KYP T-232

KYPRIANOS DATABASE OF ANCIENT RITUAL TEXTS

KYPRIANOS T232

Manuscript:	M293
Sigla:	PCM 1 22 PCM I 22 P. Heid. Inv. Kopt. 681 P. Baden 5 139 P. Bad. V 139 Formerly P. Heid. Inv. Kopt. 1681
Text no. Position of the text within the manuscript.	2
Coptic Scriptorium:
Date:	951 – 1000

Text position:	Ro ll. 41-63
Type of text:	Magical (formulary, curse)

Original title:
Original title (translated):
Conventional title:	Curse

Language:	Egyptian (Coptic)
Dialect:	Sahidic with Fayumic features
Script:	Coptic
Image:	https://digi.ub.uni-heidelberg.de/diglit/p_kopt_681/0001/image

Text:

Translation:

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27. ⲁ̅ⲣ̅ⲓ̅ⲱ̅ : ⲁ̅ⲣ̅ⲓ̅ⲛ̅ⲁ̅ ⸗ ⲁ̅ⲣ̅ⲱ̅ⲙ̅ⲁ̅ : ⲁ̅ⲣ̅ⲱ̅ⲙ̅ⲁ̅ⲛ̅ⲁ̅ⲏ̅ⲗ̅ : ⲁ̅ⲣ̅ⲁ̅ⲥ̅ⲁ̅ –
28. ⲁ̅ⲣ̅ⲱ̅ⲙ̅ⲁ̅ⲱ̅ : ⲑ̅ⲁ̅ⲣ̅ⲙ̅ⲁ̅ⲱ̅ⲑ ⸗ ⲙ̅ⲁ̅ⲣ̅ⲙ̅ⲁ̅ⲣ̅ⲓ̅ⲱ̅ⲑ̅ ⸗ ϫⲉ ϯ

Captions for figures: ⲃⲱⲕ, ⲃⲁⲣⲟⲩⲭ,
Text inside figures: ⲱ, ⲟⲩⲭⲟⲩⲙⲁⲣ, ⲩⲩ

[tableau 1]

29. ⲡϣⲁϩ ⲉⲛⲉⲧⲁⲁⲩ ⲡ̇-
30. ϭⲱⲛⲧ ⸗ ⲉⲡϣⲁ̅ⲣ̅ⲃ̅ⲁ̅ ⸗ ⲡⲙⲁⲥⲧⲓ ⲛ̇ⲡⲉⲑ̅-
31. ⲗⲁ ⲃⲁⲗ · ⲱ̅ⲑ̅ⲱ̅ⲣ̅ ⸗ ⲡ̣̅ⲅ̣̅ ⲛ̅ⲁ̅ⲅ̅ⲅ̅ⲉ̅ⲗ̅ⲱ̅ⲥ̅ ⲷ
32. ⲙⲙⲁⲥϯ : ϩⲓ ϯⲧ̅ⲱ̅ⲛ̅ ⸗ ϩⲓ ⲃ̅ⲁ̅ⲥ̅ⲑ̅ⲁ̅ ⸗ ⲉⲡϩⲁ ⲇ̅ⲇ̅⸗
33. ϫⲉⲕⲁⲥ ϩⲛ ⲧⲉⲩⲛⲟⲩ ⲛϣⲁⲥϩⲁⲓ ⲛ̇ⲛⲉ⸗ⲧⲉⲛ
34. ⲣⲁⲛ ⸗ ⲙⲛ ⲛⲉⲧⲉⲛⲥ̅ⲱ̅ϯ̅ⲟ̅ⲩ̅ⲛ̅ ⸗ ⲙⲛ ⲛⲉ-
35. ⲧⲉⲛⲫ̅ⲩ̅ ⲷ ⲉⲡⲃⲓⲧ ⸗ ⲡϭⲁⲗⲉϩ : ⲧⲁⲥⲁϩ-
36. ϯ ϩⲁⲣⲁⲥ : ϣⲁⲛⲧⲉⲥϫⲱⲣ : ⲕⲉϫⲱⲣ =
37. ⲉⲡϩⲁ ⲇ̅ⲇ̅ ⲙ̇ⲡⲉⲙⲧⲁ ⲉⲃⲁⲗ · ⲙⲡⲕⲉⲛ̅ⲟ̅ⲥ̅
38. ⲧⲏⲣϥ ⸗ ⲛⲁ̅ⲇ̅ⲁ̅ⲙ ⸗ ⲙⲛ : ⲛⲉϣⲏⲣⲉ ⲧⲏⲣⲟ⧹ⲩ⧸
39. ⲛⲥ̅ⲱ̅ⲏ̅ ⸗ ⲛⲉⲕⲟⲩⲓ ⲙ̇ⲛ ⲛⲉⲛⲟϭ
40. ⲛⲉⲁⲣⲭ̅ⲏ̅ ⲙⲛ ⲛ̅ⲉ̅ⲝⲟⲩⲥⲓⲁ · ⲙ̇ ⲛⲉⲣⲟ ⲙ̅ⲛ̅
41. ⲛⲉⲣⲉϥϯ ϩⲁⲡ ϫⲉ ϩⲛ ⲧⲉⲩⲛⲟⲩ : ϣⲁⲩ-
42. ⲛⲁⲩ · ⲉⲡϩⲁ ⲇ̅ⲇ̅ ⸗ ⲉⲩ̇ⲙⲉⲥⲧⲱⲱϥ · ⲙⲛ
43. ⲡⲉⲥϣⲁϫⲉ ⲛⲉⲡⲉⲥϩⲁ ϫⲓ ⲭⲁⲣⲓⲥ : ⲟⲩ-
44. ⲧⲉ ⲡⲉⲥϩⲱⲃ · ⲛⲉϥⲥⲁⲩⲧⲉⲛ : ϣⲁ ⲛ-
45. ⲛⲉϩ : ϩⲛ ⲟⲩⲁⲉⲓϣ ⲛⲓⲙ ⲁ̅ⲓ̅ⲟ̅ ⲧ̅ⲁ̅ⲭ̅ⲏ̅
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46. ⲥϩⲁⲓ ⲡϣⲣⲱ : ⲉⲡⲃⲓⲧ : ⲟⲩϭⲁⲗⲉϩⲧ ⸗
47. ⲛⲕⲱⲧ ⲥⲁⲡⲉϩⲟⲩ : ⲟⲩⲁϩ : ϩⲓϫⲉⲛ ⲅ̅
48. ⲛⲧⲱⲃⲓ : ⲛⲁⲙⲓ : ⲥⲁϩϯ ϩⲁⲣⲁⲥ̣ ⲧⲁⲙⲥ
49. ϩⲓ ⲟⲩϩⲓⲣ ⲉ̅ⲥ̅⳨ⲟ̅ⲥ̅ ⲑ̅ⲩ̅ ⲕⲁ̅ⲥ̅ ϫ̅ⲁ̅ⲉ̅ⲓ̅ⲧ̅ ⲷ
50. ⲟⲩⲱϣⲉ ⲡⲕⲱϩⲧ · ⲁϥϫⲟⲕ ⲉⲃⲁⲗ
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(Captions for figures:) Bōk Baroukh

(Inside figures:) Ō, Oukhoumar, UU

[27] Ariō, Arina, Arōma, Arōmanaēl, Arasa, [28] Arōmaō, Tharmaōth, Marmariōth.

Say: Give [29] the flame of the deserts, the [30] wrath of the scorching heat, the hatred of the scattering – [31] Othōr, O three angels, [32] of hatred and strife and hatefulness – to the face of NN, child of NN, [33] so that in the moment that I write your (pl.) [34] names and your (pl.) images and [35] your (pl.) phylacteries on the edge ⟨of⟩ the pot, and I kindle ⟨fire⟩ [36] under it until it blackens, you will blacken [37] the face ⟨of⟩ NN, child of NN, in the presence of the entire race [38] of Adam and all the children [39] of Zoē, the small and the great, [40] the rulers and the authorities and the kings and [41] the judges so that in the moment that they [42] see the face ⟨of⟩ NN, child of NN, they will hate it and [43] her speech! Her face will not receive favour nor [44] her work, it will not be successful for [45] ever, at any time! Yea! Quickly!
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[46] Write ⟨in⟩ menstrual ⟨blood⟩ on the edge ⟨of⟩ a pot. [47] Turn it on its back. Place ⟨it⟩ upon three [48] mud bricks. Kindle ⟨fire⟩ under it. Bury it [49] at a crossroads. Offering: olive pit (?). [50] Consume ⟨it⟩ in the fire. It is finished.

Tableau:

Tracing by:

Edward Love

Apparatus:

29. ⲉⲛⲉⲧⲁⲁⲩ i.e. Sahidic ⲛ̅-ⲛ-ⲧⲟⲟⲩ : ⲛ̅-ⲛ-ⲉⲧ-ⲁⲁ⸗ⲩ Bilabel & Grohmann translate “the flame of those who make (magic)” (“die Flamme denen, die sie (die Zaubereien) machen”, Frankfurter translates “the flame from which they are made”
30. ⲉⲡϣⲁⲣⲃⲁ i.e. Sahidic ⲙ̅-ⲡ-ϣⲁⲣⲃⲁ
30-31. ⲑ̅ⲗⲁ ⲃⲁⲗ i.e. Sahidic ⲑⲗⲟ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ
31. ⲁ̅ⲅ̅ⲅ̅ⲉ̅ⲗ̅ⲱ̅ⲥ̅ i.e. Greek ἄγγελος
32. ⲙⲙⲁⲥϯ i.e. Sahidic ⲙ̅-ⲙⲟⲥⲧⲉ | ⲃ̅ⲁ̅ⲥ̅ⲑ̅ⲁ̅ i.e. Sahidic ⲃⲁⲥⲧ-ϩⲟ see van der Vliet | ⲇ̅ⲇ̅ l. ⲛ̅-ⲇ(ⲉ)ⲓ(ⲛⲁ) ⲇ(ⲉ)ⲓ(ⲛⲁ) i.e. Greek δεῖνα δεῖνα
34. ⲥ̅ⲱ̅ϯ̅ⲟ̅ⲩ̅ⲛ̅ i.e. Greek ζῴδιον
35. ⲫ̅ⲩ̅ i.e. Greek φυλακτήριον | ⲡⲃⲓⲧ <ⲙ̅>ⲡϭⲁⲗⲉϩ
36. ⲕⲉϫⲱⲣ i.e. Sahidic ⲉ⸗ⲕ-ⲉ-ϫⲱⲣ : i.e. Sahidic ϫⲟ(ⲟ)ⲣ Bilabel & Grohmann
37. ⲉⲡϩⲁ i.e. Sahidic ⲙ̅-ⲡ-ϩⲟ | ⲇ̅ⲇ̅ l. ⲛ̅-ⲇ(ⲉ)ⲓ(ⲛⲁ) ⲇ(ⲉ)ⲓ(ⲛⲁ) i.e. Greek δεῖνα δεῖνa | ⲕⲉⲛ̅ⲟ̅ⲥ̅ i.e. Greek γένος
38. ⲟⲩ ligatured ⲟ+ⲩ
40. ⲁⲣⲭ̅ⲏ̅ i.e. Greek ἀρχή | ⲉ̅ⲝⲟⲩⲥⲓⲁ i.e. Greek ἐξουσία | ⲙ ⲛⲉⲣⲟ i.e. Sahidic ⲙⲛ ⲛ-ⲣ̅ⲣⲟ (haplography of nu)
42. ⲇ̅ⲇ̅ l. ⲛ̅-ⲇ(ⲉ)ⲓ(ⲛⲁ) ⲇ(ⲉ)ⲓ(ⲛⲁ) i.e. Greek δεῖνα δεῖνα | ⲉⲩ̇ⲙⲉⲥⲧⲱⲱϥ i.e. Sahidic ⲉ⸗ⲩ-ⲉ-ⲙⲉⲥⲧⲱ⸗ϥ
43. ⲛⲉⲡⲉⲥϩⲁ corrected from ⲙⲉⲡⲉⲥϩⲁ ⲙⲛ̅ ⲡⲉ⸗ⲥ-ϩⲁ: ⲭⲁⲣⲓⲥ i.e. Greek χάρις
45. ⲧ̅ⲁ̅ⲭ̅ⲏ̅ i.e. Greek ταχύ
46. ⲡϣⲣⲱ l. ⲡ(ⲥⲛⲁϥ) ⲉϣⲣⲱ i.e. Sahidic ⲡ-ⲥⲛⲟϥ ⲛ̅-ϣⲣⲱ | ⲡⲃⲓⲧ ⲟⲩϭⲁⲗⲉϩⲧ i.e. Sahidic ⲡ-ⲃⲓⲧ ⲛ-ⲟⲩ-ϭⲁⲗⲁϩⲧ for ⲃⲓⲧ see Crum CD p. xvib : ⲃⲓⲧ = ⲃⲏⲧ ? (?) Bilabel & Grohmann ϭⲁⲗⲁϩ Bilabel & Grohmann
47. ⲛⲕⲱⲧ ⲥⲁⲡⲉϩⲟⲩ i.e. Sahidic ⲛ̅⸗ⲅ-ⲕⲟⲧ⸗ⲥ ⲥⲁⲡⲉϩⲟⲩ (haplography of sigma) : l. ⲛⲕⲟⲧⲕ̅ ⲥⲁⲡⲉϩⲟⲩ Bilabel & Grohmann, Frankfurter, who translate “sleep behind it”
48. ⲁⲙⲓ i.e. Sahidic ⲟⲙⲉ | ⲧⲁⲙⲥ l. ⲧⲁⲙⲥ⸗ⲥ (haplography of sigma)
49. ϩⲓⲣ ⲉ̅ⲥ̅⳨ⲟ̅ⲥ̅ i.e. Sahidic ϩⲓⲣ ⲛ̅ⲥ(ⲧⲁⲩⲣⲟ)ⲥ i.e. Greek σταυρός | ⲑ̅ⲩ̅ l. ⲑⲩ(ⲥⲓⲁ) i.e. Greek θυσία | ⲕⲁ̅ⲥ̅ ϫ̅ⲁ̅ⲉ̅ⲓ̅ⲧ̅ i.e. Sahidic ⲕⲁⲥ ⲛ-ϫⲟⲉⲓⲧ
50. ⲟⲩⲱϣⲉ ⲡⲕⲱϩⲧ l. ⲟⲩⲱϣⲉ ⲉⲡⲕⲱϩⲧ i.e. Sahidic ⲟⲩⲱϣⲉ ⲙ̅-ⲡⲕⲱϩⲧ (haplography of epsilon) | ϫⲟⲕ i.e. Sahidic ϫⲱⲕ

Notes:

46. ⲡϣⲣⲱ The word ϣⲣⲱ (“menstrual blood”) is feminine, so the masculine definite article used here must indicate that the masculine word ⲥⲛⲟϥ “blood” has been omitted.
49. ⲕⲁ̅ⲥ̅ ϫ̅ⲁ̅ⲉ̅ⲓ̅ⲧ̅ This literally means “the bone of an olive”, but since Bilabel & Grohmann has been taken to mean “olive pit”.
Line numbering: Bilabel & Grohmann and Frankfurter give line numbers to the labels of the image, so that our l. 29 corresponds to their l. 31.

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. 400-404, no. 139.

Meyer, Marvin W., and Richard Smith. Ancient Christian Magic: Coptic Texts of Ritual Power. Princeton (New Jersey): Princeton University Press, 1999, p. 212-215, no. 105.

Mößner, Tamara and Claudia Nauerth. “Koptische Text und ihre Bilder.” In Ägyptische Magie und ihre Umwelt, edited by Andrea Jördens, Wiesbaden: Harrassowitz, 2015, p. 310; p. 330-333 [translation of Bilabel/Grohmann].

van der Vliet, Jacques. “Varia magica coptica.” Aegyptus 71 1/2 (1991): p. 234-236.

http://litpap.info/dclp/99609 (25/9/18)

Editor:

EL’s edition from photograph of the original (25/9/2018) (16/1/2020); team from photograph (24/2/2021); KD (23/4/2021); JS (12/1/2023)

How to cite:

Korshi Dosoo, Edward O.D. Love & Markéta Preininger (chief editors). "KYP T232: Curse," Kyprianos Database of Ancient Ritual Texts and Objects, www.coptic-magic.phil.uni-wuerzburg.de/index.php/text/kyp-t-232. Accessed on 29/04/2025

How to cite:

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