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.
Evidence ID
E06310
Type of Evidence
Late antique original manuscripts - Papyrus sheet
Liturgical texts - Invocations, prayers and spells
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.
Non Liturgical Activity
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.
Record Created By
Gesa Schenke
Date of Entry
8/9/2018
| ID | Name | Name in Source | Identity | S00033 | Mary, Mother of Christ | Certain | S00060 | Martyrs, unnamed or name lost | Certain | S00181 | Michael, the Archangel | Certain | S00192 | Gabriel, the Archangel | Certain | S00283 | Zechariah, Old Testament prophet | Uncertain | S00597 | Zechariah, father of John the Baptist | Uncertain |
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Please quote this record referring to its author, database name, number, and, if possible, stable URL:
Gesa Schenke, Cult of Saints, E06310 - http://csla.history.ox.ac.uk/record.php?recid=E06310