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ARTEFACT IDENTIFIERS

Artefact ID	1461
TM ID	TM 68620
Findspot (DEChriM ID)	- ()
Class	Textual
Material	Papyrus
Writing medium	Uncertain
Text content	Subliterary
Language	Greek
Description	P.Berl. 17202: Fragment of a magical spell collection The page fragment (19 x 24,1 cm) contains six magical spells separated by horizontal dividers (after lines 12, 19, 30, 33, and 38). It is unclear whether it was a single leaf, part a collection or even a page in a codex. The order of the recto and verso is also not determinable, since both the upper and lower border of the papyrus are fragmentary; the sides have been assigned by the ed.pr. (side A: vertical fibers). The kollesis, glueing together two sheet parts, is visible with ca. 2.3 cm overlapping between line 7 and 8 on side A, and between line 27 and 28 on side B. Side A still contains traces of 22 lines recto, side B of 19 lines. I) Line 1–12: Recipe for expelling demons (exorcism) alluding to the virgin birth and miracles of Jesus. The content is more theological than the Biblical quotes and Psalms usual in amulets. Features liturgical responses (line 5–7, 10–12), which are not in the right sequence (see Brashear/Kotansky 2002 for a reconstruction and commentary). Nomina sacra with supralinear stroke (κε, ις, χε, see e.g. κύριε Ἰησοῦς Χρίστε in line 7). Similarities to P. Cairo 10263 (4th/5th c.), an amulet most probably buried with a mummy. II) Line 13–19: Silencing spell (φιμωτικόν) against opponents. III) Line 20–22: Fragment of an unidentified hymnic invocation. IV) Line 23–30: Ritual Spell for capturing a thief (ὁ κλέπτων). V) Line 31–33: Spell to generate an erection (ψωλή) or to eradicate fleas (ψύλλαι, see Jordan 2002). VI) Line 34–36: Spell called the second “sacred stele” (ἱερὰ στηλή δευ[τέρα]).
Selection criteria	Subliterary genre (Liturgical), Christian terms/formulas/concepts, Nomina sacra
Date from	300
Date to	399
Dating criteria	Palaeography; the ed.pr. points out a “practiced but hurried style typical of documentary hands”. The variation in writing by a single hand (multiple writing instruments and varying inks) implies the spell recipes were copied over a period of time. The ed.pr. notes the spells may have been derived from other sourcebooks or various amulets.
Absolute/relative date	Relative date
Archaeological context	Unknown provenance.
Accession number	Berlin, Staatliche Museen, Ägyptisches Museum und Papyrussammlung P. 17202

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Editio princeps
• Brashear, William and Roy Kotansky. 2002. “A New Magical Formulary.” In Magic And Ritual In The Ancient World, edited by Paul Mirecki and Marvin Meyer. Leiden/Boston/Köln: Brill. 3-24: 3-19.

Additional bibliography
• De Bruyn, Theodore S. and Jitse H. F. Dijkstra. 2011. “Greek Amulets and Formularies from Egypt Containing Christian Elements: A Checklist of Papyri, Parchments, Ostraka, and Tablets.” Bulletin of the American Society of Papyrologists (BASP) 48. 163-216: 184-185, No. 7.
• Jordan, David. 2002. “Phallus or Fleas at PBerol inv. 17202.31?” Zeitschrift für Papyrologie und Epigraphik (ZPE) 141: 139-141.

Authors

Victoria G. D. Landau, 2022

Suggested citation

Victoria G. D. Landau, 2022, "Artefact ID 1461", 4CARE database - Fourth-Century Christian Archaeological Record of Egypt, https://4care-skos.mf.no/artefacts/1461

Json data

External links

TM 68620 / LDAB 9892 DCLP (PN) BerlPap Kyprianos M138

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