able to have intercourse [verso, 1] with Touaen, the daughter of Kamar, [2] yea, yea, quickly, quickly!

Tableau:

Tracing by:

KD (9/2021)

Apparatus:

Recto

1. ⲡⲙⲟⲩⲣ ⲉ- i.e. Sahidic ⲡ-ⲙⲟⲩⲣ ⲛ̅- (4 times) | ⲥⲧⲣⲉⲱⲙⲁ i.e. Greek στερέωμα | ⲡⲙⲟⲩ⧸ⲣ⧹ ⲟⲩ written as monogram with ⲩ over ⲟ
2. ϭⲉϥⲙⲟⲩⲧⲉ i.e. Sahidic ϭⲓⲛⲙⲟⲩⲧ | ⲡⲙⲟⲩⲣ ⲉ- i.e. Sahidic ⲡ-ⲙⲟⲩⲣ ⲛ̅- (4 times)
3. ⲡⲉⲝⲟⲩⲣ ⲉⲉⲡⲓⲱⲧ i.e. Sahidic ⲡ-ⲝⲟⲩⲣ ⲛ̅-ⲡ-ⲉⲓⲱⲧ | ⲉⲛⲧⲁⲩⲣⲟⲣ i.e. Sahidic ⲉⲛⲧ-ⲁ⸗ⲩ-ⲙⲟⲩⲣ or ⲉⲛⲧ-ⲁ⸗ⲩ-ⲥ⳨ⲟ︤ⲩ︦ i.e. Greek σταυρόω | ⲓ̅(ⲏⲥⲟⲩ)ⲥ̅ | ⲭ̅(ⲣⲓⲥⲧⲟ)ⲥ̅ i.e. Greek χριστός | ⲥ⳨ⲥ l. ⲥ(ⲧⲁⲩⲣⲟ)ⲥ i.e. Greek σταυρός
4. ⲛϩⲏⲧⲃ i.e. Sahidic ⲛ-ϩⲏⲧ⸗ϥ | ⲡⲙⲟⲩⲣ ⲉ- i.e. Sahidic ⲡⲙⲟⲩⲣ ⲛ̅-
4-5. ⲧⲁⲡⲉ ⲛⲉⲧⲧⲟⲩⲁⲁⲃ i.e. Sahidic ⲧ-ⲁⲡⲉ ⲛ̅-ⲛ-ⲉⲧ-ⲟⲩⲁⲁⲃ
5. ⲡⲙⲟⲩⲣ ⲉ- i.e. Sahidic ⲡ-ⲙⲟⲩⲣ ⲛ̅-
6 ⲉⲧⲛⲙⲁⲁⲩ i.e. Sahidic ⲉⲧ-ⲙ̅ⲙⲁⲩ | ϩⲓϫⲟ- i.e. Sahidic ϩⲓϫⲱ- | ⲥⲟⲙⲁ i.e. Greek σῶμα
7. ⲥⲁⲣⲝ i.e. Greek σάρξ | ⲙⲟⲥ i.e. Sahidic ⲙ̅ⲙⲟⲥ
8. ⲕⲟⲩⲡⲣⲓⲁ i.e. Greek κοπρία | ⲛⲛⲉⲡⲉϥⲥⲉⲧ corrected from ⲛⲛⲉ̣ⲧ̣ⲉⲉϥⲥⲉⲧ ? | ⲥⲉⲧ i.e. Sahidic ⲥⲏⲧ | ⲇⲱⲥ i.e. Sahidic ⲧⲱⲥ : | ⲥⲡⲉⲣⲙⲁ i.e. Greek σπέρμα | ⲕⲉⲛⲟⲛⲓⲁ i.e. Greek κοίνωμα
9. ⲟⲩⲧⲉ i.e. Greek οὔτε (twice) | ⲧⲉϥⲛⲏ i.e. Sahidic ⲧⲃⲛⲏ
10. ⲁⲛⲱⲕ i.e. Sahidic ⲁⲛⲟⲕ | ⲁⲗⲗⲁ i.e. Greek ἀλλά | ⲥⲱⲙⲁ i.e. Greek σῶμα : ⲥⲟⲙⲁ Stefanski
11. ⲕⲟⲛⲱⲛⲓⲁ i.e. Greek κοίνωμα
12. ⲧⲁⲃⲱⲥ i.e. Greek τάφος | ⲛⲏϣ i.e. Sahidic ⲛⲁ-ϣ̅

Recto 12-Verso 1. ⲕⲏⲛⲟⲛⲓⲓⲁ i.e. Greek κοίνωμα

Verso

2. ⲧⲁⲭⲏ i.e. Greek ταχύ

Notes:

1-6. ⲡ̣ⲙⲟⲩⲣ Stefanksi translates ⲡⲙⲟⲩⲣ as “O spell”. Here we understand this as an extended description of the desired binding rather than an invocation of the binding as a power.
6, 10. ⲡⲥⲟⲙⲁ ⲛϩⲟⲟⲧ, ⲛⲡⲥⲱⲙⲁ ⲛϩⲟⲟⲩⲧ Literally “male body”, this is a standard term for “penis” in medical contexts; see Till AK p. 26..
9. ⲗⲁⲁⲩ ⲛⲥϩⲓⲙⲉ ⲟⲩⲧⲉ ϩⲟⲟⲩⲧ ⲟⲩⲧⲉ ⲧⲉϥⲛⲏ Stefanski translates “or with any woman, wild or tame”. Meyer translates “or any woman, whether wild or domesticated. Pernigotti translates “obedient or disobedient” (“docile o indocile”).
9-10. ϣⲁⲛⲧⲁⲱϣ “Until I read” – this seems to refer to the idea that reading a curse that had been written and deposited would nullify its power; cf. P. Lond. Copt. 1224 ll. 1-2 (M531/T70); P. Hermitage Copt. 70 vo ll. 1-2 (M60; T682).

Bibliography:

★ Stefanski, Elizabeth. “A Coptic Magical Text.” The American Journal of Semitic Languages no. 56 (1939): 305–307.

Meyer, Marvin W., and Richard Smith. Ancient Christian Magic: Coptic Texts of Ritual Power. Princeton (New Jersey): Princeton University Press, 1999, no. 85, pp. 178-179.

Pernigotti, Sergio. “La magia copta: I testi.” In Aufstieg und Niedergang der römischen Welt, edited by Hildegard Temporini and Wolfgang Haase, II.18.5, pp. 3685-3730. Berlin and New York: Walter de Gruyter, 1995, no. 28, p. 3723.

Wilfong, Terry, online at http://papyri.info/apis/chicago.apis.26

Editor:

EL’s edition from photographs of the original, incorporating Stefanski, Meyer, and Wilfong (28/11/2019); Team (9/6/2021)

How to cite:

Korshi Dosoo, Edward O.D. Love & Markéta Preininger (chief editors). "KYP T134: Applied curse against a man's sexual virility," Kyprianos Database of Ancient Ritual Texts and Objects, www.coptic-magic.phil.uni-wuerzburg.de/index.php/text/kyp-t-134. Accessed on 29/04/2024

How to cite:

Found a mistake? Let us know!