KYP T-608

KYPRIANOS DATABASE OF ANCIENT RITUAL TEXTS

KYPRIANOS T608

Manuscript:	M26
Sigla:	IFAO Copte 449 P. Institut français d’achéologie orientale Cairo
Text no. Position of the text within the manuscript.	1
Coptic Scriptorium:
Date:	401 – 500

Text position:	Ro ll. 1-Vo ll. 2
Type of text:	Curse (magical, applied, prayer for justice)

Original title:
Original title (translated):
Conventional title:	Applied curse against Iakōb

Language:	Egyptian (Coptic)
Dialect:	Akhmimic (non-standard)
Script:	Coptic
Image:

Text:

Translation:

Recto
→
1. ⳨ ⲓⲁⲕ̣ⲱⲃ̣ +++
2. ⲙⲓⲭⲁⲏⲗ ⲅⲁⲃⲣⲓⲏⲗ ⲥⲟⲩⲗⲉⲏⲗ ⲡ̣ⲁ̣ⲥⳉ ⲉⲧⲛⲏⲩ̣ ⲁ̣ⲃⲁ̣ⲗ̣
3. ⳉⲏ̅ ⲧⲡⲉ ⲁⲃⲁⲉⲓ ⲁⳉⲣⲏ ⲁϣⲱϥ ⳉⲏⲛ {ⲟⲩ}ⲟⲩϩⲉⲉ ⲉⲛⲙⲁϥ-
4. ⲧⲱ ⲡⲓⲱⲧ ⲉⲛⳉⲏ ⲯⲏⲣⲉ ⲉⲧⳉⲏⲛ ⲡⲓⲱⲧ ⲁⲕⲁⲏⲛⲧ ⳉ̅-
5. ⲛ̣ ⲟⲩϩⲉⲉ ⲉⲛⲙⲁϥⲧⲱⲛⲉ ⲯⲟⲩⲧⲉϥⲧⲉ ⲉⲛϣⲉ
6. ⲙⲁⲣⲧⲏⲥ ⳉⲏⲛ ⲟⲩϩⲉ ⲉⲙⲁϥⲧⲱⲛⲉ ⲙⲁⲣⲓⲁ ⧹ⲉ⧸ⲛⲧⲁⲥ-
7. ⳉⲡⲱ ⲓ̅ⲥ̅ ⲁⲕⲁⲛ̅ⲧ ⳉⲏⲛ ⲟⲩϩⲉⲉ ⲉ̣ⲛ̣ⲙⲁϥⲧⲱⲛⲉ ⲥⲟⲩⲗⲏ-
8. ⲏⲗ ⲅⲁⲃⲣⲓⲏⲗ ⲁⲕⲁⲏⲛⲧϥ ⳉⲏⲛ̣ [ⲟⲩ]ϩⲉⲉ ⲉⲛⲙⲁϥⲧⲱⲛⲉ
9. ⲧⲱⲛⲉ ⳉⲛ̅ ⲧⲉⲕⲟⲣⲅⲏ ⳉⲛ̅ [ⲟⲩ]ϭ̣ⲁⲉⲓ ⲉⲧϣⲁⲥⲉ
10. [ⲡ]ⲁϣⲁⲉⲓⲥ ⲓ̅ⲥ̅ ⲁⲕⲁⲏⲛⲧϥ̣ [ⳉ]ⲏⲛ ⲟⲩϩⲉ ⲉⲛⲙⲁϥ-
11. [ⲧⲱ]ⲛ̣ⲉ ⲡⲁⲓⲱⲧ ⲍⲁⲭⲁⲣⲓⲁ̣ⲥ ⲉⲧⲟ̣ⲩⲁⲃⲉ
12. [ⲁⲕ]ⲁⲛ̅ⲧ ⳉⲏⲛ ⲟⲩϩⲉⲉ ⲉⲛⲙⲁϥⲧⲱⲛⲉ +++
13. [ⲯⲩⲭ]ⲉ̣ ⲛⲛⲓⲙ ⲁⲕⲁⲏⲛⲧ ⲁⳉⲣⲏ ⲁⲩⳉⲁⲉⲓ
—————————————————————
14. [ⲉⲧϣ]ⲁ̣ⲥⲉ ⲁ̣ⲉ ⲡⲓⲱⲧ ⲉⲛⲭⲏ ⲯⲏⲣⲉ ⲓⲁⲕⲱⲃ

Verso (back)
↓
1. ⲁⲕⲁⲛ̅ⲧ ⲁⳉⲣⲏ ⲁ̣ⲩ̣ⳉ̣[ⲁⲉⲓ] ⲉ̣ⲧ̣ϣ̣[ⲁⲥⲉ]
2. ⲡⲁϣⲁⲉⲓⲥ ⲁⲕⲁ[ⲏⲛⲧϥ ⳉⲏⲛ ⲟⲩϩⲉⲉ ⲉⲛⲙⲁ]ϥ̣ⲧⲱⲛ[ⲉ]

[Recto, 1] ⳨ Iakōb +++

[2] Michael, Gabriel, Suriel; the sickle which comes forth from [3] heaven, may it come down upon him an irrevocable destruction! [4] O Father who is within the Son who is within the Father, may you bring [5] him to an irrevocable destruction! Nine thousand and four hundred [6] martyrs, to an irrevocable destruction! Mary, who [7] bore Jesus, may you (m. s.) bring ⟨him⟩ to an irrevocable destruction! Suriel, [8] Gabriel, may you bring him to [an] irrevocable destruction! [9] Arise in your wrath; to [a] painful end! [10] My Lord Jesus, may you bring him to an irrevocable destruction! [11] My father Saint Zechariah, [12] may [you] bring ⟨him⟩ to an irrevocable destruction! +++ [13] Every [soul (?)], may you (s.) bring ⟨him⟩ down to an irrevocable destruction, [14] yea, O Father who is in the son. Iakōb.

[Verso, 1] May you (s.) bring ⟨him⟩ to a [painful] end! [2] My Lord, may you [bring him to an irrevocable [destruction]!

Tableau:
Tracing by:

Apparatus:

Recto
1. ⳨ vacat ⲓⲁⲕ̣ⲱⲃ̣ pap.
2. ⲡⲁⲥⳉ corrected from ⲙ̣ⲁⲥⲁ by overwriting, i.e. Sahidic ⲡ-ⲟϩⲥ
3. ⳉⲏ̅ i.e. Sahidic ϩⲛ | ⲁϣⲱϥ i.e. Sahidic ⲉϫⲱ⸗ϥ : i.e. Sahidic ⲉ-ⲟⲩ-ϣⲱϥ Rémondon : translate “in the form of an ulcerous tumor” Ritner : translate “in a state of disease” (“in uno stato di malattia”) Pernigotti | ⲟⲩⲟⲩϩ̣ⲉⲉ l. ⲟⲩϩ̣ⲉⲉ (dittography) | ⲉⲛⲙⲁϥ mu perhaps corrected from another letter (alpha?) by overwriting
3-4.ⲉⲛⲙⲁϥⲧⲱ l. ⲉⲛⲙⲁϥⲧⲱⲛⲉ i.e. Sahidic ⲉ-ⲙⲉ⸗ϥ-ⲧⲱⲟⲩⲛ : i.e. Sahidic ⲙ̅-ⲙⲁϣⲡⲱⲛⲉ translate “in a state of ulcers” (“dans un état de dartre”) Rémondon : translate “in the form of an ulcerous tumor” Ritner : translate “in a state of disease” (“in uno stato di malattia”) Pernigotti
4. ⲉⲛⳉⲏ i.e. Sahidic ⲉⲧ-ϩⲛ̅ | ⲯⲏⲣⲉ i.e. Sahidic ⲡ-ϣⲏⲣⲉ : ⲉⲛⳉⲏϯⲏⲣⲉ Rémondon, Ritner, Pernigotti understand as personal name, translate “Father of Hetiere who is in the Father” (“Père de Chetiere qui est dans le Père”, “Padre di Chetiere, che sei nel Padre”), Ritner compares ⳉⲏϯⲏⲣⲉ to the personal name ϩⲁⲧⲣⲉ and understands this as meaning that Hetiere is deceased
5. ⲉⲛⲙⲁϥⲧⲱⲛⲉ i.e. Sahidic ⲉ-ⲙⲉ⸗ϥ-ⲧⲱⲟⲩⲛ : i.e. Sahidic ⲙ̅-ⲙⲁϣⲡⲱⲛⲉ translate “in a state of ulcers” (“dans un état de dartre”) Rémondon : translate “in the form of an ulcerous tumor” Ritner : translate “in a state of disease” (“in uno stato di malattia”) Pernigotti | ⲯⲟⲩⲧⲉϥⲧⲉ i.e. Sahidic ⲯⲥⲧⲁⲓⲟⲩ-ⲁϥⲧⲉ ? : ϯⲟⲩⲧⲉϥⲧⲉ i.e. Sahidic ϯⲟⲩ-ⲁϥⲧⲉ Rémondon, Pernigotti, Ritner
6. ⲙⲁⲣⲧⲏⲥ i.e. Greek μάρτυς | ⲙⲁϥⲧⲱⲛⲉ i.e. Sahidic ⲉ-ⲙⲉ⸗ϥ-ⲧⲱⲟⲩⲛ : i.e. Sahidic ⲙ̅-ⲙⲁϣⲡⲱⲛⲉ translate “in a state of ulcers” (“dans un état de dartre”) Rémondon : translate “in the form of an ulcerous tumor” Ritner : translate “in a state of disease” (“in uno stato di malattia”) Pernigotti
7. ⳉⲡ̣ⲱ̣ i.e. Sahidic ϫⲡⲟ, Akhmimic ⲧⳉⲡⲟ | [ⲉⲛ]ⲙⲁϥⲧⲱⲛⲉ i.e. Sahidic ⲉ-ⲙⲉ⸗ϥ-ⲧⲱⲟⲩⲛ : i.e. Sahidic ⲙ̅-ⲙⲁϣⲡⲱⲛⲉ translate “in a state of ulcers” (“dans un état de dartre”) Rémondon : translate “in the form of an ulcerous tumor” Ritner : translate “in a state of disease” (“in uno stato di malattia”) Pernigotti
8. ⲁⲕⲁⲏⲛⲧϥ eta perhaps corrected from nu by overwriting ! ⲉⲛⲙⲁϥⲧⲱⲛⲉ i.e. Sahidic ⲉ-ⲙⲉ⸗ϥ-ⲧⲱⲟⲩⲛ : i.e. Sahidic ⲙ̅-ⲙⲁϣⲡⲱⲛⲉ translate “in a state of ulcers” (“dans un état de dartre”) Rémondon : translate “in the form of an ulcerous tumor” Ritner : translate “in a state of disease” (“in uno stato di malattia”) Pernigotti
9. ⲟⲣⲅⲏ i.e. Greek ὀργή | ϭⲁⲉⲓ i.e. Sahidic ϩⲁⲉ ϭⲁⲓⲟ | ϣⲁⲥⲉ i.e. Sahidic ϩⲟⲥⲉ+, Akhmimic ⳉⲁⲥⲉ+
10. ϣⲁⲉⲓⲥ ϣ perhaps corrected from unclear letter by overwriting, i.e. Sahidic ϫⲟⲉⲓⲥ
10-11. ⲛⲙⲁϥ[ⲧⲱ]ⲛⲉ i.e. Sahidic ⲉ-ⲙⲉ⸗ϥ-ⲧⲱⲟⲩⲛ : i.e. Sahidic ⲙ̅-ⲙⲁϣⲡⲱⲛⲉ translate “in a state of ulcers” (“dans un état de dartre”) Rémondon : translate “in the form of an ulcerous tumor” Ritner : translate “in a state of disease” (“in uno stato di malattia”) Pernigotti
11. ⲉⲧⲟ̣ⲩⲁⲃⲉ omicron perhaps corrected from another letter by wiping and rewriting
12. ⲉⲛⲙⲁϥⲧⲱⲛⲉ i.e. Sahidic ⲉ-ⲙⲉ⸗ϥ-ⲧⲱⲟⲩⲛ : i.e. Sahidic ⲙ̅-ⲙⲁϣⲡⲱⲛⲉ translate “in a state of ulcers” (“dans un état de dartre”) Rémondon : translate “in the form of an ulcerous tumor” Ritner : translate “in a state of disease” (“in uno stato di malattia”) Pernigotti
13. [ⲯⲩⲭ]ⲉ̣ : […]ⲉ̣ Rémondon, Pernigotti, Ritner
14. ⲁ̣ⲉ alpha perhaps corrected from another letter by overwriting | [ϣⲁ]ⲥⲉ i.e. Sahidic ϩⲟⲥⲉ+, Akhmimic ⳉⲁⲥⲉ+ | ⲁ̣ⲉ i.e. Sahidic ⲁⲓⲟ ? : [[.]] Rémondon | ⲉⲛⲭⲏ ⲯⲏⲣⲉ i.e. Sahidic ⲉⲧ-ϩⲛ̅ ⲡ-ϣⲏⲣⲉ | ⲉⲛⲭⲏϯⲏⲣⲉ Rémondon, Ritner, Pernigotti understand as personal name, translates “against the father of Hetiere (?)” (“vers le Père de Chetiere”, “verso il padre di Chetiere”), Ritner compares to ϩⲁⲧⲣⲉ | ⲓⲁⲕⲱⲃ alpha and beta perhaps corrected from other letters by overwriting

Verso
1. ⲁⳉⲣⲏ corrected from ⲁⲭ̣ⲣⲏ by overwriting | ϣⲁⲥⲉ i.e. Sahidic ϩⲟⲥⲉ+, Akhmimic ⳉⲁⲥⲉ+
2. ϣⲁⲉⲓⲥ i.e. Sahidic ϫⲟⲉⲓⲥ | ⲁⲕⲁ[ⲏⲛⲧϥ] : ⲁⲕⲁ[ⲏⲛⲧ]ϥ Rémondon | [ⲟⲩϩⲉⲉ] : [ⲟⲩϩⲉ]ⲉ Rémondon | [ⲉⲛⲙⲁ]ϥⲧⲱⲛ[ⲉ] i.e. Sahidic ⲉ-ⲙⲉ⸗ϥ-ⲧⲱⲟⲩⲛ : i.e. Sahidic ⲙ̅-ⲙⲁϣⲡⲱⲛⲉ translate “in a state of ulcers” (“dans un état de dartre”) Rémondon : translate “in the form of an ulcerous tumor” Ritner

Notes:

Recto
2. ⲥⲟⲩⲗⲉⲏⲗ Crum, noting the lambdacism, unexpected in an Akhmimic text, doubts that this is the angel Suriel, but cf. the invocation of the three angels “Michael, Gabriel, Suriel” (ⲙⲓⲭⲁⲏⲗ ⲙⲛ̅ ⲕⲁⲃⲣⲓⲏⲗ ⲙⲛ̅ ⲥⲟⲩⲣⲓⲏⲗ) in IFAO Copte 451 recto l. 6 (KYP M468, T382), another Akhmimic curse, suggesting that it is indeed this angel who is intended here.
2. ⲡ̣ⲁ̣ⲥⳉ ⲉⲧⲛⲏⲩ̣ “the sickle that comes…” cf. Zechariah 5.1: ⲁⲓϥⲓⲓⲁⲧ ⲉϩⲣⲁⲓ ⲁⲓⲛⲁⲩ ⲁⲩⲱ ⲉⲓⲥ ⲟⲩⲟϩⲥ ⲉϥϩⲏⲗ (“I raised my eyes, and I looked, and behold, a flying sickle”).
3-4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10-11, 12, Verso 2. ⲟⲩϩⲉⲉ ⲉⲛⲙⲁϥⲧⲱⲛⲉ “an irrevocable destruction”, literally “a fall which he never rises from”.
9. ⲧⲱⲛⲉ ⳉⲛ̅ ⲧⲉⲕⲟⲣⲅⲏ “arise in your wrath” cf. Psalm 7.6: ⲧⲱⲟⲩⲛ ⲡϫⲟⲉⲓⲥ ϩⲛ ⲧⲉⲕⲟⲣⲅⲏ ϫⲓⲥⲉ ϩⲛ ⲛϩⲁⲏ ⲛⲛⲁϫⲁϫⲉ (“arise, O Lord, in your wrath; be exalted by the ends of my enemies!).
4, 14. ⲡⲓⲱⲧ ⲉⲛⳉⲏ ⲯϯⲏⲣⲉ ⲉⲧⳉⲏⲛ ⲡⲓⲱⲧ “O Father who is in the Son who is in the Father” cf. John 14.10, 11 ⲁⲛⲟⲕ ϯϩⲙ ⲡⲁⲓⲱⲧ ⲁⲩⲱ ⲡⲁⲓⲱⲧ ⲛϩⲏⲧ (“(Jesus said,) ‘I am in my Father and my Father is in me.’”).
13. [ⲯⲩⲭ]ⲉ̣ ⲛⲛⲓⲙ “every soul” For this restoration, cf. IFAO 451 (KYP M468, T382) back ll. 1-2 ⲯⲩⲭⲏ ⲛⲓⲙ ⲙⲛ̅ ⲡⲟⲩⲕⲟⲩⲓ ⲙⲛ ⲡⲟⲩⲛⲁϫ̣ ⲁ̣ⲕⲁⲣ̅ ⲫⲉⲡ̣ (“every soul, both the small and the great, may you avenge me”).

Bibliography:

Ritner, Robert in Marvin W. Meyer and Richard Smith. Ancient Christian Magic: Coptic Texts of Ritual Power. Princeton (New Jersey): Princeton University Press, 1999, p. 207-208, no. 101.

Pernigotti, Sergio. “La magia copta: I testi.” In Aufstieg und Niedergang der römischen Welt, edited by Hildegard Temporini and Wolfgang Haase, II.18.5, Berlin and New York: Walter de Gruyter, 1995, p. 3726, no. 32.

Rémondon, Roger. “Un papyrus magique copte.” Bulletin de l‘Institut français d‘archéologie orientale 52 (1953): 157–161.

Editor:

EL’s edition from Rémondon’s transcript (1953: 158), corrected with the photograph of the original (29/8/2019); team from photograph (19/5/2021); KD (28/5/2021); KD (30/5/2021); KD (21/1/2025)

How to cite:

Korshi Dosoo, Edward O.D. Love & Markéta Preininger (chief editors). "KYP T608: Applied curse against Iakōb," Kyprianos Database of Ancient Ritual Texts and Objects, www.coptic-magic.phil.uni-wuerzburg.de/index.php/text/kyp-t-608. Accessed on 26/04/2025

How to cite:

Found a mistake? Let us know!