KYP T-610

KYPRIANOS DATABASE OF ANCIENT RITUAL TEXTS

KYPRIANOS T610

Manuscript:	M72
Sigla:	PCM 1 3 PCM I 3 P. Mich. Inv. 1190
Text no. Position of the text within the manuscript.	1
Coptic Scriptorium:
Date:	401 – 600

Text position:	Ro col. 1 ll. 1-34
Type of text:	Curse (magical, formulary)

Original title:
Original title (translated):
Conventional title:	Curse to make a woman bleed

Language:	Egyptian (Coptic)
Dialect:	Sahidic (non-standard)
Script:	Coptic
Image:	https://quod.lib.umich.edu/a/apis/x-1328/1190ro.tif

Text:

Translation:

Recto Column 1
→
1. ⳨
2. ϯⲉⲡⲓ̈ⲕⲁⲗⲉ ⲙⲟⲕ ⲁⲑⲣⲁⲕ ⲡⲛⲟϫ
3. ⲛⲁⲅⲅⲉⲗⲟⲥ ⲉⲧⲁϩⲉⲣⲁⲑϥ ⲛⲥⲁ ⧹ⲩ⧸ⲟⲩ-
4. ⲛⲁⲙ̅ ⲙ̅ⲡⲣⲏ ⸗ ⲡⲉⲧⲉⲣⲉⲛⲉⲕⲝⲟⲩ⧹ⲥ⧸ⲓⲁ ⲧⲏ-
5. ⲣⲟⲩ ⲙⲡⲣⲏ ‧ ⲉⲩϩⲏⲡⲟⲧⲁⲥⲉ ⲛⲁϥ ϫⲉⲓ̈-
6. ϣⲁⲛⲥⲁⲧⲕ ⲉⲡⲛⲟⲩⲛ ⸗ ⲉⲕⲉⲙⲟⲟⲩⲧϥ
7. ⲡ̅ϩⲁⲧ ϫⲉⲕⲉⲙⲟⲟⲩⲧϥ : ⲡⲗⲁⲓ̈ⲛ ϫⲉ-
8. ⲕⲉⲟⲩⲟⲗⲡϥ ⸗ ⲡⲉⲛⲓ̈ⲡⲉ ⲉⲕⲉ⟦ⲟ̣⟧ⲃⲟⲗ-
9. ⲉⲃ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ · ⲡⲱⲛⲉ ⲉⲕⲉⲡⲟϭϥ ⸗ ⲙ-
10. ⲟⲟⲩ ⲛⲛⲑⲁⲗⲗⲁⲥ ⸗ ⲉⲕⲉⲧⲣⲉⲩϣ-
11. ⲟⲟⲩⲉ ⸗ ⲛⲧⲟⲟⲩ ⲛⲕⲧⲉⲣⲉ[ⲩ]ⲕ̣ⲓ̈ⲙ ·
12. ⲙⲡⲉⲧⲣⲁ · ⲉⲕⲉⲧⲣⲉⲩⲃⲱⲗ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ :
13. ⲟⲩⲥⲓⲙⲉ · ⲥⲉⲧ · ⲉⲕⲉⲡϩⲱ ⲙⲡⲉⲥⲡⲓ̈-
14. ⲣ ⲛⲟⲩⲛⲁⲙ ⸗ ⲛⲕⲓⲛⲉ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ⲙⲡⲉ-
15. ϣⲏⲣⲉ : ⲛⲉⲓ̈ⲉⲇⲓ̣ ⲙⲟⲕ ⲛⲁⲓ̣̈ ⲁ̣ⲛ̣ ⲟⲩ-
16. ⲇⲉ ⲛ̣ⲉ̣ⲕ̣ⲟⲟⲩⲉ ⲁⲗⲗ[ⲁ ca. 6 ]
17. ⲕ̣[ ca. 6 ⲥ]ⲁ̣ⲃ̅ⲁ̅ⲱ̅ⲑ̅[ ca. 7 ]
18. [ ca. 10 ]ⲉ̣ ⸗ ⲧ̣[ ca. 10 ]
19. [ ca. 10 ]ⲡ̣ⲁⲓ̣ .[ ca. 11 ]
20. [ ca. 10 ]ⲟ̣ⲩⲏⲛ ⲉ[ ca. 7 ]
21. . [ ca. 7 ]ⲙ̣ⲏ̣ⲧⲣⲁ : ⲉⲡⲉ̣ⲥ̣ⲥ̣ⲡ̣[ⲓ]ⲣ̣ : ⲉⲕ-
22. ⲟⲩⲛ̣ ⲓ̣ⲥ̣ϫⲓ̈ⲛ ⲥϩ[ⲟ]ⲟⲩ ⲛϭⲱⲥ : ⲉⲡⲉⲍⲏ-
23. ⲧ · ⲉⲓ̈ⲃ ⲛⲉⲥⲟⲩⲉ̣ⲣ̣ⲏⲧⲉ : ⲛⲕⲓ̈ⲛⲉ ⲉⲃ-
24. ⲟⲗ ϩⲁⲣⲟⲥ : ⲛⲟⲩⲥⲛⲟϥ : ⲉⲃϫϩⲁⲙ
25. ⲙⲛ ⲟⲩⲙⲟ‧ⲟⲩ : ⲉⲃⲟⲕⲉⲙ · ⲉϫⲉⲛ ⲡ-
26. ⲉⲍⲡⲓⲣ ⲛⲟⲩⲛⲁⲙ : ϣⲁ ⲡⲉ̣ⲥⲡⲓⲣ : ⲛ-
27. ⲉϩⲃⲟⲩ̣ⲣ : ⲉⲕⲉⲧⲣⲉⲃϩⲉⲣⲟϣ : ⲉⲣⲟⲥ :
28. ⲛⲧⲉ ⲛⲟⲩⲱⲛⲉ ⲛⲥⲓⲕⲉ : ⲉⲃⲉⲍⲱ-
29. ⲕ ϩⲁⲣⲟⲥ : ⲛⲑⲉ ⲛⲧⲁⲣⲭⲏ ⲙⲡⲉϥ-
30. ⲧⲟⲟⲩ ⲛⲓⲉⲣⲟ : ⲓ̈ⲇⲉ ⲙⲁⲕⲟⲥ : ⲓ̈ⲇⲉ
31. ⲫⲁⲣⲙⲁⲅⲟⲥ : ⲓⲇⲉ ⲡⲟⲩⲣⲁⲛⲓⲟⲛ
32. ⲓ̈ⲇⲉ ⲕⲁⲧⲁⲡⲧⲟⲛⲓⲟⲛ : ⲓ̈ⲇⲉ ϫⲓϭ
33. ⲛⲣⲱⲙⲉ ϭⲉⲙϭⲟⲙ ⲉⲱⲗ ⲙⲡ-
34. ⲓⲥⲛ̅ⲟ̅ϥ̅ : ⲉⲧ⧹ϩ⧸ⲁ ⲛⲓⲙ ⲇͅ ⲉⲙⲓⲧⲉ ⲁⲛⲟ⧹ⲕ⧸

Recto Column 1
[1] ⳨

[2] I invoke you Athrak, the great [3] angel who stands at the right [4] side of the sun, he to whom all the authorities [5] of the sun are subject, for if I [6] sent you to the abyss, you would destroy it; [7] silver, that you would destroy it; steel, that you would [8] break it; iron, you would melt [9] it; stone, you would break it; [10] the waters of the seas, you would make them [11] go dry; the mountains, you make them move; [12] the rocks, you would make them dissolve; [13] a pregnant woman, you would tear open her [14] right side and you would bring out the [15] child. It is not these things that I ask you, [16] nor other things, but […] [17] […] Sabaoth […] [18-20] […] [21] […] womb to her side, [22] opening from the crown of her head down [23] to the nails of her feet, may (?) you draw out [24] from under her polluted blood [25] and darkened water from [26] her right side to her left side. [27] May you cause it to weigh upon her [28] like a millstone! May it flow [29] under her like the source of the [30] four rivers! Neither magician nor [31] sorcerer nor heavenly ⟨being⟩ [32] nor underworld ⟨being⟩ nor ⟨the⟩ hand [33] of man will be able to contain this [34] blood which is under NN ⟨child of⟩ NN, except me!

Tableau:
Tracing by:

Apparatus:

Recto Column 1
1. ⳨ set in eisthesis
2. ⲉⲡⲓ̈ⲕⲁⲗⲉ i.e. Greek ἐπικαλεῖν | ⲙⲟⲕ i.e. Sahidic ⲙⲙⲟ⸗ⲕ
3. ⲁⲅⲅⲉⲗⲟⲥ i.e. Greek ἄγγελος | ⲁϩⲉⲣⲁⲑϥ i.e. Sahidic ⲁϩⲉⲣⲁⲧ⸗ϥ
3-4. ⲩⲟⲩⲛⲁⲙ̅ i.e. Sahidic ⲟⲩⲛⲁⲙ
4. ⲉⲕⲝⲟⲩⲓⲁ i.e. Greek ἐξουσία : ⲛⲉⲕⲝⲟⲩⲓⲁ Worrell | ⲧⲏ- tau corrected from unclear letter
5. ϩⲏⲡⲟⲧⲁⲥⲉ corrected from ⲉⲩϩⲏⲡⲟⲧⲁⲉⲉ by erasure and overwriting i.e. Greek ὑποτάσσειν | ϫⲉⲓ̈- : i.e. Sahidic ϫⲉ ⲉⲓ̈ Worrell, Pernigotti, Skiles
5-6. ϫⲉⲓ̈ϣⲁⲛⲥⲁⲧⲕ i.e. Sahidic ϫⲉ ⲉ⸗ⲓ-ϣⲁⲛ-ⲥⲉⲧ⸗ⲕ : ϣⲁⲛⲥⲁⲧⲕ ⲉⲡⲛⲟⲩⲛ : ϣⲁ ⲛⲥⲁ ⲧⲕⲉ ⲡⲛⲟⲩⲛ i.e. Sahidic ϣⲁ ⲛⲥⲁ ⲧⲕⲏ ⲡⲛⲟⲩⲛ ⲙ̅-ⲡ-ⲛⲟⲩⲛ Worrell, Pernigotti, Skiles
6. ⲉⲡⲛⲟⲩⲛ i.e. Sahidic ⲙ̅-ⲡ-ⲛⲟⲩⲛ
7. ϫⲉⲕⲉⲙⲟⲟⲩⲧϥ i.e. Sahidic ϫⲉ ⲉ⸗ⲕ-ⲉ-ⲙⲟⲟⲩⲧ⸗ϥ
7-8. ϫⲉⲕⲉⲟⲩⲟⲗⲡϥ i.e. Sahidic ϫⲉ ⲉ⸗ⲕ-ⲉ-ⲟⲩⲟⲗⲡ̅⸗ϥ̅ see Crum 477b, cf. Černý, Coptic Etymological Dictionary 211 : l. ⲥⲟⲗⲡ Worrell, Pernigotti, Skiles
8. ⲡⲉⲛⲓ̈ⲡⲉ i.e. Sahidic ⲡ-ⲃⲉⲛⲓ̈ⲡⲉ
8-9. ⲉⲕⲉ[[ⲟ̣]]ⲃⲟⲗⲉⲃ i.e. Sahidic ⲉⲕⲉⲃⲟⲗ⸗ϥ : [[ⲟ̣]] deleted by erasure
9-10. ⲙⲟⲟⲩ i.e. Sahidic ⲙ̅-ⲙⲟⲟⲩ
10. ⲑⲁⲗⲗⲁⲥ i.e. Greek θάλασσα
12. ⲙⲡⲉⲧⲣⲁ i.e. Sahidic ⲡ-ⲡⲉⲧⲣⲁ i.e. Greek πέτρα | ⲃⲱⲗ l. ⲃⲟⲗ⸗ϥ
13. ⲟⲩⲥⲓⲙⲉ · ⲥⲉⲧ i.e. Sahidic ⲟⲩ-ⲥϩⲓⲙⲉ ⲉ⸗ⲥ-ⲉⲧ (hapolography) : ⲟⲩⲥⲓ̈ⲙⲉ · ⲥⲉⲧ Worrell |ⲡϩⲱ i.e. Sahidic ⲡⲱϩ
13-14. ⲙⲡⲉⲥⲡⲓ̈ⲣ l. ⲙ-ⲡⲉ⸗ⲥ-ⲥⲡⲓⲣ
14-15. ⲙⲡⲉϣⲏⲣⲉ : l. ⲙ̅-ⲡⲉ⸗ⲥ-ϣⲏⲣⲉ Worrell, Pernigotti, van der Vliet
15. ⲛⲉⲓ̈ⲉⲇⲓ̣ i.e. Sahidic ⲛ-ⲉ⸗ⲓ-ⲁⲓⲧⲉⲓ i.e. Greek αἰτεῖν | ⲙⲟⲕ i.e. Sahidic ⲙⲙⲟ⸗ⲕ | ⲛⲁⲓ̈ ⲁ̣ⲛ̣ : ⲏ ⲛⲁ[ⲙ]ⲏ translate “in fact” Worrell
15-16. ⲟⲩⲇⲉ i.e. Greek οὔτε
16. ⲛ̣ⲉ̣ⲕ̣ⲟⲟⲩⲉ : [ . . . ]ⲟⲟⲩⲉ Worrell | ⲁⲗⲗ[ⲁ] i.e. Greek ἀλλά
17. ⲥ]ⲁ̣ⲃ̅ⲁ̅ⲱ̅ⲑ̅ : [ⲥⲁ]ⲃ̅ⲁ̅ⲱ̅ⲑ̅ Worrell
18. ]ⲉ̣ ⸗ ⲧ̣[ : [.]ϯ̣[.] Worrell
19. ]ⲡ̣ⲁⲓ̣ .[ : . ]ⲁⲓ[ Worrell
22. ⲓ̣ⲥ̣ϫⲓ̈ⲛ i.e Bohairic ⲓⲥϫⲉⲛ : [ . . . ] ϫⲓⲛ Worrell | ⲥϩ[ⲟ]ⲟⲩ i.e. Sahidic ⲥⲟⲟⲩϩⲉ | ⲛϭⲱⲥ i.e. Sahidic ⲛ-ϫⲱ⸗ⲥ
22-23. ⲉⲡⲉⲍⲏⲧ i.e. Sahidic ⲉ-ⲡⲉ-ⲥⲏⲧ
23. ⲉⲓ̈ⲃ i.e. Sahidic ⲉⲉⲓ̈ⲃ | ⲛⲉⲥⲟⲩⲉ̣ⲣ̣ⲏⲧⲉ i.e. Sahidic ⲛ̅-ⲛⲉ⸗ⲥ-ⲟⲩⲉⲣⲏⲧⲉ
24. ϫϩⲁⲙ i.e. Sahidic ϫⲁϩⲙ
25. ⲟⲩⲙⲟ‧ⲟⲩ : ⲟⲩⲙⲟⲟⲩ Worrell | ⲱⲕⲉⲙ i.e. Sahidic ⲱⲕⲙ̅
25-26. ⲡⲉⲍⲡⲓⲣ i.e. Sahidic ⲡⲉ⸗ⲥ-ⲥⲡⲓⲣ
26. ⲡⲉ̣ⲥⲡⲓⲣ i.e. Sahidic ⲡⲉ⸗ⲥ-ⲥⲡⲓⲣ
27. ⲉϩⲃⲟⲩ̣ⲣ i.e. Sahidic ϩⲃⲟⲩⲣ
28. ⲛⲧⲉ i.e. Sahidic ⲛⲑⲉ (as l. 29)
28-29. ⲉⲃⲉⲍⲱⲕ i.e. Sahidic ⲉ⸗ϥ-ⲉ-ⲥⲱⲕ
29. ⲁⲣⲭⲏ i.e. Greek ἀρχή
30. ⲓ̈ⲇⲉ i.e. Greek εἴτε (twice) | ⲙⲁⲕⲟⲥ i.e. Greek μάγος
31. ⲓ̈ⲇⲉ i.e. Greek εἴτε | ⲫⲁⲣⲙⲁⲕⲟⲥ i.e. Greek φάρμᾰκος | ⲡⲟⲩⲣⲁⲛⲓⲟⲛ i.e. Greek ἐπουράνιον
32. ⲓ̈ⲇⲉ i.e. Greek εἴτε (twice) | ⲕⲁⲧⲁⲡⲧⲟⲛⲓⲟⲛ i.e. Greek καταχθόνιον | ϫⲓϭ i.e. Sahidic ϭⲓϫ
33. ⲉⲱⲗ i.e. Sahidic : ⲉ-ⲱⲗ | ⲉⲃⲟⲗ l. ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ϩⲓ ? Worrell
34. ⲇͅ l. ⲇ(ⲉⲓⲛ)ⲁ i.e. Greek δεῖνα | ⲉⲙⲓⲧⲉ : i.e. Greek εἰ μήτι : εἰμί ⲧⲉ translate “(NN) am I” Worrell, Pernigotti, Skiles

Notes:

We count the initial staurogram of col. 1, as a line, so that in recto col. 1, Worrell’s line 1 is our line 2.

Recto Column 1

5-6. ϫⲉⲓ̈ϣⲁⲛⲥⲁⲧⲕ ⲉⲡⲛⲟⲩⲛ : ⲧⲕⲉ ⲉⲡⲛⲟⲩⲛ Worrell (1934, 1935) and Pernigotti translate “go even to the shore of the abyss” (“va’ sulla riva dell’Abisso”), suggesting ⲕⲉ to be a form of ⲕⲏ “shore (?)” (Crum 92a), parsing the first part as ϫⲉ <ⲉⲕⲉ>ⲉⲓ, but the correct solution was already recognised by Crum 360b, cf. Van der Vliet 2000, p.336. Skiles understands ϣⲁ ⲛⲥⲁ ⲧⲕⲉ “to the other”, referring to a female client.
6. ⲉⲕⲉⲙⲟⲟⲩⲧϥ Worrell (1934, 1935) mistakenly understands this to be redundant. For the sense “destroy”, see Crum 201a, where it is used as an equivalent of ⲧⲁⲕⲟ and ἀπόλλυμαι.
7. ⲉⲕⲉⲙⲟⲟⲩⲧϥ See the note to l. 6 above.
13. ⲡⲱϩ: Worrell and Pernigotti translate “to break”, whereas Skiles prefers “to reach”. The context, use of ⲛ̅-/ⲙ̅ⲙ̅ⲟ⸗ to indicate the object of the verb suggests the former to be correct.
15-16. ⲛⲉⲓ̈ⲉⲇⲓ̣ ⲙⲟⲕ ⲛⲁⲓ̈ ⲁ̣ⲛ̣ ⲟⲩⲇⲉ ⲛ̣[ⲉ]ⲕ̣ⲟⲟⲩⲉ cf. Berlin P. 8322 (KYP T88) 10-11: ϫ̅ⲉ ⲉⲓ̈ⲉⲧⲓ̈ [ⲛⲁⲓ̈] ⲁ̣ⲛ ⲟⲩⲧⲉ ⲟ̣[ⲩⲧⲉ ⲛ]ⲉⲕⲟⲟⲩⲉ. Skiles translates “it is not I who ask you, nor [other] (humans)”, but this is not possible grammatically; such a meaning would likely be expressed with a cleft sentence (e.g., ⲛ̅ ⲁⲛⲟⲕ ⲡⲉⲧⲁⲓⲧⲉⲓ ⲁⲛ ⲟⲩⲧⲉ ⲛⲕⲉⲣⲱⲙⲉ).
28. ⲛⲧⲉ: Worrell reads ⲛ̅ⲧϥⲉ but cf. ⲛⲑⲉ l. 28
30-32. ⲓ̈ⲇⲉ Although εἴτε is used, the sense, and parallels (see note to ll.32-33 below) require us to understand οὔτε.
31-33: ⲓⲇⲉ ⲡⲟⲩⲣⲁⲛⲓⲟⲛ… ϫⲓϭ ⲛⲣⲱⲙⲉ: Skiles translates “whether heavenly or infernal or human hand”, but this is not possible grammatically, since the genitive ⲛ̅ indicating the possessor of ϫⲓϭ can only apply to ⲣⲱⲙⲉ.
33-34. ϭⲉⲙ ϭⲟⲙ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ⲙⲡⲓⲥⲛⲟ̅ϥ̅ Worrell, Pernigotti, and Skiles translate “find strength from this blood”, but this seems unlikely. For the trope of magicians and sorcerers being unable to undo curses, see P. CtYBR inv. 1800 qua (KYP T483 ll.15-16) and Montserrat Magical Book I (KYP T940) ll.2-3.
34. ⲇͅ ⲉⲙⲓⲧⲉ ⲁⲛⲟⲕ translate “NN am I” (ἡ) δ(ε)ῖ(να) εἰμί ⲧⲉ ⲁⲛⲟⲕ Worrell, Skiles

Bibliography:

Skiles, Stephen H. in Marvin W. Meyer and Richard Smith. Ancient Christian Magic: Coptic Texts of Ritual Power. Princeton (New Jersey): Princeton University Press, 1999, p. 125-127, no. 66.

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. 3719-3720, no. 23.

Worrell, William H. “Coptic Magical and Medical Texts.” Orientalia, NOVA SERIES 4 (1935): 5-13, no. 2.

Worrell, William H. Coptic Sounds. Ann Arbor: University of Michigan Press, 1934, p. 145. [transcription with standard Sahidic rendering]

van der Vliet, Jacques. “Les Anges du Soleil.” Études Coptes 7 (2000): 335-337.

Editor:

Transcription from DDGLC checked with a photograph of the verso of the original (recto not online) by EL (24/1/20); translation, apparatus and notes by EL (24/1/20); added some notes based on Worrell MPS (24/1/2020), incorporated into notes by EL (24/1/20), revision by KD (25/1/2020); corrections to recto based on image by KD (27/1/2020); MPS addition to apparatus MPS (31/1/2020); KD + MPS based on image (9/2/2022)

How to cite:

Korshi Dosoo, Edward O.D. Love & Markéta Preininger (chief editors). "KYP T610: Curse to make a woman bleed," Kyprianos Database of Ancient Ritual Texts and Objects, www.coptic-magic.phil.uni-wuerzburg.de/index.php/text/kyp-t-610. Accessed on 26/04/2025

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