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E06310: Coptic invocation possibly from Panopolis (Upper Egypt) addressing* Michael (the Archangel, S00181), *Gabriel (the Archangel, S00192), *Mary (Mother of Christ, S00030), *Zechariah (presumably the father of John the Baptist, S00597) and *5400 Martyrs (unnamed, S00060) to cause someone physical harm; datable to the end of the 4th/beginning of the 5th century.

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posted on 2018-09-08, 00:00 authored by gschenke
P.IFAO Rémondon

Besides invoking the archangels, as well as Zechariah, Mary and Jesus himself, 5400 martyrs are addressed as a group and asked to cause harm.

(Summary: G. Schenke)

History

Evidence ID

E06310

Saint Name

Michael, the Archangel : S00181 Gabriel, the Archangel : S00192 Zechariah, Old Testament prophet : S00283 Martyrs, unnamed or name lost : S00060 Mary, Mother of Christ : S00033 Zechariah, father of John the Baptist : S00597

Type of Evidence

Late antique original manuscripts - Papyrus sheet Liturgical texts - Invocations, prayers and spells

Language

  • Coptic

Evidence not before

350

Evidence not after

450

Activity not before

350

Activity not after

450

Place of Evidence - Region

Egypt and Cyrenaica

Place of Evidence - City, village, etc

Panopolis

Place of evidence - City name in other Language(s)

Panopolis Hermopolis ϣⲙⲟⲩⲛ Ashmunein Hermopolis

Cult activities - Non Liturgical Practices and Customs

Prayer/supplication/invocation

Source

The papyrus is kept at the Institut français d'archéologie orientale (IFAO) in Cairo.

Discussion

The Zechariah named here is presumably the father of John the Baptist, and not the Old Testament prophet, since he is named in conjunction with Gabriel, Mary and Jesus, an association that would suit the former much better than the latter.

Bibliography

Text and translation: Rémondon, R., "Un papyrus magique copte," BIFAO 52 (1953), 157–161. Ritner, R.K., "101: Jacob's curse to give someone an ulcerous tumor," in: M. Meyer and R. Smith (eds.), Ancient Christian Magic: Coptic Texts of Ritual Power (San Francisco, 1994), 207–208.

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    Evidence -  The Cult of Saints in Late Antiquity

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