| Manuscript: | M148 |
| Sigla: | PCM 1 28 |
Text no. 
Position of the text within the manuscript. | 1 |
| Coptic Scriptorium: | |
| Date: | 901 – 1100 |
| Text position: | pp. 1-13, ll. 1-275 |
| Type of text: | Love spell (magical, formulary) |
| Original title: | |
| Original title (translated): | |
| Conventional title: | Love Spell of Cyprian |
| Language: | Egyptian (Coptic) |
| Dialect: | Sahidic with Middle Egyptian features |
| Script: | Coptic |
| Image: |
| Text: | Translation: |
| p. 1 1. ϯⲥⲁⲟⲩⲛ ϫⲉ ⲁϩⲱⲱⲃ ⲛⲓⲙ ⲟⲩⲉⲓⲛⲉ p. 2 [= l. 22] 1. ⲁⲓⲧⲥⲁⲓ ⲛⲉⲣⲱϯ̣̣ ϩ̅ⲛ̅ ⲧⲉⲃ̣[ⲉ]ⲕ̣ⲓ̣ⲃ̣ⲓ̣ p. 3 [= l. 45] 1. ⲙⲉ ⲡⲉⲃⲙⲱⲛⲱⲕⲉⲛⲏⲥ ⲉⲛϣⲏ̣ⲣ̣ⲉ̣ p. 4 [= l. 67] 1. ⲛϯⲉⲣ ⲭⲣⲓⲁ ⲉⲙⲙⲁⲃ ⲁⲛ ⲱ̣ⲛ p. 5 [ l. 89] 1. ⲛⲁϯ ⲥⲁ ⲛⲁⲧⲕⲁⲧⲏⲭⲏ ⲛⲁⲧⲁ- p. 6 [= l. 112] 1. ⲉⲥϣⲱⲡⲓ ⲉⲥⲓϣⲓ ⲉⲃⲁⲗ ϩ̅ⲛ̅ ⲟⲩⲉⲡⲓ- p. 7 [=l. 135] 1. ϩⲛ̅ ⲟⲩϣⲉⲛⲟⲩⲃⲓ ⲉⲙⲙⲉⲓ ⲙⲁⲣⲉⲡⲓ- p. 8 [=l. 158] 1. ϯⲱⲣⲕ ⲉⲣⲁⲕ ⲱ ⲅ̅ⲁ̅ⲃ̅ⲣ̅ⲓ̅ⲏ̅ⲗ̅ ⲙ̅ⲡϣⲁϫⲓ p. 9 [=l. 181] 1. ⲙⲉⲛ ⲧⲉⲑⲉⲥⲓⲁ ⲉⲛⲗⲱⲕⲓⲕⲏ : ⲙ̅ⲛ̅ p.10 [=l. 203] 1. ⲙⲁⲣⲉⲃⲉⲣ ⳪̅ ⲉⲣⲁⲥ ⲙⲁⲣⲉⲃⲱⲡⲓ ⲛ- p. 11 [=l. 224] 1. ⲙⲉ ⲛⲉⲥⲧⲁⲓⲁ ⲛⲟⲩⲁⲉⲓϣ ⲛⲓⲙ p. 12 [=l. 248] 1. ϣⲁⲧⲉⲕϫⲱⲕ ⲉⲃⲁⲗ ⲛⲁⲡⲟⲗⲟ- p. 13 [=l. 268] 1. ⲉⲕⲟⲩⲁ̣ⲙ̣ ⲁⲡ̣ⲟⲩ̣ⲱ̣ϣ̣ . . ⲧ̣ⲁ̣ⲙ̣ⲟⲩⲛ̣ϩ̣ . . Above image: 8. ⲅ̅ⲁ̅ⲃ̅ⲣ̅ⲓ̅ⲏ̅ⲗ̅ _______ 9. ϣⲁⲓⲣⲁϩ- 12. ⲁⲓⲟ/ ⲁⲓⲟ/ 19. ⲅⲁⲃⲣⲓⲏⲗ ⲗⲓⲧⲟⲩⲣⲕⲟⲥ 20. ⲗ . . . |
[p.1, 1] I know that everything has left [2] me. [3] Everything has been changed in my soul. Everything has been changed [4] in my nature. My innards have become like gall. [5] My appearance has changed. [6] I have been terrified in my flesh. [7] The hair of my head has moved (?). I have [8] burned with fire. I have lain down [9] but I have not slept. I have arisen but I have not [10] rested. I have eaten and I have drunk [12] in grief and sighing. [12] I have not found rest in my soul [13] or my spirit because of the greatness [14] of my desire. My wisdom has [15] darkened. My power has perished. I have been undone in [16] my craft. I am Cyprian [17] the great magician, the one [18] who was companion to the Dragon of the Abyss. [19] He called me “my son” and I called [20] him “father”. He put his crown [21] and his diadem upon my head; [p. 2, 1] I (sic) caused me to drink milk from his right breast, [2] and he sat me at his right hand. [3] He made all of his power [4] subject to me. I mounted on the [5] Pleiades, and it sailed under me like a [6] ship. I knew the whisper of the stars. [7] I possessed the treasuries of the winds. [8] I knew all astronomy. [9] All these things left me because of [10] a maiden named Justina. She [11] made my power and ⟨the⟩ power of Satan [12] like a sparrow in ⟨the⟩ hand of a small child. [13] I knew in the depths of my heart [14] and the thoughts of my spirit [15] and the bounds of my mind that none [16] would be able to prophesy to my heart in this [17] affair, neither angel [18] nor archangel nor cherubim [19] nor seraphim nor power nor [20] force nor bodiless one [21] nor authority would be able to ⟨prophesy⟩, [22] nor to fulfil my [23] command, except the Father of the Aeons [p. 3, 1] and his only-begotten Son, [2] Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit, [3] the hallowed one. I suppressed my wrath, [4] I set aside my anger, I mastered my [5] madness in a great [6] audacity and I stood on my feet [7] and I turned my face to the west, [8] and I raised my right hand to the sky. I [9] purified the earth from my feet, [10] I snorted through my nose, [11] and I sent these requests [12] up to the seventh heaven, to the tabernacle [13] of the Father within ⟨the⟩ seven [14] veils, and I called upon [15] the Father of Aeons, the Lord of all principalities [16] and all authorities and [17] all thrones, saying these requests: “Risi Tōnai [19] Kharim Balim Basileos [20] Autoul Ōbia Kakikephali [21] Amou Amou, seize the spirit [22] which you have entrusted to me, [p.4, 1] I do not need it anymore, [2] until you send me today the [3] great servant of flaming [4] fire, Gabriel – he of [5] great fiery power, who [6] fills his face with fire from the [7] fire that consumes every fire, [8] which is the fire of your [9] divinity, Lord God, and who [10] fills his bowl with desire [11] and lust and fills [12] his wings with fire from that [13] river of fire that burns [14] with the power of your divinity, [15] that which every soul will wash [16] within before they worship [17] in your presence – so that he comes [18] on the impulse of his power at [19] your command, O Father of [20] Aeons, to go to NN, the daughter of NN, [21] appearing to her in a [22] great appearance, [p. 5, 1] without delay, without waiting, without negligence, [2] and he fills her heart and her [3] soul and her spirit and her mind [4] with burning lust and [5] scorching desire and disturbance [6] and tumult, filling her from the [7] nails of her feet to the hair of her head [8] with lust and longing and fornication, [9] as her mind goes astray, as [10] her light darkens, as her ears [11] shut! She shall not eat nor [12] drink nor lie down nor [13] sleep, her clothes will [14] burn her body, the sky will [15] burn her, the earth will kindle under [16] her! The Father will not have mercy on her, [17] the Son will not have pity on her, [18] the Holy Spirit shall not give sleep [19] to her eyes! The thought of God [20] and fear of Him will leave [21] her, and her thoughts and her [22] counsel and her mind will have [23] devilish thoughts, [p. 6, 1] so that she clings to [2] lust and desire and [3] disturbance because of NN, the son of NN, like [4] a female donkey under the male donkey, a female cat [5] under the male cat, a female dog under the [6] male dog, and she whinnies like a mare, [7] and she chews like a she-camel, [8] as she is crazed like a she-bear and a [9] crocodile, and she clings to lust [10] and desire for NN the son of NN [11] like for a drop of water clinging [12] to the edge of a jar when one [13] looks at it while fasting [14] in the burning heat of summer! Yea, [15] I adjure you, O Gabriel, [16] go to NN the daughter of NN, hang her from [17] the hair of her head and the lids [18] ⟨of⟩ her eyes, bring her to the feet of [19] NN, the son of NN, in desire and [20] ever-lasting lust, [21] just as you took the [22] good news of the Father to Mary [23] the Holy Virgin [p. 7, 1] as true good news, may this [2] good news also be true, as they are [3] completed, namely these requests, [4] through you, quickly! Do not be [5] disobedient as you were on the day that [6] the Lord sent you to the land of Eden [7] and you returned to him without earth, [8] with your hands empty, but [9] complete for me, myself, today, [10] I, NN, the son of NN, this [11] good news, and this commission [12] in unhesitating obedience, [13] yea, yea, quickly, quickly! I adjure you, [14] O Gabriel, by the wellbeing of the [15] consubstantial Trinity! I adjure [16] you, O Gabriel, by the tabernacle [17] of the Father and those who dwell within it! [18] I adjure you, O Gabriel, by the throne [19] of the Almighty and He [20] who sits upon it! I adjure [21] you, O Gabriel by ⟨the⟩ heavenly powers [22] and the song and praise [23] of the powers of the heaven! [p. 8, l. 1] I adjure you, O Gabriel, by the word [2] and the breath of the Father, that which [3] went to Mary the Virgin; you brought [4] good news of him to her so that [5] he dwelt within her, and he became god [6] and man, and she gave birth to him, and he mounted upon [7] the cross and saved us! I adjure [8] you, O Gabriel, by the holy sufferings [9] which Jesus Christ received for us [10] upon the wood of the cross and the three breaths [11] that he sent to the hands of his [12] father, which are “Elōei Elōei [13] Elemas Abaktanē”! I adjure [14] you, O Gabriel, by the three tears [15] that the Father shed over the head [16] of Jesus, his only son upon [17] the wood of the cross! I adjure you by [18] your sword, that with which you tore the [19] veil of the Temple! [20] I adjure you by the seven greetings that the [21] Father spoke to Jesus, his son, on [22] the Sunday morning so that he [23] rose from the dead [p.9, 1] and the rational sacrifice and [2] the holy offering and the [3] mysteries of Jesus Christ which the [4] saints receive and [5] the judgement which the Almighty [6] will pronounce over the whole world [7] in the Valley of Josaphat that [8] you shall not delay nor shall you be [9] neglectful for a single moment [10] nor a blink of the eye, until you come [11] upon your image; in the moment [12] that I put fire to it go to NN, [13] the daughter of NN, put fire and desire and [14] lust and disturbance [15] and tumult down into her [16] heart for NN, the son of NN! Bring her [17] to him in humiliation and [18] bound, so that he sees her nakedness [19] in every moment and he mingles [20] his lust with hers! He will [21] lie with her, she will not be sated with him! [22] Take the shame ⟨from⟩ her face and her eyes, [p. 10, 1] may he rule over her, may he become [2] master to her, and she become slave to him! [3] May she seek him in all seasons [4] and all moments and all times [5] and all hours and all of her life [6] and his! May every man [7] and every soul and every breath [8] become abominable and foul and putrid and hateful [9] to her except NN, son of NN! If he goes [10] away from her, let her mourn, [11] groaning, crying bitterly! [12] If she sees him from (?) behind, let [13] her kneel [14] in obeisance to him in fear [15] and humiliation! If he speaks [16] let her be silent! If he is angry let her [17] make peace ⟨with him⟩ and love [18] him and give him her gold and [19] her silver and her clothes and her [20] perfume and her food and [21] her drink and her gifts [p. 11, 1] and her presents at all times [2] and all seasons and all her days [3] and all her life; they will [4] remain with him forever [5] according to these requests, and she will make ⟨herself⟩ beautiful [6] and pleasing every day in her heart [7] and her mind and her thoughts [8] and her thinking and her eyes, ⟨even⟩ if [9] a day comes for her more difficult [10] than any day and hour, [11] and every day and every night, yea, yea, quickly! [12] If you have not done my desire, O Gabriel, [13] fulfilling my command, [14] I will despise you, and I will [15] cut you off, and I will anathematise [16] you and I will despise you and I will abhor you! [17] The Father will not honour you in heaven! [18] The Son will not give you rank [19] in heaven! The Holy Spirit [20] will allow you to sing, nor shall the [21] queen of women, Mary the Virgin [22] receive you unto herself, nor shall they call [23] you the bringer of good news, [p. 12, 1] until you complete [2] every request that I speak in [3] this prayer, nor shall you impose on me, myself in [5] anything evil, nor shall you mock (?) [6] me, nor shall you … to me [7] not shall you touch me with [8] evil or suffering, but rather with [9] all joy and in all honour, and I will [10] myself praise the Almighty Father [11] and I will give glory to Jesus the [12] only son, and I will sing hymns to the [13] Holy Spirit, and I will give glory to [14] you, yourself, O Gabriel, for [15] you have been obedient to me [16] in my affairs! Come (?), [17] come, do not delay… [18] to you forever, amen! [19] + Make an offering for him of mastic, agarwood (?), [20] styrax, musk. Three days, seven prayers [21] daily, from Tuesday until [22] Thursday, while you fast daily, [p. 13, 1] and you eat (?) … Thursday (?) … [2] Joseph (?) and olive oil on it (?) … [3] … while you fast, being pure, [4] wearing clothes. Mark (?) it on a [5] clay ostracon with sweat. ⟨The⟩ prayer twenty-one times [6] three times. Beware of him. Bind [7] a … amulet on yourself. Above image: [8] Gabriel Around image: [9] I will burn [10-11] in this flame. [12] Yea, yea, [13] quickly, quickly! [14] Bring [15] NN, daughter of NN, [16] to [17] him, NN, the son [18] of NN, … [19] Gabriel, the minister [20] … [21] Kekhari [22] … [23] O Lord, send Gabriel [14] and … |
| Tracing by: | Korshi Dosoo |
| Apparatus: | p. 1 1. ϩⲱⲱⲃ i.e. Sahidic ϩⲱⲃ p. 2 p. 3 1. ⲙⲱⲛⲱⲕⲉⲛⲏⲥ i.e. Greek μονογενής p. 4 1. ⲭⲣⲓⲁ i.e. Greek χρεία | ⲱ̣ⲛ i.. Sahidic ⲟⲛ : {ⲉ}ⲟⲛ Bilabel/Grohmann p. 5 1. ⲛⲁϯ ⲥⲁ i.e. Sahidic ⲛ̅-ⲁⲧ-ϯ ⲥⲟ | ⲕⲁⲧⲏⲭⲏ i.e. Greek κατέχειν p. 6 1. ⲉⲥϣⲱⲡⲓ i.e. Sahidic ⲛ⸗ⲥ̅-ϣⲱⲡⲉ p. 7 1. ϣⲉⲛⲟⲩⲃⲓ i.e. Sahidic ϣⲙ-ⲛⲟⲩϥⲉ p. 8 1. ⲙⲡϣⲁϫⲓ i.e. Sahidic ⲙ-ⲡ-ϣⲁϫⲉ p. 9 1. ⲑⲉⲥⲓⲁ i.e. Greek θυσία | ⲗⲱⲕⲓⲕⲏ i.e. Greek λογική p. 10 1. ⳪ l. *ϭ(ⲱⲓ)ⲥ i.e. Sahidic ϫⲟⲉⲓⲥ | ⲙⲁⲣⲉⲃⲱⲡⲓ l. ⲙⲁⲣⲉⲣⲃϣⲱⲡⲓ p. 11 3. ⲧⲏⲣⲏϥ i.e. Sahidic ⲧⲏⲣ⸗ϥ̅ p. 12 1-2. ⲁⲡⲟⲗⲟⲅⲓⲁ i.e. Greek ἀπολογία p. 13 1. for this line Bilabel/Grohmann read ⲉⲕⲟ̣ⲩ̣ . . ⲛ̣ⲁ̅ⲧ̅ⲟⲩ . . . . ⲧⲁⲙⲟⲩ ⲛ . . . |
| Notes: | p. 1 1. ϯⲥⲁⲟⲩⲛ A small fold in the paper conceals the upper part of the ti in photographs, but autopsy confirms its presence p. 2 4-5. ϩⲓϫⲉⲛ ⲕ̣ⲙϩⲟⲩⲧ As noted by Crum (CD 821a) a close parallel to this passage may be found in the Martyrdom of Phoibammon §§225-226, in which it is said of a magician named Alexandros: “Many times he had stopped the sun in middle of the sky, and conversed with the moon like two men speaking with one other. Many times he had mounted the Pleiades. He had examined the whole region of the air, and the demons were subject to him, obeying him like servants. These were the things that he had done by his magic” (ⲟⲩⲙⲏⲏϣⲉ ⲅⲁⲣ ⲛⲥⲟⲡ ⲁϥⲥⲱϣⲧ ⲙⲡⲣⲉ ϩⲛ̅ ⲧⲙⲏⲧⲉ ⲛⲧⲡⲉ · ⲁϥϣⲁϫⲉ ⲙⲡⲟⲟϩ ⲛ̅ⲑⲉ ⲛⲣⲱⲙⲉ ⲥⲛⲁⲩ ⲉⲩϣⲁϫⲉ ⲙⲛ̅ⲛⲉⲩⲉⲣⲏⲩ · ⲟⲩⲙⲏⲏϣⲉ ⲛⲥⲟⲡ ⲁϥⲁⲗⲉ ⲉⲧϭⲓⲛⲙⲟⲩⲧ ⲁϥⲙⲟⲩϣⲧ ⲙⲡⲕⲱⲧⲉ ⲧⲏⲣ̅ϥ ⲙⲡⲁⲏⲣ · ⲁⲩⲱ ⲛⲉⲣⲉⲛⲇⲁⲓⲙⲱⲛ ϩⲩⲡⲟⲧⲁⲥⲍⲉ ⲛⲁϥ ⲉⲩⲥⲱⲧ̅ⲙ̅ ⲛ̅ⲥⲱϥ ⲛⲑⲉ ⲛ̅ⲛⲉⲓϩⲙ̅ϩⲁⲗ · ⲛⲁⲓ ⲛⲉ ⲛⲁϥⲁⲁⲩ ϩⲛ̅ ⲧⲉϥⲙ̅ⲛ̅ⲧⲙⲁⲅⲟⲥ; Müller/Uljas 2019, 68 (Coptic text), 108 (translation); note that Müller/Uljas mistakenly translate ϭⲓⲛⲙⲟⲩⲧ as “death”). The earliest version of this text would seem to be Chester Beatty Library 2029, dated by the PAThs Project to the sixth century (CLM ID1163). This passage seems in turn to be dependent on the Greek amuletic Prayer of Cyprian preserved in manuscripts from the 15th-16th century: “I would bind the moon and the stars and they would not move”, “And I did all of this magic, and all the evil spirits served (me)” (τὴν σελήνην τὴς ἀστέρας ἔδενα καὶ οὐκ ἐκινοῦντο; πάσας τε καὶ μαγίας εἰργασαμήν, καὶ πάντα τὰ πονηρὰ πνεύματα ἐδούλευον; Schermann 1903, 312, with Ms. V; for the addition of the sun cf. Joshua 10.12-13). These parallels imply an older tradition concerning Cyprian upon which this text, the Martyrdom, and the Prayer are all dependent, perhaps an earlier version of the Prayer. p. 3 10. ⲁⲓⲥⲉⲕ ϩⲣⲁⲩ ⲉⲃⲁⲗ ϩ̅ⲛ̅ ϣⲁⲁ̣ⲛⲧ For a discussion of the practice of “snorting through one’s nose” in Greek and Coptic, see Drescher 1969, 91-93. In Coptic literary texts it is most often associated with the Devil, as a rude and insolent action. p.4 7-8. ⲉⲡⲕⲱϩⲧ ⲛ̇ⲙ ⲉⲧⲉ ⲡⲁⲓ ⲧⲉ ⲕⲱϩⲧ In standard Coptic grammar, the first ⲕⲱϩⲧ should not have the definite article ⲡ-, since it is already defined by ⲛⲓⲙ, while the second should; the ⲧⲉ may represent a miscopied ⲡ(ⲉ)-. p. 5 9-10. ⲉⲃⲉⲣ ⲕⲁⲕⲓ ϭⲓ ⲡⲉⲥⲟⲩⲁⲉⲓⲛ “Her light” here probably refers to the “light of her eyes”, so that as it darkens she becomes blind, in analogy with her ears shutting; cf. Crum CD 101b, 480b. p. 6 3-14. For the reference to animals and a drop of water as metaphors for passionate love and desire, Hs. Schmidt 2 ll. 32-36 (KYP M121/T340): “I want NN, the daughter of NN, to spend forty nights and forty days clinging to me like a female dog under a male dog, like a sow under a boar…” (ⲉⲓ̈ⲟⲩⲱϣ ⲉⲧⲣⲉⲛⲓⲙ̅ ⲧϣ ⲛⲛⲓⲙ ⲣ̅ ϩⲙ̣ⲉ ⲛ̅ϩⲟⲟⲩ ⲙⲛ̅ ϩⲙⲉ ⲛⲟⲩϣⲏ ⲉⲥⲁϣⲉ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ⲛ̅ⲥⲱⲓ ⲛⲑⲉ ⲛⲟⲟⲩϩⲟⲣ⧹ⲉ⧸ ϩⲁ ⲟⲩϩⲟⲣ ⲛⲑⲉ ⲛⲟⲩϣⲟⲩ ϩⲁ ⲟⲩⲕⲁⲡⲣ̅ⲥ); P. Hermitage Copt. 55 + 71 p. 5 ll. 2-5 (KYP M45/T136): ⲁⲩⲱ ⲛⲥⲉⲙⲉⲣ[ⲓⲧϥ ⲛⲑⲉ] ⲛⲟⲩⲧⲉⲗⲧⲓⲗⲉ ⲙ̣[ⲙⲟⲟⲩ] ⲉⲥⲁϣⲉ ⲛⲥⲁ ⲡⲃⲓⲧ [ⲛ]ⲟⲩⲕⲁⲧⲟⲩⲥ (“and may they love him like a drop of water clinging to the edge of a jar”); P. CtYBR inv. 1791 verso 17-recto 1 (KYP M284/T330): ϣⲁⲛ̅ⲧⲉ̣ⲥⲉⲣ ⲑⲉ ⲛ̅ⲛⲓⲟⲩϩⲱⲱⲣ ⲛⲕ̣[ⲁⲙⲉ] ⲉⲧⲗⲟⲃⲉ ⲛ̅ⲥⲁ ⲛ̇ⲉⲩϣ[ⲏ]ⲣⲉ ⲁⲩⲱ ⲛ̇ⲑⲉ ⲛ̣̇ⲟⲩⲧⲉⲗⲧⲓ̇ⲗ̣ ⲙ̇ⲙⲟⲟⲩ ⲉⲥⲁϣⲉ ⲛ̇ⲥⲁ ⲟⲩⲕⲁ̣ⲧⲟⲥ ⲛ̇ⲑⲉ ⲛ̣ⲟⲩϩⲟ́ϥ ⲉⲥⲁϣⲉ ⲛ̅[ . . . ] (“until she becomes like [black] dogs … which are mad for their children, and like a drop of water clinging to a jar, like a snake clinging to…”) ; London Hay 10414a ll. 11-13 (KYP M287/T59): ⲛⲥⲉⲓϣ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ⲛⲥⲱⲓ ⲛⲑⲉ ⲛⲟⲩⲧⲗⲧⲓⲗⲉ ⲙⲙⲟⲟⲩ ⲉⲥⲁϩⲉ ⲛⲥⲁⲟⲩⲕⲁⲇⲟⲥ ⲛⲥⲣ ϩⲛ ⲟⲩⲃⲓⲱ ⲉⲥϣⲓⲛⲉ ⲟⲩϩⲟⲟⲣ ⲉⲥⲗⲉⲗⲉ ⲟⲩⲉⲙⲟⲩⲉ ⲉⲥⲃⲱⲕ̣ ϩⲛ ⲟⲩⲏⲓ ⲁⲩⲏⲓ ϩⲛ ⲟⲩϩⲧⲱⲣⲉ ⲉⲥⲃⲱⲕ ϩⲁ ⲛⲉⲧⲟⲃⲗⲉ (“…(may) she cling to me like a drop of water clinging to a jar, and may she become a (honey-)bee seeking, a female dog wandering, a female cat going from house to house, a mare going under mad (horses)”); P. Bad. V 131 verso ll. 16-18 (KYP M285/T1559): ⲛⲧⲟⲕ ⲡⲉⲛⲧⲁⲕⲧⲣⲉⲛ̣ⲁⲁϥ ⲉ̣ⲓ̣ ϭⲉ · ⲁⲕⲧⲣⲉⲛϭⲁ̣ⲙ̣ⲟ̣ⲩ̣ⲗ ⲃⲁⲕⲃ̣ⲉⲕ · ⲁⲕⲧⲣⲉⲛⲉϩⲟⲩⲟⲣ̣ . ⲉ̣ⲓ̣ ϩⲁ̣ ⲡⲉϩⲟⲩⲟⲣ · ⲁⲕⲧⲣⲉⲛ . . . ⲩⲥ̣ . . ϩⲁ ⲡϫⲉ̣ⲩ̣ (“You are the one who caused bees (?) to come, indeed you have caused the camel to chew, you caused the female dogs to go under the male dog; you have caused the [female cat (?)] to come under the male cat”). For these analogies, cf. Frankfurter 2001; Dosoo 2020, 266-267 (noting that female horses were believed to be “the most sexually eager of all animals”): Zellmann-Rohrer in O’Connell 2022, 137-138; Dosoo 2022, 531-533. Compare Isaiah 40.15 for the analogy of a “drop of water in a jar” (ⲟⲩⲧⲉⲗϯⲗⲉ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ϩⲛ ⲟⲩⲕⲁⲇⲟⲥ); cf. the discussion in Jernstedt 1929, 125-128. for the word ⲃⲓⲧ, see Jernstedt in P. Herm. Copt., 161-162, who links it to the word βῖτος, “wheel”, hence “rim”, in turn from Latin vitus (Ivan Miroshnikov is thanked for this reference). For the final clause, Bilabel/Grohmann and Meyer/Smith understand it as an independent phrase, translating “When one looks at her, he shall faint for the burning summer heat” (“wenn einer nach ihr blickt, (so) soll er verschmachten (oder: ernüchtert sein) in der Sommerhitze”), that is, the victim is so full of the fire of love that she will cause those who look upon her to faint. The correct translation, given here, is suggested by Stephen Emmel in Meyer/Smith p. 366, note to text 73 l. 125. p. 7 4-8. ⲙ̅ⲡⲉⲣ ϣⲱⲡⲓ ⲛⲁⲧⲥⲱⲧⲏⲙ ⲛ̅ⲑⲏ ⲙⲡⲉϩⲁⲁⲩ ⲧⲁⲡ⳪ ⲧⲁⲩⲁⲕ ⲉⲡⲕⲁϩ ⲛⲉⲧⲏⲙ ⲁⲕⲕⲧⲁⲕ ϣⲁⲣⲁϥ ⲛⲁⲧⲕⲁϩ ⲉⲣⲉⲛⲉⲕϭⲓϫ [[ⲓ̣ϭ̣]] ϣⲟⲩⲉⲓⲧ A reference to the story of God sending the angels to fetch earth from Eden in order to create Adam; only Muriel, who later became the angel of Death, dared to take the earth from the ground; for a discussion of the idea and its development see Swanson 1996, 218-219. p. 8 10-14. For the last words of Jesus on the cross, cf. Matthew 27.46: “In the ninth hour, Jesus cried out in a great voice, saying, ‘Elōi, Elōi, lama sabaktanei’, that is, ‘My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?’” (ϩⲙ̅ ⲡⲛⲁⲩ ⲇⲉ ⲛ̅ϫⲡ̅ⲯⲓⲧⲉ ⲁϥϫⲓϣⲕⲁⲕ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ⲛ̅ϭⲓ ⲓ̅ⲏ̅ⲥ̅ ϩⲛ̅ ⲟⲩⲛⲟϭ ⲛ̅ⲥⲙⲏ ⲉϥϫⲱ ⲙ̅ⲙⲟⲥ ϫⲉ ⲉⲗⲱⲉⲓ ⲉⲗⲱⲉⲓ ⲗⲁⲙⲁ ⲥⲁⲃⲁⲕⲧⲁⲛⲉⲓ ⲉⲧⲉ ⲡⲁⲓ ⲡⲉ ⲡⲁⲛⲟⲩⲧⲉ ⲡⲁⲛⲟⲩⲧⲉ ⲉⲧⲃⲉ ⲟⲩ ⲁⲕⲕⲁⲁⲧ ⲛ̅ⲥⲱⲕ); Mark 15.34: “And in the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a great voice, ‘Elōi, Elōi, lama sakhthanei’ (sic), whose translation is, ‘My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?’” (ⲁⲩⲱ ⲙ̅ⲡⲛⲁⲩ ⲛ̅ϫⲡ ⲯⲓⲧⲉ ⲁϥⲱϣ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ⲛ̅ϭⲓ ⲓ̅ⲏ̅ⲥ̅ ϩⲛ̅ ⲟⲩⲛⲟϭ ⲛ̅ϩⲣⲟⲟⲩ ϫⲉ ⲉⲗⲱⲉⲓ ⲉⲗⲱⲉⲓ ⲗⲁⲙⲁ ⲥⲁⲭⲑⲁⲛⲉⲓ ⲉⲧⲉ ⲡⲁⲓ ⲡⲉ ϣⲁⲩϩⲉⲣⲙⲉⲛⲉⲩⲉ ⲙ̅ⲙⲟϥ ϫⲉ ⲡⲁⲛⲟⲩⲧⲉ ⲡⲁⲛⲟⲩⲧⲉ ⲉⲧⲃⲉ ⲟⲩ ⲁⲕⲕⲁⲁⲧ ⲛ̅ⲥⲱⲕ); Luke 23.46: “Jesus cried out in a great voice, saying ‘My father, I give my spirit into your hands!’, and when he has said this he gave up his breath.” (ⲁⲓ̅ⲏ̅ⲥ̅ ϫⲓϣⲕⲁⲕ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ϩⲛ̅ ⲟⲩⲛⲟϭ ⲛ̅ⲥⲙⲏ ⲡⲉϫⲁϥ ϫⲉ ⲡⲁⲓⲱⲧ ϯϯ ⲙⲡⲁⲡ̅ⲙ̅ⲁ̅ ⲉⲛⲉⲕϭⲓϫ ⲛ̅ⲧⲉⲣⲉϥϫⲉ ⲡⲁⲓ ⲇⲉ ⲁϥⲕⲁ ⲡⲧⲏⲟⲩ); the first two citing Psalm LXX 21.2 (Masoretic 22).1: “God, my God, attend to me; why have you forsaken me?” (ⲡⲛⲟⲩⲧⲉ ⲡⲁⲛⲟⲩⲧⲉ ⲙⲁϯϩⲧⲏⲕ ⲉⲣⲟⲓ ⲉⲧⲃⲉ ⲟⲩ ⲁⲕⲕⲁⲁⲧ ⲛ̅ⲥⲱⲕ). For the concepts of “three breaths”, cf. P. Heid. Inv. Kopt. 686 10.21, 12.24-26, 12.31-32, where Jesus gives up three breaths to his Father upon the cross, but three breaths are also given by God to Adam on the day of his creation, and by Jesus to his apostles. p. 9 1. The “rational” or “reasonable sacrifice” (λογικὴ θυσία) is a term for the Christian Eucharist; cf. Mikhail 2015: 196-197. p. 11 1. ⲧⲁⲓⲁ For the translation as “present” cf. Meyer/Smith and Crum CD 391a. p. 12 12.3-4. ⲛⲛⲉⲕⲁⲡⲱⲫⲁⲛⲓ For the sense of “impose”, see Förster WBGW 91, ἀποφαίνω. p. 13 2. ⲓⲱⲥⲏⲫ̣ Perhaps understand this as a reference to an ingredient named after Joseph; compare the “grass of Mary” and “wood of Abraham” (ⲥⲁⲩⲃⲟⲩ ⲙⲁⲣⲓⲁ, ⲛϣⲏ : ⲁⲃⲣⲁϩⲁⲙ) mentioned in P. Heid. Inv. Kopt. 685 p. 9 ll. 2, 4 (KYP M186, T238). |
| Bibliography: | Ast, Rodney. “Schedule of Work Days”. In Papyrological Texts in Honor of Roger S. Bagnall, ed. Rodney Ast, Hélène Cuvigny, Todd M. Hickey, and Julia Lougovaya. Durham: American Society of Papyrologists, 2012, 9-16 |
| Editor: | Transcript from DDGLC entered by KD; MPS (23/6/2020) checking transcription with the image of the original; MPS (23/6/2020) apparatus; MPS (24/6/2020) apparatus (first 4 pages); MPS p. 5 (2/7/2020); checked with apparatus augmented by EL (27/7/2020) (31/7/2020); team (15/9/2020); minor edits KD & MPS (18/9/2020); format checked KD (1/10/2020); edited by KD with the help of notes from the Post-Fayumic reading group (15/2/2023) |