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.
online resource
posted on 2018-09-08, 00:00authored bygschenke
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
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.