KYP T-70

KYPRIANOS DATABASE OF ANCIENT RITUAL TEXTS

KYPRIANOS T70

Manuscript:	M531
Sigla:	British Library MS Or 5986 P. Lond. Copt. 1224
Text no. Position of the text within the manuscript.	1
Coptic Scriptorium:
Date:	401 – 500

Text position:	Ro ll. 1-30
Type of text:	Magical (applied, curse, prayer for justice)

Original title:
Original title (translated):
Conventional title:	Applied curse against Biktōr-Hatre, his son Daueid, and Papnoute.

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

Text:

Translation:

1. ⲡⲛⲟⲩⲧⲉ ⲛ̅ⲧⲡⲉ ⲙ̅ⲛ̅ ⲡⲕⲁϩ ⲡⲉⲧⲛⲁⲃⲱⲗ ⲁⲃ̣ⲁⲗ ⲙ̅ⲡⲓⲭⲁⲣⲧⲏⲥ
2. ⲃⲱϣ ⲛⲉⲧⲥⲏϩ ⲁⲣⲁⲉⲓ ⲁⲩⲁⲉⲓ ⲁϩⲣⲏ ⲁϫⲱ̣ϥ ⲧⲏⲣⲟⲩ ⲛ̅ϭⲓ ⲛⲉⲧⲥⲏϩ
3. ⲁⲣⲁϥ ⲁⲉⲓⲉ ⲡⲛⲟⲩⲛⲧⲉ ⲛ̅ⲧⲡⲉ ⲙ̅ⲛ̅ ⲡⲕⲁϩ ⳨
4. ⳨ ⲡϫⲁⲉⲓⲥ ⲛⲧⲁⲕ ⲉⲧⲥⲟⲟⲩⲛ ⲁⲛⲉⲧϩⲏⲡ ⲙ̅ⲛ̅ ⲛ̣ⲉⲧⲟⲩⲛⲏϩ ⲡⲛⲟⲩⲛⲧⲉ
5. ⲛ̅ⲧⲁⲕ ⲉⲧⲛⲁⲉⲓⲣ ⲡⲁϩⲉⲡ ⲙ̅ⲛ̅ ⲛⲉⲧϯ ⲟⲩⲃⲏⲉⲓ ⲧⲏⲣⲟⲩ ⲡ̣ⲁⲓ̈ⲱⲧ
6. ⲙⲓⲭⲁⲏⲗ ⲡⲁⲓ̈ⲱⲧ ⲅⲁⲃⲣⲓⲏⲗ ⲥⲟⲩⲣⲟⲩⲏⲗ ⲅⲟⲩⲛⲟⲩⲏⲗ ⲣⲁⲫⲁⲏⲗ ϩ̅ⲛ̅ ⲧⲁϭⲁⲙ
7. ⲉⲛ ϩ̅ⲛ̅ ⲧϭⲁⲙ ⲙ̅ⲡϫⲁⲉⲓⲥ ⲥⲁⲃⲁⲱⲑ ⲙ̅ⲛ̅ ⲛⲉⲧⲁⲩⲧⲁⲩⲟ ⲛⲟⲩⲣⲉⲛ ⲧⲏⲣⲟⲩ ⲁⲧⲉⲧⲛⲁ-
8. ⲥⲩⲙⲙ ⲁϩⲟⲩⲛ ⲙ̅ⲡⲛⲟⲩⲛⲧⲉ ⲛ̅ⲧⲡⲉ ⲙ̅ⲛ̅ ⲡⲕⲁϩ ⲧⲁⲛⲟ ⲃⲓⲕⲧⲱ⧹⟦ⲟ⟧⧸ⲣ ⧹ϩ⧸ⲁⲧⲣⲉⲏ ⲡⲛⲟⲩⲛⲧ̣ⲉ
9. ⲑⲓⲟ ⲙ̅ⲙⲁϥ ⲉϥⲉⲓⲣⲉ ⲙ̅ⲙⲁϥ ⲛ̅ⲇⲓⲙⲱⲛⲓⲟⲛ ⲡⲛⲟⲩⲛⲧⲉ ⲁⲕⲁⲑⲓⲟ ⲧⲁⲩⲉⲓⲇ ⲡⲉϥ-
10. ϣⲏⲣⲉ ⲧⲁⲛⲟ ⲁⲣⲁϥ ⲉϥⲉ ⲛ̅ⲁⲧⲣⲱⲙⲉ ϩ̅ⲛ̅ ⲛ̅ⲥⲓⲕⲛⲟⲛ ⲛ̅ⲑⲉ ⲉⲧⲁ̣ⲩ̣ⲓ̣̈ⲣⲉ
11. ϩⲟⲩⲛ̅ⲧ̅ ⲛ̅ⲑⲉ ⲉⲧⲓϫⲩⲡⲟ ⲛ̅ϣⲁϫⲉ ⧹ⲉⲛ⧸ϩⲁⲧⲉ ⲗⲁⲁⲩ ⲛ̅ⲣⲱⲙⲉ ⲁⲩⲁⲛ ⲛⲓⲙ
12. ⲉϥⲧⲁⲣ̅ϭ̅ ⲁϫⲱⲓ ⲁⲡⲡⲉⲑⲁⲩ ⲙ̅ⲛ̣̅ ⲟⲩⲁⲛ̣ ⲛⲓⲙ ⲉⲧⲧⲁⲩ ⲙ̅ⲡⲁⲣⲉⲛ ⲁⲧⲃⲟⲛⲧⲉ
13. ⲙ̅ⲛ̅ ⲛⲉⲧⲥⲁϩⲟⲩ ⲙ̅ⲙⲁⲓ̈ ⲧⲏⲣⲟⲩ ⲡⲛⲟⲩⲛⲧⲉ ⲛ̅ⲧ̣ⲁ̣ⲕ̣ [ⲉ]ⲧⲛⲁⲉⲓⲣ ⲡⲁϩⲉⲡ
14. ⲛ̅ⲙ̅ⲙⲉⲩ ⲧⲏⲣⲟⲩ ⲡϫⲟⲉⲓⲥ ⲡⲛⲟⲩⲧⲉ ⲁⲕⲁⲑⲓⲟ̣[ⲟⲩ ⲧ]ⲏⲣⲟⲩ ⲙⲛ̅ ⲛⲉⲧⲁ . [ . . ]
15. ⲧⲏⲣⲟⲩ ⲛⲁⲓ̈ ⲡϫⲟⲉⲓⲥ ⲙ̅ⲡⲱ̣ⲣ̣ⲁϥϣ̅ⲕ̅ ⲁⲡ̣[ⲁ . . . ] ⲙ̅ⲛ̅ ⲡⲁⲥⲟⲡ̅ⲥ̅ⲡ̅
16. ϫⲉ ⲁ̣[ⲩ]ϫⲓ ⲙ̅ⲙⲁⲓ̈ ⲛ̅ϭⲁⲛ̅ⲥ̅ ⲁⲕⲁⲑⲓⲟ̣[ⲟⲩ] ϫ [ⲛ]ⲛⲟⲩⲧⲟⲟⲩⲛ ⲛ̅ⲑⲉ
17. ⲉⲧⲟⲩⲉⲓⲣⲉ ⲙ̅ⲙⲁⲥ ⲛⲁⲓ̈ ⲧⲏⲣⲟⲩ ⲧⲁⲣⲉⲕⲁⲓⲁ̣[ . ]ⲁⲁⲥ ⲛ̅ⲁ̣ⲃ̣ϣⲏⲣⲉ
18. ϩⲟⲩⲛⲟⲩ ⲁⲓⲉ ⲡϫⲁⲉⲓⲥ ⲥⲁⲃⲁⲱⲑ ⲙ̅ⲡⲱⲣⲁⲃϩ̅ⲕ̅ ⲁⲣⲁⲉⲓ
19. ⲛ̅ⲭⲉⲣⲟⲩⲃⲓⲛ ⲛ̅ⲥⲁⲣⲁⲫⲓⲛ ⲛ̅ⲧⲃⲁ ⲛ̅ⲁⲅⲅⲉⲗⲟⲥ ϩⲓ ⲁⲣⲭⲏⲁ ⲅⲅⲉⲗⲟⲥ
20. ⲁⲧⲉⲧⲛⲁⲥ̅ⲙ̅ⲙⲁ ⲁϩⲟⲩⲛ ⲙ̅ⲡⲛⲟⲩⲛⲧⲉ ⲛ̅ⲧⲡⲉ ⲙ̅ⲛ̅ ⲡ⧹ⲕⲁ⧸ϩ ⲁⲩⲱ ⲁϥⲁ-
21. ⲉⲓⲣⲉ ⲙ̅ⲡⲁϩⲉⲡ ⲙ̅ⲛ̅ ⲟⲩⲟⲛ ⲛⲓⲙ ⲉⲧϯ ⲟⲩⲃⲏⲉⲓ ⲟⲩⲟⲛ ⲛⲓⲙ ⲉϥⲥⲁϩⲟⲩ
22. ⲙ̅ⲙⲁⲉⲓ ⲁⲕⲁⲑⲓⲟϥ ⲕⲉϥ ⲛ̅ⲧⲉⲙⲙⲟⲛⲓⲟⲛ ⲁⲉⲓⲉ ⲯⲟⲧⲏⲣ ⲙ̅ⲙⲉ
23. ⲙ̅ⲙⲉⲣⲓⲧ ⲁⲉⲓ ⲧⲣⲓⲁⲥ ⲛ̅ϩⲟⲙⲟⲩⲥⲓⲟⲥ ⲁⲓ̈ⲁⲛⲟ ⲃⲓⲕⲧⲱⲣ ϩⲁⲧⲣⲉ
24. ⲙ̅ⲛ̅ ⲇⲁⲩⲉⲓⲇ ⲡⲉϥϣⲏⲣⲉ ⲁⲉⲓⲛⲟ ⲁⲣⲁϥ ⲉⲩϫⲓ ⲙ̅ⲡⲛⲁ ⲙ̅ⲡⲕⲟⲥ⧹ⲙⲟⲥ̣⧸
25. ⲁⲕⲁⲉⲓⲛⲉ ⲁϩⲣⲏ ⲁϫⲱⲟⲩ ⲛ̅ⲛ̅ϩⲓⲥⲉ ⲛ̅ⲓ̅ⲱⲃ ⲧⲏⲣⲟⲩ
26. ⲡⲛⲟⲩⲛⲧⲉ ⲁⲕⲁⲑⲓⲟ ⲡⲁⲡⲛⲟⲩⲛⲧⲉ ⲕⲁϥ ⲛ̅ⲇⲉⲙⲓⲱⲛ ϫ̅ ⲛ̅ⲛⲉϥⲧⲱⲟⲩⲛ
27. ⲁⲕⲁⲁⲡⲟⲩ ⲙⲛ ⲓ̈ⲟⲩⲇⲁⲥ ϩ̅ⲛ̅ ⲡⲉϩⲟⲟⲩ ⲙⲡϩⲉⲡ
28. ⲁⲕⲁⲧⲏⲛⲧⲟⲛⲟⲩ ⲙ̅ⲛ̅ ⲛⲉⲛⲧⲁⲩϫⲟⲥ ϫⲉ ⲡⲉϥⲥⲛⲟϥ ϥϩⲓϫ̅ⲛ̅
29. ⲛⲏⲛ ⧹ϣⲁ⧸ϩⲣⲏ ⲁϩⲟⲙⲧⲉ ⲛ̅ⲅⲉⲛⲉⲁ ⲁⲕⲁⲧ̣̅ⲛ̣̅ⲧⲟⲛⲟⲩ ⲙ̅ⲛ̅ ⲕⲁⲉⲓⲛ ⲉⲧⲁϥϩⲟⲧⲃⲉ
30. ⲁⲃⲏⲗ ⲡⲉⲥⲁ̣ⲛ

[1] O God of heaven and earth! He who will open this sheet [2] and read what is written against me (?), all the things that are written on it will come upon him, [3] yea, O God of heaven and earth! ⳨

[4] ⳨ O Lord, you are the one who knows that which is hidden and that which is revealed. O God, [5] you are the one who will avenge me against all those who fight against me! O my father [6] Michael, O my father Gabriel, Suriel, Gounouēl, Raphael; not by my power, [7] ⟨but⟩ by the power of the Lord Sabaoth and all those whose names are recited, may you (pl.) [8] petition the God of the heaven and the earth!

Trample Biktōr-Hatreē! O God, [9] cast him down, possessed by a demon! O God, may you cast down Taueid, his [10] son! Trample him, so that he is without friends in prison, just as they acted [11] against me (?), just as I must speak with no one. Everyone who [12] is joined to me in evil and everyone who pronounces my name in hate, [13] and all those who curse me, O God, it is you who will avenge me [14] against all of them!

O Lord God, may you trample all of them and all those who […] [15] to me! O Lord, do not forget my […] and my entreaty, [16] for [they] have abused me. May you bring [them] down so that they will not arise, just as [17] they all did to me, and may you do it (?) to his sons (?) [18] before them (?)! Yea, O Lord Sabaōth, do not forget me! [19] O Cherubim, O Seraphim, O ten thousand angels and archangels, [20] may you petition the God of heaven and earth that he [21] avenge me against everyone who fights against me, everyone who curses [22] me! May you (s.) cast him down and make him demon possessed! Yea, O beloved saviour, [23] yea, O Consubstantial Trinity, may I see Biktōr-Hatrē [24] and Daueid, his son, seeing him as they receive the spirit of the world! [25] May you bring down upon them all the sufferings of Job, [26] O God, may you cast down Papnounte, make him possessed by a demon, so that he will not arise! [27] May you count them with Judas on the Day of Judgement; [28] may you liken them to those who said, “His blood be upon [29] us up to the third generation”; may you liken them to Cain, who killed [30] Abel, the brother!

Tableau:
Tracing by:

Apparatus:

1. ⲡⲕⲁϩ ⲕ corrected from ⲁ by overwriting | ⲭⲁⲣⲧⲏⲥ i.e. Greek χάρτης
2. ⲃⲱϣ i.e. Sahidic ⲛ̅⸗ϥ-ⲱϣ | ⲁⲣⲁⲉⲓ i.e. Sahidic ⲉⲣⲟ⸗ⲓ : l. ⲁⲣⲁϥ ? Crum, Kropp, Smith, Pernigotti | ⲁϩⲣⲏ corrected from ⲁⲃⲣⲏ by overwriting | ⲁϫⲱϥ ϥ corrected from ⲱ by overwriting
3. ⲡⲛⲟⲩⲛⲧⲉ i.e. Sahidic ⲡ-ⲛⲟⲩⲧⲉ : ⲡⲛⲟⲩⲧⲉ Crum
4. ⳨ inset in margin | ⲡⲛⲟⲩⲛⲧⲉ : ⲡⲛⲟⲩⲧⲉ Crum
6. ⲙⲓⲭⲁⲏⲗ ⲭ corrected from ⲥ̣ by overwriting
7. ⲉⲛ i.e. Sahidic ⲙⲛ̅- (haplography)
8. ⲥⲩⲙⲙ ⲁϩⲟⲩⲛ l. ⲥⲩⲙⲙⲁ ⲁϩⲟⲩⲛ i.e. Sahidic ⲥⲙ̅ⲙⲉ ⲉϩⲟⲩⲛ (haplography) | ⲙ̅ⲡⲛⲟⲩⲛⲧⲉ : ⲙ̅ⲡⲛⲟⲩⲧⲉ Crum | ⲃⲓⲕⲧⲱ⧹ⲟ⧸ : ⲃⲓⲕⲧⲱⲣ Crum | ⧹ϩ⧸ⲁⲧⲣⲉⲏ : ⧹ϩ⧸ⲁⲧⲣⲉ ⲏ Crum, Kropp : translate “…Hatre! Yea (?)…” (“Hatre! Wohlan (?)”) Kropp | ⲡⲛⲟⲩⲛⲧ̣ⲉ : translate “Panoute” Smith
9. ⲇⲓⲙⲱⲛⲓⲟⲛ i.e. Greek δαιμόνιον, ⲁ corrected to ⲇ by overwriting | ⲡⲛⲟⲩⲛⲧⲉ i.e. Sahidic ⲡ-ⲛⲟⲩⲧⲉ : ⲡⲛⲟⲩⲧⲉ Crum | ⲧⲁⲩⲉⲓⲇ ⲁ corrected from ⲇ̣ by overwriting
10. ⲉϥⲉ ⲛⲁⲧⲣⲱⲙⲉ i.e. Sahidic ⲉ⸗ϥ-ⲟ ⲛ-ⲁⲧ-ⲣⲱⲙⲉ | ⲥⲓⲕⲛⲟⲛ i.e. Greek σίγνον | ⲉⲧⲁ̣ⲩ̣ⲓ̣̈ⲣⲉ i.e. Sahidic ⲉⲛⲧ-ⲁ⸗ⲩ-ⲉⲓⲣⲉ : ⲉⲧ . . ⲣⲣⲉ Crum
11. ϩⲟⲩⲛ̅ⲧ̅ i.e. Sahidic ⲉϩⲟⲩⲛ ⲉⲣⲟ⸗ⲓ̈ ? | ⲛ̅ⲑⲉ ⲑ corrected from ⲧ by overwriting | ϫⲩⲡⲟ i.e. Sahidic ϫⲡⲓ | ⧹ⲉⲛ⧸ϩⲁⲧⲉ i.e. Sahidic ⲛ̅-ϩⲟⲧ ⲛ̅- or ⲛ̅-ϩⲁⲧⲛ̅ : ⲉⲛϩⲁⲧⲉ Crum : i.e. Sahidic ϩⲟⲙⲧ Smith
12. ⲉϥⲧⲁⲣ̅ϭ̅ : translate “who …adjures” (“der… beschwört”; “Chiunque invochi…”) i.e. Sahidic ⲉ⸗ϥ-ⲧⲁⲣⲕⲟ Kropp, Smith, Pernigotti | ⲙ̅ⲛ̅ corrected from ⲙ̅⟦ⲭ⟧ by overwriting | ⲧⲁⲩ i.e. Sahidic ⲧⲁⲟⲩⲟ | ⲁⲧⲃⲟⲛⲧⲉ i.e. Sahidic ⲉ-ⲧ-ⲃⲱⲧⲉ
13. ⲡⲛⲟⲩⲛⲧⲉ : ⲡⲛⲟⲩⲧⲉ Crum | ⲛ̅ⲧ̣ⲁ̣ⲕ̣ : ⲛ . . . Crum
14. ⲛⲉⲧⲁ . [ . . ] : ⲛⲉⲧⲁ ⲩ . . Crum
15. ⲙ̅ⲡⲱⲣ̣ⲁϥϣ̅ⲕ̅ i.e. Sahidic ⲙⲡⲣ̅-ⲟⲃϣ⸗ⲕ | ⲁⲡ̣[ⲁ . . . ] restore e.g. ⲁⲡ[ⲁⲧⲱⲃϩ] translate “prayer” (“Gebet”, “preghiera”) Kropp, Pernigotti, Smith
16. ϫ i.e. Sahidic ϫⲉ | ⲧⲟⲟⲩⲛ i.e. Sahidic ⲧⲱⲟⲩⲛ
17. ⲧⲁⲣⲉⲕⲁⲓⲁ̣ . ⲁⲁⲥ ⲛ̅ⲁ̣ⲃ̣ϣⲏⲣⲉ i.e. Sahidic ⲧⲁⲣⲉ⸗ⲕ ⲁⲁ⸗ⲥ ⲛ̅-ⲛⲉϥ-ϣⲏⲣⲉ ? : ⲧⲁⲣⲉⲕⲁⲓⲟ . ⲁⲁⲥ ⲛⲟⲩϣⲏⲣⲉ Crum
18. ϩⲟⲩⲛⲟⲩ i.e. Sahidic ⲉϩⲟⲩⲛ ⲉⲣⲟ⸗ⲩ ? : ϩⲟⲩ ⲛⲟⲩ Crum | ⲙ̅ⲡⲱⲣⲁⲃϩ̅ⲕ̅ i.e. Sahidic ⲙⲡⲣ̅-ⲟⲃϣ⸗ⲕ ⲙ̅ⲡⲱⲣ corrected from ⲙ̅ⲡⲁⲣ by overwriting | ⲁⲣⲁⲉⲓ i.e. Sahidic ⲉⲣⲟ⸗ⲓ
19. ⲭⲉⲣⲟⲩⲃⲓⲛ i.e. Greek χερουβίν | ⲥⲁⲣⲁⲫⲓⲛ i.e. Greek σεραφίμ | ⲁⲅⲅⲉⲗⲟⲥ i.e. Greek ἄγγελος | ⲁⲣⲭⲏⲁⲅⲅⲉⲗⲟⲥ i.e. Greek ἀρχάγγελος
20. ⲛ̅ⲧⲡⲉ corrected from ⲙ̅ⲧⲡⲉ by overwriting | ⲡ⧹ⲕⲁ⧸ϩ : ⲡⲕⲁϩ Crum
21. ⲙ̅ⲙⲁⲉⲓ i.e. Sahidic ⲙ̅ⲙⲟ⸗ⲓ
22. ⲧⲉⲙⲙⲟⲛⲓⲟⲛ i.e. Greek δαιμόνιον | ⲯⲟⲧⲏⲣ l. ⲡ-ⲥⲟⲧⲏⲣ i.e. Greek σωτήρ
22-23. ⲙ̅ⲙⲉⲙ̅ⲙⲉⲣⲓⲧ l. ⲙ̅-ⲙⲉⲣⲓⲧ (dittography over the line) : or translate “true, beloved saviour” ? Kropp, Smith, Pernigotti
23. ⲧⲣⲓⲁⲥ i.e. Greek τρίας | ϩⲟⲙⲟⲩⲥⲓⲟⲥ i.e. ὁμοούσιος
24. ⲡⲉϥϣⲏⲣⲉ corrected from ⲙⲉϥϣⲏⲣⲉ by addition of bar to mu | ⲡⲛ(ⲉⲩⲙ)ⲁ i.e. Greek πνεῦμα | ⲕⲟⲥⲙⲟⲥ̣ i.e. Greek κόσμος
26. ⲇⲉⲙⲓⲱⲛ i.e. Greek δαιμόνιον | ϫ̅ i.e. Sahidic ϫⲉ
27. ϩ̅ⲛ̅ i.e. Sahidic ϩⲙ̅- | ⲁⲕⲁⲧⲏⲛⲧⲟⲛⲟⲩ i.e. Sahidic ⲉ⸗ⲕ-ⲉ-ⲧⲛ̅ⲧⲱⲛ⸗ⲟⲩ
28-29. ϥϩⲓϫ̅ⲛ̅ ⲛⲏⲛ l. ϩⲓϫⲱⲛ ϩⲓϫⲛ̅ ⲛⲉⲛⲁⲡⲉ Crum
29. ⲅⲉⲛⲉⲁ i.e. Greek γενεά
30. ⲡⲉⲥⲁ̣ⲛ : ⲡⲉⲥⲟⲛ Crum : l. ⲡⲉⲥⲥⲟⲛ error for ⲡⲉϥⲥⲟⲛ Smith

Notes:

Crum’s transcript does not include any supralinear strokes or diareses, so we do not note discrepancies in the marking of such signs.

9. ⲉϥⲉⲓⲣⲉ ⲙ̅ⲙⲁϥ ⲛ̅ⲇⲓⲙⲱⲛⲓⲟⲛ Literally “he making himself demoniac”, likely a calque of the Greek δαιμονίζομαι, literally “demonise”, meaning “to be possessed”; cf. Zellmann-Rohrer⧸Love p. 154-155. Smith translate “he is acting like a demon”.
10-11. ⲛ̅ⲑⲉ ⲉⲧⲁ̣ⲩ̣ⲓ̣̈ⲣⲉ ϩⲟⲩⲛ̅ⲧ̅ ⲛ̅ⲑⲉ ⲉⲧⲓϫⲩⲡⲟ ⲛ̅ϣⲁϫⲉ ⧹ⲉⲛ⧸ϩⲁⲧⲉ ⲗⲁⲁⲩ ⲛ̅ⲣⲱⲙⲉ This phrase is quite difficult to make sense of. Kropp translates “as the bonds have are close to me, as I could not produce trusted words before any man” (“ wie die Bande mir genäht sind, wie ich zu keinem Menschen zuverlässige Worte hervorbringen konnte (?)”. Pernigotti translates as “when the bonds are close to me and I cannot say to any man a trusted word” (“quando i legami mi sono vicini e quando io non posso dire a nessun uomo parole fidate”). Smith translates as “like a bronze chain, as I produce the trusty words as I produce the trusty words. Any person…”. We are grateful to Nina Speransky (personal communication 10/2/2023) for her suggestion to understand ϫⲡⲓ and ϩⲁⲧⲛ̅ here.
12. ⲉϥⲧⲁⲣ̅ϭ̅ ⲁϫⲱⲓ ⲁⲡⲡⲉⲑⲁⲩ For this form, cf. Crum CD 466b. The exact meaning of this phrase is obscure.
15, 18. ⲙ̅ⲡⲱ̣ⲣ̣ⲁϥϣ̅ⲕ̅, ⲙ̅ⲡⲱⲣⲁⲃϩ̅ⲕ̅ For the use of ⲙ̅ⲡⲱⲣ- in place of ⲙ̅ⲡⲣ̅-, cf. Kahle 168-169.
17-18. ⲧⲁⲣⲉⲕⲁⲓⲁ̣ . ⲁⲁⲥ ⲛ̅ⲁ̣ⲛ̣ϣⲏⲣⲉ ϩⲟⲩⲛⲟⲩ This passage is very obscure. Kropp does not translate it, and Pernigotti and Smith omit it from their translations.
24. ⲉⲩϫⲓ ⲙ̅ⲡⲛⲁ ⲙ̅ⲡⲕⲟⲥ⧹ⲙⲟⲥ⧸ cf. 1 Corinthians 2.12: “But we have not received the spirit of the world, but the spirit from God” (ⲁⲛⲟⲛ ⲇⲉ ⲛⲧⲁⲛϫⲓ ⲁⲛ ⲙⲡⲉⲡⲛⲁ ⲙⲡⲉⲉⲓⲕⲟⲥⲙⲟⲥ ⲁⲗⲗⲁ ⲡⲉⲡⲛⲁ ⲡⲉⲃⲟⲗ ⲙⲡⲛⲟⲩⲧⲉ). The “spirit of the world” here is likely understood as the Devil.
26. This line may have been added subsequently between the present lines 25 and 27.
28-29. ⲡⲉϥⲥⲛⲟϥ ϥϩⲓϫ̅ⲛ̅ ⲛⲏⲛ ⧹ϣⲁ⧸ϩⲣⲏ ⲁϩⲟⲙⲧⲉ ⲛ̅ⲅⲉⲛⲉⲁ cf. Matthew 27.25: “The whole people answered, saying “His blood is upon us and our children” (ⲁϥⲟⲩⲱϣⲃ ⲇⲉ ⲛϭⲓ ⲡⲗⲁⲟⲥ ⲧⲏⲣϥ ⲉϥϫⲱ ⲙⲙⲟⲥ ϫⲉ ⲡⲉϥⲥⲛⲟϥ ϩⲓϫⲱⲛ ⲙⲛ ⲛⲉⲛϣⲏⲣⲉ), harmonised with passages such as Exodus 20.5: “The Lord your god is a jealous god, who punishes the sins of the fathers upon the children to the third and the fourth generation” (ⲡϫⲟⲉⲓⲥ ⲡⲉⲕⲛⲟⲩⲧⲉ ⲟⲩⲛⲟⲩⲧⲉ ⲛ̅ⲣⲉϥⲕⲱϩ ⲉⲧⲧⲱⲱⲃⲉ ⲛ̅ⲛ̅ⲛⲟⲃⲉ ⲛ̅ⲛⲉⲓⲟⲧⲉ ⲉϩⲣⲁⲓ ⲉϫⲛ̅ ⲛ̅ϣⲏⲣⲉ ϣⲁϩⲣⲁⲓ ⲉⲡⲙⲉϩϣⲟⲙ̅ⲧ ⲙⲛ̅ ⲡⲙⲉϩϥ̅ⲧⲟⲟⲩ ⲛ̅ϫⲱⲙ). The reference here is to the “blood curse”, by which Matthew claims that the Jewish people took upon themselves responsibility for the death of Jesus.

Bibliography:

Crum, Walter E. Catalogue of the Coptic Manuscripts in the British Museum. London, British Museum, 1905, p. 506-507, no. 1224.

Kahle, Paul E. Bala’izah. Coptic Texts from Deir el-Bala’izah in Upper Egypt, vol. 1. London: Oxford University Press, 1954.

Kropp, Angelicus. Ausgewählte koptische Zaubertexte. Übersetzungen und Anmerkungen. Vol. 2. Bruxelles: Édition de la Fondation Égyptologique Reine Élisabeth, 1931, p. 225-228, no. 66.

Smith, Richard, in Marvin W. Meyer, and Richard Smith. Ancient Christian Magic: Coptic Texts of Ritual Power. Princeton (New Jersey): Princeton University Press, 1999, p. 187-188, no. 88.

Pernigotti, Sergio. Testi della Magia Copta. Imola: Editrice La Mandragora, 2000, no. 50.

Zellmann-Rohrer, Michael and Love, Edward O. D. Traditions in Transmission: The Medical and Magical Texts of a Fourth-Century Greek and Coptic Codex (Michigan Ms. 136) in Context. Berlin: De Gruyter, 2022, p. 154-155.

Editor:

EL’s edition from the original (19/12/2019), incorporating Crum (20/8/2019); updated (26/7/2021); KD + MPS (9/6/2022)

How to cite:

Korshi Dosoo, Edward O.D. Love & Markéta Preininger (chief editors). "KYP T70: Applied curse against Biktōr-Hatre, his son Daueid, and Papnoute.," Kyprianos Database of Ancient Ritual Texts and Objects, www.coptic-magic.phil.uni-wuerzburg.de/index.php/text/kyp-t-70. Accessed on 11/05/2025

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