KYPRIANOS DATABASE OF ANCIENT RITUAL TEXTS search icon
MANUSCRIPTS
TEXTS
ARCHIVES
HELP


KYPRIANOS T19

Manuscript: M5
Sigla:

Ashmolean AN 1981.940

Text no. question mark icon Position of the text within the manuscript.1
Coptic Scriptorium:
Date: 501 – 700

Text position:

Ro ll. 1-18

Type of text:

Love spell (magical, applied, erotic)

Original title:
Original title (translated):
Conventional title: Applied love spell for Apapolo against Phlo

Language:

Egyptian (Coptic)

Dialect:

Hermopolitan (near Mesokemic)

Script:

Coptic

Image:

Text: Translation:

1. ⳨ ϭⲉ̅ⲗ̅ⲧ̅ⲁ̅ⲧ̅ⲁ̣ⲗⲃ̅ⲁ̅ⲃ̅ⲁ̅ⲗ̅ . ⲕ̣ⲁⲣⲁϣⲛⲉⲓϥⲉ · ⲛⲛⲁⲥ
2. ⲕⲛⲉⲓϥⲉ ϩⲛ ϭⲟⲙ ⲛⲓ̈ⲁⲱ ⲥⲁϥⲁⲱⲑ · ⲣⲟ̅ⲩ̅ⲥ ·
3. ⲣ̅ⲟ̅ⲩ̅ⲥ · ⲣ̅ⲟ̅ⲩ̅ⲥ · ⲣⲟ̅ⲩ̅ⲥ · ⲣ̅ⲟ̅ⲩ̣̅ⲥ · ⲣ̅ⲟ̅ⲩ̅ⲥ · ⲣ̅ⲟ̅ⲩ̅ⲥ · ⲣⲟ̅ⲩ̅ⲥ̅ ·̣
4. [kharaktēres: 5 x complex, ☾ + + +]
5. ⳨⳨⳨ ϯⲧⲁⲣⲕⲟ ⲙⲟⲕ ⲛⲉⲕϭⲟⲙ ⲙⲛⲉⲕⲫⲏⲗⲁⲕⲧⲏ-
6. ⲣⲓⲱⲛ ⲙⲛⲧⲟⲡⲟⲥ ⲉⲧⲕϣⲟⲟⲡ ϩⲓϫⲟⲟⲩ ⲙⲛⲉⲕ-
7. ⲣⲁⲛ ϫⲉ ⲛⲧϩⲉ ⲛϣⲁⲓ̈ϥⲉⲓ̈ ⲙⲟⲕ ⲧⲁⲩⲁϩⲕ ϩⲓⲣⲛ ⲡⲣⲟ
8. ⲙ̣ⲏ ⲧⲉϩⲓ̈ⲏ ⲙⲟϣⲉ ⲙⲫⲗⲟ ⲡ̣ϣⲉ ⲛⲙⲁⲩⲣⲉ ⲉⲕⲉϥⲓ
9. ⲙⲡⲉϥϩⲏⲧ ⲡⲉϥⲙ̣ⲟⲩⲥ ⲉⲕⲉⲣ̣ ϫⲟⲓ̈ⲥ ⲉⲡⲉϥⲥⲱⲙⲁ
10. ⲧ̣ⲏⲣϥ ⲉϥⲁϩⲉ ⲛⲉⲕⲁϥ ⲛⲁϩⲉ ⲉϥϩⲙⲟⲥ ⲛⲉⲕⲁⲁϥ
11. ⲛϩⲙⲟⲥ ⲉϥⲛⲕⲧⲟⲕ ⲛⲉⲕⲁϥ ⲛⲕⲟⲧⲕ ⲉϥⲉϣⲓⲛⲉ
12. ⲛⲥⲱⲓ̈ ϫⲓⲛⲉ ϯⲙⲉ ⲉϯⲙⲉ ϫⲓⲛⲉ ⲡⲟⲗⲓⲥ ⲉⲡⲟⲗⲓⲥ
13. ⲉϫⲓⲛⲉ ⲥⲱϣⲉ ⲉⲥⲱ̣ϣⲉ ⲉϫⲓⲛⲉ ⲭⲱⲣⲉ ⲉⲭⲱⲣⲉ
14. ϣⲁⲛⲧϥⲓ ⲉⲣⲁⲧ ⲛϥ̣ϩⲏⲡⲟⲧⲁⲥⲉ ϩⲁⲡⲉⲥⲏⲧ ⲛⲁⲩ-
15. ⲉⲣⲏⲧⲉ ⲁⲛ̣ⲟⲕ ⲁⲡⲁⲡⲱⲗⲱ̣ ⲡϣⲉ ⲛⲟⲱⲏ · ⲉⲣⲉⲧⲟ-
16. ⲟⲧϥ ⲙⲏϩ ⲛⲁⲕⲁⲑ̣ⲱⲛ ⲛⲓⲙ ϣⲁⲛϯϫⲟⲕ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ
17. ⲛⲉⲙⲁϥ ⲙⲡⲁⲟⲩⲱϣ ⲛϩⲏⲧ ⲙⲛ ⲡⲉϯⲙⲁ ⲛⲧⲁ-
18. ⲡⲯⲩⲭⲏ ϩⲛ ⲟⲩ̣ϣⲉ ⲛⲁⲛⲟⲩϥ ⲙⲛ ⲟⲩⲫⲓⲗⲓⲁ ⲛⲁⲧ-
19. ϥⲟⲗ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ⲉⲧⲓ ⲉ̣ⲧⲓ ⲧⲁⲭⲏ̣ ⲧⲁⲭⲏ ⲁⲣⲓ ⲡ̣ⲁ̣ϩⲟϥ –

[1] ⳨ Celtatalbabal . Karašneife Nnas [2] Kneife, by the power of Iaō Sabaoth! Rous [3] Rous Rous Rous Rous Rous Rous Rous [4] [kharaktēres: 5 x complex, ☾ + + +] [5] ⳨⳨⳨ I adjure you by your powers and your phylacteries [6] and the places upon which you dwell and your [7] names that in the way that I will take you and place you at the door [8] and the path of Phlo the son of Maure, you will take [9] his heart, his mind (?), you will master his whole body! [10] If he stands you will not let him stand, if he sits you will not let him [11] sit, if he sleeps you will not let him sleep! He will seek after [12] me from village to village, from city to city, [13] from field to field, from land to land, [14] until he comes to me and he subjects himself beneath my [15] feet – me, Apapōlō, the son of Noōē – [16] his hands filled with all good things, until I fulfill [17] with him the desire of my heart and the demand of my [18] soul in a good desire and an unbreakable affection, [19] now, now, quickly, quickly, do my work!

Tableau:
tableau
Tracing by:Korshi Dosoo (7/2021)

Apparatus:

1. ϭⲉ̅ⲗ̅ⲧ̅ⲁ̅ⲧ̅ⲁ̣ⲗⲃ̅ⲁ̅ⲃ̅ⲁ̅ⲗ̅ : Smither does not overline | ⲕ̣ⲁⲣⲁϣⲛⲉϥⲉ : ⲕ̣ⲁ̣ⲣⲁϣⲛⲉⲓ̅ϥⲉ Smither
2. ⲕⲛⲉⲓϥⲉ : ⲛⲉⲓϥⲉ related to Sahidic ⲛⲓϥⲉ? : ⲕⲛⲉⲕⲓⲉ Smither | ϩⲛ ϭⲟⲙ i.e. Sahidic ϩⲛ ⟨ⲧ⟩ϭⲟⲙ : l. ϩⲛ ⟨ⲛ⟩ϭⲟⲙ Smither | ⲛⲓ̈ⲁⲱ : ⲛⲓ̣ⲁ̣ⲱ Smither
5. ⲛⲉⲕϭⲟⲙ i.e. Sahidic ⲛ̅-ⲛⲉⲕ-ϭⲟⲙ
5-6. ⲙⲛⲉⲕⲫⲏⲗⲁⲕⲧⲏⲣⲓⲱⲛ i.e. Sahidic ⲙⲛ̅ ⲛⲉⲕ-ⲫⲏⲗⲁⲕⲧⲏⲣⲓⲱⲛ i.e. Greek φυλακτήριον
6. ⲙⲛⲧⲟⲡⲟⲥ i.e. Sahidic ⲙⲛ̅ ⲛ-ⲧⲟⲡⲟⲥ i.e. Greek τόπος
6-7. ⲙⲛⲉⲕⲣⲁⲛ i.e. Sahidic ⲙⲛ̅ ⲛⲉⲕ-ⲣⲁⲛ
7. ⲛϣⲁⲓ̈ϥⲉⲓ̈ : ⲛϣⲁⲓ̈ϥⲉⲓ̅ Smither | ⲧⲁⲩⲁϩⲕ i.e. Sahidic ⲧⲁ-ⲟⲩⲁϩ⸗ⲕ | ϩⲓⲣⲛ ⲡⲣⲟ i.e. Sahidic ϩⲓⲣⲙ̅ ⲡⲣⲟ
8. ⲙ̣ⲏ̣ i.e. Sahidic ⲙⲛ̅ | ⲙⲟϣⲉ i.e. Sahidic ⲙ̅-ⲙⲟⲟϣⲉ
9. ⲙ̣ⲟⲩⲥ l. ⲛⲟⲩⲥ i.e. Greek νοῦς ? or cf. ⲙⲁⲟⲩⲥⲉ “liver” ? : ⲛ̣ⲟⲩⲥ Smither | ⲥⲱⲙⲁ i.e. Greek σῶμα
10. ⲛⲉⲕⲁϥ i.e. Sahidic ⲛ̅ⲛⲉ⸗ⲕ-ⲕⲁⲁ-ϥ | ⲛⲉⲕⲁⲁϥ i.e. Sahidic ⲛ̅ⲛⲉ⸗ⲕ-ⲕⲁⲁ-ϥ
11. ⲛⲉⲕⲁϥ i.e. Sahidic ⲛ̅ⲛⲉ⸗ⲕ-ⲕⲁⲁ-ϥ
12. ϫⲓⲛⲉ i.e. Sahidic ϫⲓⲛ (twice) | ⲡⲟⲗⲓⲥ i.e. Greek πολίς (twice)
13. ϫⲓⲛⲉ i.e. Sahidic ϫⲓⲛ (twice) | ⲭⲱⲣⲉ i.e. Greek χώρα (twice)
14. ϩⲏⲡⲟⲧⲁⲥⲉ i.e. Greek ὑποτάσσειν
16. ⲁⲕⲁⲑ̣ⲱⲛ i.e. Greek ἀγαθόν
17. ⲉϯⲙⲁ i.e. Greek αἴτημα : ⲡⲉⲧ̣ⲙⲁ Smither
18. ⲡⲯⲩⲭⲏ i.e. Greek ψυχή | ⲟⲩ̣ϣⲉ ⲛⲁⲛⲟⲩϥ l. ⲟⲩⲟⲩϣⲉ ⲉⲛⲁⲛⲟⲩϥ (cf. Crum CD 500a) i.e. Sahidic ⲟⲩⲟⲩⲱϣ ⲉⲛⲁⲛⲟⲩϥ Smither | ⲫⲓⲗⲓⲁ i.e. Greek φιλία
19. ϥⲟⲗ i.e. Sahidic ⲃⲱⲗ | ⲉⲧⲓ i.e. Greek ἤδη (twice) | ⲧⲁⲭⲏ i.e. Greek ταχύ (twice)

Notes:

3. ⲣ̅ⲟ̅ⲩ̣̅ⲥ The fourth instance in this line probably had a supralinear stroke, but it is not visible on the image.
5. ⲁⲡⲁⲡⲱⲗⲱ̣ Smither suggested that this was an unattested personal name ⲡⲁⲡⲁⲡⲱⲗⲱ (“He of Apollo”; cf. names such as Παπόλλων, TM Name ID 11214), but it is likely to be understood either as the personal name ⲁⲡⲱⲗⲱ (Apollo, TM name ID 2136) prefixed by the title ⲁⲡⲁ, or one of those names in which the title ⲁⲡⲁ has merged with the following name, where the individual is named after a saint (cf. Wipszycka and Derda 1994: 50-54 and ⲁⲡⲁⲡⲟⲗⲩ, ⲁⲡⲁⲡⲱⲗⲗⲱⲧⲟⲥ in Monika Hasitzka, Namen in koptischen dokumentarischen Texten).
17. ⲛⲉⲙⲁϥ “with him” looks as if it may have been corrected from ⲛⲉⲙⲁⲥ “with her”, suggesting that the text from which this was copied was intended to be used on a woman, although fais with a rounded stroke whose upper part touches the vertical ascender are attested in l. 1 (ⲕ̣ⲁⲣⲁϣⲛⲉⲓϥⲉ) and l. 11 (ⲛⲉⲕⲁϥ).

Bibliography:

Meyer, Marvin W., and Richard Smith. Ancient Christian Magic: Coptic Texts of Ritual Power. Princeton [New Jersey]: Princeton University Press, 1999, p. 177-178, no. 84.

Pernigotti, Sergio. “La magia copta: I testi.” In Aufstieg und Niedergang der römischen Welt II.18.5, edited by Hildegard Temporini and Wolfgang Haase. Berlin and New York: Walter de Gruyter, 1995, p. 3714, no. 19.

Gallorini, Carla, Fomule magiche dell’Antico Egitto. Milan: Edis, 1994, p. 26.

Smither, Paul Cecil. “A Coptic Love-Charm.” Journal of Egyptian Archaeology 25 (1939): 173-174.

Wipszycka, Ewa and Derda, Tomasz. “L’emploi des titres ‘abba’, ‘apa’ et ‘papas’ dans l’Égypte byzantine.” Journal of Juristic Papyrology 24 (1994): 23-56.


Editor:

EL’s and Jennifer Cromwell’s edition from the original (2017); edited by KD based on photograph, apparatus added (16/12/2020); Team based on photograph (15/1/2021)

How to cite:
Korshi Dosoo, Edward O.D. Love & Markéta Preininger (chief editors). "KYP T19: Applied love spell for Apapolo against Phlo," Kyprianos Database of Ancient Ritual Texts and Objects, www.coptic-magic.phil.uni-wuerzburg.de/index.php/text/kyp-t-19. Accessed on 28/03/2024

Found a mistake? Let us know!