| Manuscript: | M186 |
| Sigla: | P. Heid. Inv. Kopt. 685 |
Text no. 
Position of the text within the manuscript. | 6 |
| Coptic Scriptorium: | |
| Date: | 951 – 1000 |
| Text position: | p. 12 l. 1-p. 16 l. 15 |
| Type of text: | Protection (magical, formulary) |
| Original title: | |
| Original title (translated): | |
| Conventional title: | Adjuration of nine angelic guardians for protection. |
| Language: | Egyptian (Coptic) |
| Dialect: | Sahidic with Middle Egyptian features |
| Script: | Coptic |
| Image: | http://www.rzuser.uni-heidelberg.de/~gv0/Papyri/K0685_Meyer/ |
| Text: | Translation: |
| p. 12 1. ϩⲙ ⲡⲣⲁⲛ ⲡⲓⲱⲧ ⲙ̇ⲛ ϣⲏⲣⲉ ⸗ ⲡⲉⲡⲛ̅ⲁ̅ ⲉⲧⲟⲩⲁ⧸ⲁϥ⧹ Above figure 1 of tableau 1: 2. ⲙⲁⲛⲓⲝ ⸗ Above figure 2 of tableau 1: 4. ⲫⲟⲩ- Above figure 3 of tableau 1: 6. ⲫⲟⲩ⧸ⲣⲁ⧹ⲛⲉⲓ Above figure 1 of tableau 2: 7. ⲁⲃⲓⲟⲩⲑ Above figure 2 of tableau 2: 8. ⲅⲁⲣⲛⲁⲃⲓⲟⲩⲑ Inside figure 1 of tableau 2: 9. (Kharaktēres: ΑΩ) Inside figure 2 of tableau 2: 11. ⲓⲱⲕⲁⲡ ⲡⲓⲱⲧ Left of figure 2 of tableau 2: Above figure 1 of tableau 3: 20. ⲅ̅ⲁ̅ⲣ̅ⲛ̅ⲁ̅ⲃ̅ⲓ̅ⲏ̅ⲗ̅ Inside figure 1 of tableau 3: 21. (Kharaktēres: ΑΧΥ) Above figure 2 of tableau 3: 24. ⲃ̅ⲏ̅ⲑ̅ Above figure 3 of tableau 3: 26. ⲓ̅ⲥ̅ ⧸ⲭ̅ⲥ̅⧹ Right of figure 3 of tableau 3: 28. ⲃⲏⲑⲁⲉⲓ p. 13 —————————————————————— p. 14 1. ϯⲧ̅ⲉ̅ⲣ̅ⲕ̅ⲟ̅ ⲙ̅ⲱ̅ⲧ̅ ⲡ̅ⲑ̅ ϩ̅ⲟ̅ⲩ̅ⲣ̅ⲓⲧ : ⲛⲧⲉ ⲛ·ⲅ̅ ⸗ p. 15 1. ⲥ̅ⲏ̅ⲛ̅ⲧ̅ⲁ̅ⲗ̅ⲁ̅ⲗ̅ⲁ̅ⲥ̅ ⸗ ⲥ̅ⲏ̅ⲛ̅ⲧ̅ⲁ̅ⲗ̅ⲁ̅ⲗ̅ⲓ̅ⲁ̅ ⸗ p. 16 1. ⲁ̅ⲛ̅ⲁ̅ⲏ̅ⲗ̅ ⸗ ⲓ̅ⲥ̅ ⲡⲉⲭ̅ⲥ̅ : ⲃⲱⲓⲑⲓ ⳽̅⳽̅ |
[p. 12 l. 1] In the name of the Father and the Son ⟨and⟩ the Holy Spirit. Above figure 1 of tableau 1: [2] Manix, [3] Jesus Christ Above figure 2 of tableau 1: [4-5] Phourat Above figure 3 of tableau 1: [6] Phouranei Above figure 1 of tableau 2: [7] Abiouth Above figure 2 of tableau 2: [8] Garnabiouth Inside figure 1 of tableau 2: [9] (Kharaktēres: ΑΩ) Inside figure 2 of tableau 2: [11] Iōkap, the Father, [12] Iao Sabaoth [13] Adonai, [14] protect NN! Left of figure 2 of tableau 2: [15] The son of [16] Mary [17] ⟨the⟩ virgin, [18] Alkar [19] Karha. Above figure 1 of tableau 3: [20] Garnabiēl Inside figure 1 of tableau 3: [21] (Kharaktēres: ΑΧΥ) Above figure 2 of tableau 3: [24] Bēth Above figure 3 of tableau 3 [26] Jesus Christ Right of figure 3 of tableau 3: [28] Bēthaei [p. 13 l. 1] O Manix, Phourat, Phouranei, the Three [3] Guardians who protect the body ⟨of⟩ the Father Almighty, [3] may you (s.) protect my body, me, Joseph, son ⟨of⟩ Paraseu! [4] O Abiouth, Garnabiouth, Garnabiēl, [5] the Three Guardians who protect the body of Jesus Christ, [6] the son ⟨of⟩ God, may you (s.) protect my body, me, NN! [7] O Bēth, Bēthaf, Bēthaei, the Three Guardians who [8] protect the body of the Holy Spirit, may you (s.) protect [9] ⟨my⟩ body, me, Joseph, son ⟨of⟩ Paraseu, yea, yea! [10] I adjure you, O Nine Guardians, by the first [11] labour pang that Mary suffered until she gave birth to [12] Christ, the Son of God that you (s.) protect NN, yea, quickly! [13] I adjure you, O Nine Guardians, by the suffering that the [14] son of God experienced upon the wood ⟨of⟩ the cross [15] that you (s.) protect the body ⟨of⟩ NN, the son ⟨of⟩ NN, yea, yea, quickly! [16] I adjure you, O Nine Guardians, by the five nails [17] which pierced the hands and feet of [18] Jesus Christ, the Son of God, whose names are [19] Sōtōr, Aretō, Tenēt, Ōtera, [20] Rōtas, that you (s.) watch over the body of NN, yea, quickly! [21] I adjure you, O Nine Guardians, ⟨by⟩ the vinegar and [22] the gall that Jesus, the Son of God, tasted [23] when he was upon the cross that you (s.) protect NN, yea, yea! [24] I adjure you, Nine Guardians, by the three sounds [25] that Jesus cried out until ⟨he⟩ gave the spirit ⟨into⟩ [26] the hands of the good Father that you (s.) watch over NN, yea! [27] I adjure you, O Nine Guardians, by the wound ⟨from⟩ the [28] spear which was thrust in the right side [29] of Jesus, the Son of God, when he [30] he was upon the cross – water [31] and blood poured out – that you (s.) protect NN, yea! [p. 14 l. 1] I adjure you, O Nine Guardians, by the three [2] teardrops which came from, [3] the eyes of the good Father upon [4] the head of his son, Jesus, when he was upon [5] the cross, that ⟨you⟩ watch over NN, yea, quickly! [6] I adjure you, O Nine Guardians, by the holy remains [7] that are placed [8] upon them, the body and the blood of Jesus, [9] the Son of God, in the Church of [10] ⟨the⟩ Firstborn in the heavens, that you protect! [11] I adjure you, O Nine Guardians, by Ōpha, [12] the body of the Father, and Ōrphamiēl, [13] the great finger on the right hand of the Father, [14] and Abrasax, who measures the right hand [15] of the Father, [16] that you (s.) protect the body ⟨of⟩ NN, yea, yea, quickly! [17] I adjure you, O Nine Guardians, by the two hands [18] of the Father Almighty, whose [19] names are Adramiēl, which is his right, [20] Drakhaēl, which is his left, that you watch over NN, yea! [21] I adjure you, O Nine Guardians, by the two feet [22] of the Father Almighty, whose names are [23] Thaōth, which is his right, Thaōtha, [24] which is his left, that ⟨you⟩ watch over NN, yea, quickly! [25] I adjure you, O Nine Guardians, by the four [26] pillars that bear heaven, [27] whose names are Sēt, Sēntas! [p. 15 l. 1] Sēntalalas, Sēntalalia, [2] that you protect the body ⟨of⟩ NN, yea! [3] I adjure you, O Nine Guardians, by these [4] blessed names, which are on the right side [5] of the altar of the Father, which [6] are Sabaoth, Mēthēmōn, Soumithion, [7] Perikhē, Akramata, Taektōr, [8] Fmiēl, Santalalia, protect NN, yea! [9] Holy, holy, holy Lord Sabaoth, [10] heaven and earth are full of ⟨your⟩ holy glory, amen! Jesus Christ, help him, [12] by the power of these blessed names, which [13] are Abia, Ephikhē, Arthasa, Abaktani, Ourion, [14] Eleōth, Alabia, Atha, Abathithal, Jesus Christ, [15] Pepōrk, Manoušros, Komouēl, [16] Sarak, Metha, Farmaros, Pharara, [17] Ehtōrō, Ōmar, Adonai, Paōratos, [18] Pamiantōs, Pamētratōs, Ouphamiēl, [19] Ōrphanil! Jesus Christ, help NN and all [20] who will carry the Nine Guardians, whose names are [21] Abiēl, Bēth, Bētha, Bēthanei, [22] Anaēl, Eriēl, Khoumakha, Manon, [23] Manaba! Jesus Christ, watch over NN, yea, quickly! [24] Sabaxōriēl, Sariēl, Sēriēl, [25] Hrouēl, Marmarouēl, Sabaoth, [26] Bathouēl, Michael, Gabriel, Raphael, [27] Suriel, Zedekiēl, Salathiēl [p. 16 l. 1] Anael! Jesus Christ, help NN [2] by the power of these names, Taramiēl, [2] Eskehōēl, Mesōb, [3] Memoi! Jesus Christ, may you protect NN, yea, yea, [5] and all who will carry this image! [6] May he be like the tree [7] of life in ⟨the⟩ middle ⟨of⟩ Paradise, yea!” [8] The procedure: draw with saffron and wine of the first fruits [9] and rose water on paper. Bind them upon them. [10] Draw again upon a cup, wash them off, pour it on the head (?); [11] east-facing water. Draw (?) again ⟨with wine of the⟩ first fruits upon a sheet, [12] upon the shoulder of ⟨the⟩ pot. ⟨Wear⟩ a scarlet cloak. [13] ⟨A⟩ virgin palm branch on the shoulder of the pot. Offering: [14] mastic, agarwood, styrax, musk, water, [15] rose water. It is completely finished. Amen. |
| Tableau: | Edward Love |
| Tracing by: | Edward Love |
| Apparatus: | p. 12 1. ⲡⲓⲱⲧ i.e. Saidic ⲙ̅-ⲡⲉⲓⲱⲧ | ⲡⲛ̅ⲁ̅ l. ⲡⲛ(ⲉⲩⲙ)ⲁ i.e. Greek πνεῦμα p. 13 2. ⲥⲱⲙⲁ i.e. Greek σῶμα | ⲡⲓⲱⲧ i.e. Sahidic ⲙ̅-ⲡ-ⲉⲓⲱⲧ | ⲡ̅ⲁ̅ⲛ̅ⲧ̅ⲟ̅ⲣ̅ l. ⲡ-ⲡⲁⲛⲧ(ⲟⲕⲣⲁⲧ)ⲟⲣ i.e. Greek παντοκράτωρ p. 14 1. ⲙ̅ⲱ̅ⲧ̅ i.e. Sahidic ⲙ̅ⲙⲱ⸗ⲧⲛ̅ p. 15 2. ⲉⲧⲣⲁⲉⲓⲥ l. ⲉ⸗ⲧⲉⲧⲛ-ⲉ-ⲣⲟⲉⲓⲥ | ⲥⲱⲙⲁ i.e. Greek σῶμα | ⳽̅⳽̅ l. (ⲇⲉⲓⲛⲁ) (ⲇⲉⲓⲛⲁ) i.e. Greek δεῖνα δεῖνα p. 16 1. ⲓ̅ⲥ̅ ⲡⲉⲭ̅ⲥ̅ l. ⲓ(ⲏⲥⲟⲩ)ⲥ ⲡⲉ-ⲭ(ⲣⲓⲥⲧⲟ)ⲥ i.e. Greek χριστός | ⲃⲱⲓⲑⲓ i.e. Greek βοηθεῖν | ⳽̅⳽̅ l. (ⲇⲉⲓⲛⲁ) (ⲇⲉⲓⲛⲁ) i.e. Greek δεῖνα δεῖνα double supralinear stroke in papyrus |
| Notes: | p. 13 19-20. ⲥ̅ⲱ̅ⲧ̅ⲱ̅ⲣ̅ : ⲁ̅ⲣ̅ⲉ̅ⲧ̅ⲱ̅ ⸗ ⲧ̅ⲉ̅ⲛ̅ⲏ̅ⲧ̅ ⸗ ⲱ̅ⲧ̅ⲉ̅ⲣ̅ⲁ̅ ⸗ ⲣ̅ⲱ̅ⲧ̅ⲁ̅ⲥ̅ This is a writing of the Sator square, whose canonical Latin form is Sator Arepo Tenet Opera Rotas. p. 15 6-7. ⲙ̅ⲏ̅ⲑ̅ⲏ̅ⲙ̅ⲱ̅ⲛ̅, ⲥ̅ⲟ̅ⲩ̅ⲙ̅ⲓ̅ⲑ̅ⲓ̅ⲟ̅ⲛ̅, ⲁ̅ⲕ̅ⲣ̅ⲁ̅ⲙ̅ⲁ̅ⲧ̅ⲁ̅, ⲡ̅ⲉ̅ⲣ̅ⲓ̅ⲭ̅ⲏ̅ Apparently variants of the names of the Four Living Creatures of Revelation 4.6-8, whose names are often given in the Coptic and Nubian tradition as variants of ⲙⲉⲗⲓⲧⲱⲛ, ⲥⲟⲩⲣⲟⲩⲑⲓⲟⲛ, ⲁⲅⲣⲁⲙⲙⲁⲧⲁⲡ, and ⲡⲁⲣⲁⲙⲩⲣⲁ; cf. Tsakos 2014. For the specific form of the first name, cf. Matthew 1.23 καὶ καλέσουσιν τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ Ἐμμανουήλ, ὅ ἐστιν μεθερμηνευόμενον Μεθ’ ἡμῶν ὁ θεός (“and his name will be called Emmanuel, which interpreted means ‘God is with us’ (meth’ēmōn)” p. 16 10. ⲁⲗϭⲉⲉⲙ We understand this to be a writing of Arabic الجام al-ǧām, cf. Richter, Arabische Woerter in koptischen Texten p. 155. Meyer suggests that the word is perhaps derived from ⲁⲗϭⲉⲉⲙⲓⲁ, “alchemy”. Meyer also refers to Beltz suggesting that it comes from ⲕⲁⲙ/ϭⲉⲙ, and to Emmel, suggesting ϭ(ⲉ)ⲗⲙⲁⲓ (Meyer: p. 50, n. 16,10). |
| Bibliography: | Dosoo, Korshi, Edward O.D. Love, and Markéta Preininger. “The Coptic Magical Papyri Project: Progress Report.” Journal of Coptic Studies 24 (2022): 43–100. Gardner, Iain. “An Archive of Coptic Handbooks and Exemplars for the Making of Amulets and the Enacting of Ritual Power from the Tenth Century (P. Heid. Inv. Kopt. 680–683 and 685–686)”, in Drawing Spirit: The Role of Images and Design in the Magical Practice of Late Antiquity, edited by Jay Johnston and Iain Gardner (Berlin: De Gruyter, 2022), 73-134. Meyer, Marvin W. The Magical Book of Mary and the angels : (P. Heid. Inv. Kopt. 685): Text, Translation and Commentary. Heidelberg: Universitätsverlag C. Winter, 1996. Richter, Tonio Sebastian. “Arabische Wörter in koptischen Texten: Ein Überblick”, in Zwischen Philologie und Lexikographie des Ägyptisch-Koptischen, edited by Peter Dils and Lutz Popko (Stuttgart/Leipzig: S. Hirzel, 2016), 137-163. Tsakos, Alexandros. “Miscellanea Epigraphica Nubica V: The Names of the Four Creatures of the Apocalypse in Christian Nubia”, Collectanea Christiana Orientalia 11, 2014, pp. 253-263. |
| Editor: | Text from DDGLC project based on edition of Meyer (entered 14/20/2019); a few lines of translation, team (30/4/2021); team (14/11/2022); KD (6/12/2022) |