KYP T-23

KYPRIANOS DATABASE OF ANCIENT RITUAL TEXTS

KYPRIANOS T23

Manuscript:	M291
Sigla:	PCM 1 23 PCM I 23 P. Heid. Inv. Kopt. 682 P. Kopt. 1682 (previously) P. Baden 5 137 P. Baden V 137 P. Bad. V 137
Text no. Position of the text within the manuscript.	3
Coptic Scriptorium:
Date:	967 – 967

Text position:	Ro ll. 21-49
Type of text:	Curse (magical, formulary, anti-virility)

Original title:
Original title (translated):
Conventional title:	Binding curse against male virility

Language:	Egyptian (Coptic)
Dialect:	Sahidic with Fayumic features
Script:	Coptic
Image:	https://digi.ub.uni-heidelberg.de/diglit/p_kopt_682/0001/image,info,thumbs

Text:

Translation:

20. ⲙⲟⲩⲣ ⸗ ⲉⲡⲧⲡⲉ ⸗ ⲙⲟⲩⲣ ⲉⲡⲕⲁϩ ⸗ ⲡ-
21. ⲙ̅ⲟ̅ⲩ̅ⲣ̅ · ⲉⲡⲧⲁⲩ : ⲡⲙⲟⲩⲣ ⲉⲡⲙⲟⲟⲩ ⸗
22. ⲡⲙⲟⲩⲣ · ⲡⲉⲕⲝⲟⲩⲣ ⸗ ⲉⲡⲓⲱⲧ⸗ ⲡⲙⲟⲩ̅ⲣ̅ ·
23. ⲉⲡⲕⲉⲗⲃⲓⲛⲓ ⸗ ⲉⲧϩⲉ ϭⲓϫ : ⲥⲁⲣⲝ : ⲡⲙⲟ-
24. ⲩⲣ : ⲧⲁⲩⲙⲟⲩⲣ ⸗ ⲡⲭ̅ⲥ̅ · ϩⲓϫⲉⲛ ⲡϣⲏ ⸗
25. ⲡⲉ̅ⲥ̅⳨ⲟ̅ⲩ̅ – ⲕⲉⲙ̅ⲟ̅ⲩ̅ⲣ ⸗ ⲡⲁⲣⲁⲑⲉⲛⲓⲁ ⲇ̅ⲇ̅
26. ⲛⲉⲇ̅ⲇ̅ ⲛⲁⲉϣⲃⲱⲗ ⲉⲃⲁⲗ ⲡⲁⲣⲑⲉⲛⲓⲁ̅
27. ϣⲁⲛⲧⲟⲩⲃⲱⲗ ⲉ̅ⲃ̅ⲁ̅ⲗ̅ · ⲡⲁⲣⲑⲉ̅ⲛ̅ⲓ̅ⲁ ⲡ̅-
28. ⲡⲁⲣⲑⲉⲛⲟⲥ ⲉⲧⲟⲩⲁⲁⲃ ⸗
29. ⲡⲙⲟⲩⲣ ⲉⲡϣⲁϫⲉ : ⲧⲁϩⲏⲗ̅ⲓ̅ⲁ̅ⲥ̅ ⲡⲉⲡⲣⲟ-
30. ⲫⲏⲧⲏⲥ · ϫⲟⲟⲩ ⸗ ϩⲓϫⲉⲛ ⲧⲁⲟⲩ ⲉⲧⲟⲩⲁⲁⲃ ⸗
31. ⲉⲧ ⲛⲁⲓ ⲛⲉⲩⲣⲁⲛ ⲭ̅ⲁ̅ⲕ̅ⲟ̅ⲩ̅ⲣ̅ⲓ̅= ⲭ̅ⲁ̅ⲃ̅ⲛ̅ⲉ̅ⲓ̅ ⸗
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32. ⲭⲁⲃⲛⲁ ⸗ ϣⲱⲣⲁⲛⲓ ⸗ ϣⲟⲩⲣⲱⲛⲁ̣ⲉ̣
33. ⲙⲁⲣⲉ ⲡⲙⲟⲩⲣ ⲉⲡⲁⲓ ⲡⲉ ϣⲱⲡ · ϩⲓϫⲉ-
34. ⲙ ⲡⲥⲱⲙⲁ ⲛϩⲟⲟⲩⲧ ⸗ ⲇ̅ⲇ̅ ⲉϩⲟⲩⲛ ⲇ̅ⲇ̅ ⲛ̅-
35. ⲛⲉϥ ⲉϣⲓⲃⲱⲗ· ⲉⲃⲁⲗ ⲡⲁⲣⲑⲉⲛⲓⲁ ⸗ ⲇ̅ⲇ̅ ⸗
36. ⲛⲉϥⲧⲱⲥ ⸗ ⲛⲉϥⲧⲱⲟⲩⲛ ⸗
37. ⲛⲉϥϯ ⲥⲡⲉⲣⲙⲁ ⸗ ⲛⲉϥⲛⲁϣⲉⲃⲱⲗ
38. ⲉⲃⲁⲗ· ⲡⲁⲣⲑⲉⲛⲓⲁ ⲇ̅ⲇ̅ ⲁ̅ⲗ̅ⲗ̅ⲁ̅ ⲉϥ-
39. ϣⲱⲡⲓ ⸗ ϩⲉⲛⲥⲁⲣⲝ ⲇ̅ⲇ̅ ⸗ ⲙⲁⲣⲉ[[ⲥⲁ]]-
40. ⲥⲁ̅ⲣ̅ⲝ̅ ⲇ̅ⲇ̅ ⸗ ϣⲱⲡⲉ · ⲛ̇ⲑⲉ ⲧⲁⲩⲣⲉϥ-
41. ⲙⲁⲟⲩⲧ : ⲛⲉϥⲛⲉϣϫ ⲉⲃⲁⲗ ⸗
42. ϩⲉⲛ ⲡⲧⲁ̅ⲫ̅ⲱ̅ⲥ· ⲁ̅ⲓ̅ⲟ̅ ⲁ̅ⲓ̅ⲟ̅ ⲧ̅ⲁ̅ⲭ̅ⲏ̅ ⸗
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43. [kharaktēres: Ε ✴ 2 x complex kharaktēres]
44. ⲥϩⲁⲓ ⲛ̅ⲁ̅ⲗ̅-
45. ⲙⲓⲧⲉⲧ ⲛⲁⲗⲭⲱⲃⲓ ⲛⲓ⸗ⲑ̅ⲩ̅:
46. ϣⲁⲗ ⲛ̣ϩⲟⲟⲩⲧ : ⲛⲁⲗⲉⲩ: ϩⲓ ⲗⲓⲃ-
47. ⲁⲛⲟⲥ ⸗ ⲡⲕⲉⲙⲑⲏⲧⲓ ⲁϥϫⲟⲕ
48. ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ⲕⲁⲗⲟⲥ
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[20] Binding of the sky! Binding of the earth! O [21] binding of the mountain! O binding of the water! [22] O binding of the ring of the Father! O binding [23] of the axe which is in ⟨a⟩ fleshly hand! O [24] binding ⟨with⟩ which they bound Christ upon the wood [25] ⟨of⟩ the cross! You shall bind ⟨the⟩ virginity ⟨of⟩ NN, child of NN! [26] NN, child of NN, will not be able to release ⟨the⟩ virginity, [27] until ⟨the⟩ virginity (of) the [28] Holy Virgin is released! [29] O binding of the word which Elijah the prophet [30] spoke upon the holy mountain, [31] whose names are these: Khakouri, Khabnei,

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[32] Khabna, Shōrani, Shourōnae! [33] Let this binding be upon [34] the male body of NN, child of NN, towards NN, child of NN! [35] He will not be able to release ⟨the⟩ virginity ⟨of⟩ NN, child of NN! [36] He will not become hard! He will not become erect! [37] He will not ejaculate! He will not be able to release [38] ⟨the⟩ virginity ⟨of⟩ NN, child of NN! But it will be in ⟨the⟩ flesh ⟨of⟩ NN, child of NN! Let ⟨the⟩ [40] flesh (of) NN, child of NN, be as ⟨though⟩ they (sic) were [41] dead! He will not be able to receive (?) [42] from the tomb! Yea, Yea! Quickly!

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[43] [kharaktēres: Ε ✴ 2 x complex kharaktēres] [44-45] Write with secret ink these ⟨names⟩. Offering: [46] white male myrrh, [47] frankincense. The movement of hearts (?). It is finished, [48] well.

Tableau:

Tracing by:

Julia Schwarzer (2023)

Apparatus:

20. ⲉⲡⲧⲡⲉ i.e. Sahidic ⲛ̅-ⲧ-ⲡⲉ : l. ⲉⲧⲡⲉ Bilabel/Grohmann | ⲉⲡⲕⲁϩ i.e. Sahidic ⲙ̅-ⲡ-ⲕⲁϩ
21. ⲉⲡⲧⲁⲩ i.e. Sahidic ⲙ̅-ⲡ-ⲧⲟⲟⲩ | ⲉⲡⲙⲟⲟⲩ i.e. Sahidic ⲙ̅-ⲡ-ⲙⲟⲟⲩ
22. ⲡⲉⲕⲝⲟⲩⲣ ⲉⲡⲓⲱⲧ i.e. Sahidic ⲙ̅-ⲡⲉ⸗ⲕ-ⲝⲟⲩⲣ ⲙ̅-ⲡ-ⲓⲱⲧ
23. ⲉⲡⲕⲉⲗⲃⲓⲛⲓ i.e. Sahidⲓc ⲙ̅-ⲡ-ⲕⲉⲗⲉⲃⲓⲛ | ⲥⲁⲣⲝ i.e. Sahidic ⲛ̅-ⲥⲁⲣⲝ i.e. Greek σάρξ
24. ⲧⲁⲩⲙⲟⲩⲣ i.e. Sahidic ⲛⲧⲁ⸗ⲩ-ⲙⲟⲩⲣ | ⲭ̅ⲥ̅ l. ⲭ̅(ⲣⲓⲥⲧⲟ)ⲥ̅ i.e. Greek χριστός
25. ⲡⲉⲥ̅⳨ⲟ̅ⲥ̅ i.e. Sahidic ⲙ̅-ⲡⲉ-ⲥ̅⳨ⲟ̅ⲥ̅ i.e. Greek σταυρός | ⲕⲉⲙ̅ⲟ̅ⲩ̅ⲣ i.e. Sahidic ⲉ⸗ⲕ-ⲉ-ⲙⲟⲩⲣ | ⲡⲁⲣⲁⲑⲉⲛⲓⲁ i.e. Sahidic ⲡ-ⲡⲁⲣⲑⲉⲛⲓⲁ i.e. Greek παρθένια | ⲇ̅ⲇ̅ l. ⲛ̅-ⲇ(ⲉ)ⲓ(ⲛⲁ) ⲇ(ⲉ)ⲓ(ⲛⲁ) i.e. Greek δεῖνα δεῖνα
26. ⲡⲁⲣⲑⲉⲛⲓⲁ̅ i.e. Sahidic ⲡ-ⲡⲁⲣⲑⲉⲛⲓⲁ i.e. Greek παρθένια
27. ⲡⲁⲣⲑⲉ̅ⲛ̅ⲓ̅ⲁ i.e. Sahidic ⲡ-ⲡⲁⲣⲑⲉⲛⲓⲁ i.e. Greek παρθένια
27-28. ⲡ̅ⲡⲁⲣⲑⲉⲛⲟⲥ i.e. Sahidic ⲙ̅-ⲡ-ⲡⲁⲣⲑⲉⲛⲟⲥ i.e. Greek παρθένος
29. ⲉⲡϣⲁϫⲉ i.e. Sahidic ⲙ̅-ⲡ-ϣⲁϫⲉ | ⲧⲁϩⲏⲗ̅ⲓ̅ⲁ̅ⲥ̅ i.e. Sahidic ⲛⲧⲁ-ϩⲏⲗⲓⲁⲥ
29-30. ⲡⲣⲟⲫⲏⲧⲏⲥ i.e. Greek προφήτης
30. ϫⲟⲟⲩ : l. ϫⲟⲟϥ Bilabel/Grohmann | ⲧⲁⲟⲩ i.e. Sahidic ⲧⲟⲟⲩ
31. ⲉⲧ ⲛⲁⲓ ⲛⲉⲩⲣⲁⲛ i.e. Sahidic ⲉⲧⲉ ⲛⲁⲓ ⲛⲉ ⲛⲉ⸗ⲩ-ⲣⲁⲛ
32. ϣⲟⲩⲣⲱⲛⲁ̣ⲉ̣ : ϣⲟⲩⲓⲱⲛⲁ Bilabel/Grohmann
33. ⲉⲡⲁⲓ ⲡⲉ : l. ⲉ⟨ⲧ⟩ ⲡⲁⲓ ⲡⲉ Bilabel/Grohmann | ϣⲱⲡ : ϣⲱⲡⲓ Bilabel/Grohmann
34. ⲥⲱⲙⲁ i.e. Greek σῶμα | ⲇ̅ⲇ̅ l. ⲛ̅-ⲇ(ⲉ)ⲓ(ⲛⲁ) ⲇ(ⲉ)ⲓ(ⲛⲁ) i.e. Greek δεῖνα δεῖνα | ⲉϩⲟⲩⲛ ⲇ̅ⲇ̅ l. ⲉϩⲟⲩⲛ ⲉ-ⲇ(ⲉ)ⲓ(ⲛⲁ) ⲇ(ⲉ)ⲓ(ⲛⲁ) i.e. Greek δεῖνα δεῖνα
35. ⲉϣⲓⲃⲱⲗ : ⲉϣ:ⲃⲱⲗ Bilabel/Grohmann | ⲡⲁⲣⲑⲉⲛⲓⲁ i.e. Sahidic ⲡⲡⲁⲣⲑⲉⲛⲓⲁ i.e. Greek παρθένια | ⲇ̅ⲇ̅ l. ⲛ̅-ⲇ(ⲉ)ⲓ(ⲛⲁ) ⲇ(ⲉ)ⲓ(ⲛⲁ) i.e. Greek δεῖνα δεῖνα
36. ⲛⲉϥ i.e. Sahidic ⲛ̅ⲛⲉ⸗ϥ (twice)
37. ⲛⲉϥ i.e. Sahidic ⲛ̅ⲛⲉ⸗ϥ (twice)
38. ⲡⲁⲣⲑⲉⲛⲓⲁ i.e. Sahidic ⲡ-ⲡⲁⲣⲑⲉⲛⲓⲁ i.e. Greek παρθένια | ⲛ̅-ⲇ̅ⲇ̅ l. ⲇ(ⲉ)ⲓ(ⲛⲁ) ⲇ(ⲉ)ⲓ(ⲛⲁ) i.e. Greek δεῖνα δεῖνα | ⲁ̅ⲗ̅ⲗ̅ⲁ̅ i.e. Greek ἀλλά | ⲉϥ i.e. Sahidic ⲉ⸗ϥ-ⲉ-
39. ϩⲉⲛⲥⲁⲣⲝ ⲇ̅ⲇ̅ i.e. Sahidic ϩⲙ̅-ⲡ-ⲥⲁⲣⲝ ⲛ-ⲇ̅ⲇ̅ | ⲥⲁⲣⲝ i.e. Greek σάρξ | ⲇ̅ⲇ̅ l. ⲇ(ⲉ)ⲓ(ⲛⲁ) ⲇ(ⲉ)ⲓ(ⲛⲁ) i.e. Greek δεῖνα δεῖνα | ⲙⲁⲣⲉ[[ⲥⲁ]] deletion through erasure : ⲙⲁⲣⲉ ⲧ- Bilabel/Grohmann
39-40. ⲥ̣ⲁ̣ⲣⲝ ⲇ̅ⲇ̅ i.e. Sahidic ⲡ-ⲥⲁⲣⲝ ⲛ̅-ⲇ̅ⲇ̅ | ⲥⲁⲣⲝ i.e. Greek σάρξ | ⲇ̅ⲇ̅ l. ⲇ(ⲉ)ⲓ(ⲛⲁ) ⲇ(ⲉ)ⲓ(ⲛⲁ) i.e. Greek δεῖνα δεῖνα
40-41. ⲇ̅ⲇ̅ l. ⲛ̅-ⲇ(ⲉ)ⲓ(ⲛⲁ) ⲇ(ⲉ)ⲓ(ⲛⲁ) i.e. Greek δεῖνα δεῖνα | ⲛ̇ⲑⲉ ⲧⲁⲩⲣⲉϥⲙⲁⲟⲩⲧ l. ⲛ̅ⲧⲁ⸗ⲩ-ⲉⲣ- ⲣⲉϥ-ⲙⲟⲟⲩⲧ ?
41. ⲛⲉϥ i.e. Sahidic ⲛ̅ⲛⲉ⸗ϥ- | ϫ ⲉⲃⲁⲗ : l. ϫⲓ or ϫⲓ ⲉⲃⲁⲗ Bilabel/Grohmann
42. ⲧⲁ̅ⲫ̅ⲱ̅ⲥ i.e. Greek τάφος | ⲧ̅ⲁ̅ⲭ̅ⲏ̅ i.e. Greek ταχύ
44-45. ⲁ̅ⲗ̅ⲙⲓⲧⲉⲧ i.e. Arabic المداد al-madād
45. ⲁⲗⲭⲱⲃⲓ i.e. Arabic الخفية al-khufya | ⲑ̅ⲩ̅ l. ⲑⲩ(ⲥⲓⲁ) i.e. Greek θυσία
46-47. ⲗⲓⲃⲁⲛⲟⲥ i.e. Greek λίβανος
47. ⲡⲕⲉⲙⲑⲏⲧⲓ i.e. Sahidic/Fayumic ⲡ-ⲕⲉⲙⲧ-ϩⲉϯ (ϩⲏⲧ pl.) Gardner/Johnston
48. ⲕⲁⲗⲟⲥ i.e. Greek καλῶς

Notes:

Note that the edition here counts the kharaktēres in l. 43 as a separate line, so that the edition of Bilabel and Grohmann has one less line (KD 23/10/2020).

21. ⲉⲡⲧⲁⲩ Note that the word here could be translated as either “mountain” or “desert”.
22-30. For these lines, see the discussion in Gardner/Johnston p. 36-37.
31. Someting is missing at the beginning of the line according to Bilabel & Grohmann.
41. ⲛⲉϥⲛⲉϣϫ ⲉⲃⲁⲗ We might expect ⲛⲉϥⲉϣⲉⲓ ⲉⲃⲁⲗ “he will not be able to come out”, as translated in Meyer/Smith, but as Bilabel/Grohmann note, the verb here seems to be ϫⲓ (“receive”), or something similar, such as ϫⲟ (“put forth”).
46. Bilabel/Grohmann refer to A. Grohmann 1922, p. 146 and note 42.
47. For discussion on ⲡⲕⲉⲙⲑⲏⲧⲓ, see Gardner/Johnston, p. 46.

Bibliography:

Bilabel, Friedrich, and Adolf Grohmann. Griechische, koptische und arabische Texte zur Religion und religiösen Literatur in Ägyptens Spätzeit, Heidelberg: Verlag der Universitätsbibliothek, 1934, p. 393-396, no. 137.

Gardner, Iain, and Jay Johnston. “‘I, Deacon Iohannes, Servant Of Michael’: A New Look at P. Heid. Inv. Kopt. 682 and a Possible Context for the Heidelberg Magical Archive.” Journal of Coptic Studies 21 (2019): p. 31-53.

Grohmann, Adolf. Südarabien als Wirtschaftsgebiet. Vol. 1. Forschungsinstitut für Osten und Orient, 1922.

Meyer, Marvin W., and Richard Smith. Ancient Christian Magic: Coptic Texts of Ritual Power. Princeton (New Jersey): Princeton University Press, 1999, p. 179-180, no. 86.

Editor:

EL’s edition from photograph of the original (25/9/2018) (16/1/2020); minor edits KD (5/7/2020); MPS checked apparatus with Bilabel/Grohmann, Gardner/Johnston and made edits in the transcription (23/9/2020); edits by KD & MPS (25/9/2020)

How to cite:

Korshi Dosoo, Edward O.D. Love & Markéta Preininger (chief editors). "KYP T23: Binding curse against male virility," Kyprianos Database of Ancient Ritual Texts and Objects, www.coptic-magic.phil.uni-wuerzburg.de/index.php/text/kyp-t-23. Accessed on 30/04/2025

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