Papyri Graecae Magicae, PGM VIII: Binding love spell of Astrampsychus and a request for a dream oracle of Besas

φ̣ι̣λ̣τροκατάδεσμος Ἀστραψούκου. λό(γος)·

Binding love spell of Astrapsoukos. (Formula):

ἐλ[θ]έ μοι κύριε Ἑρμῆ, ὡς τὰ βρέφη εἰς τάς κοιλίας τῶν γυναι-

Come to me, lord Hermes, as babies [come] into the wombs of women.

[κ]ῶν. ἐλθέ μοι, κύριε Ἑρμῆ, συνάγων τὰς τροφὰς τῶν θ(εῶ)ν

Come to me, lord Hermes, who gather the sustenance of (gods)

κόσμον ζῴοις οὕτως κἀγώ, ὁ (δεῖνα) ἐπικα[λ]οῦμαι σε. διὸ δός

cosmos, the living creatures; so I too, (NN), call on you. Therefore give

μοι τήν χάριν, μορφήν, κάλλος· ἐπάκουσόν μου, Ἑρμῆ,

me favour, form, beauty; hear me, Hermes,

εὐεργέτα, φάρμακον ⟨εὑρετά⟩, εὐδιάλεκτος γενοῦ καὶ ἐπάκουσον,

benefactor, ⟨inventor⟩ of drugs, be gracious in speech and hear [me],

καθὼς ἐποίησας πάντα τῷ Αἰθιοπικῷ κυνοκεφάλῳ σου,

just as you did everything for your Ethiopian dog-headed baboon,

τῷ κυρίῳ τῶν χθονίων. πράϋνε πάντας καὶ δός μοι

the lord of those beneath the earth. Calm everyone and give me

ἀλκήν, μορφήν κοιν(όν), καὶ δότωσαν μοι χρυσὸν⟦αρυσον⟧ καὶ ἄρ-

strength, form (the usual), and let them give me gold and silver

γυρον καὶ τροφὴν πᾶσαν ἀδιάλειπτον. διάσωσόν με

and all food without fail. Keep me safe

πάντοτε εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα ἀπὸ φαρμάκων καὶ δολίων

always, forever, from drugs and treacheries

καὶ βασκοσύνης πάσης καὶ γλωττῶν πονηρῶν, ἀπὸ

and every evil eye and wicked tongues, from

πάσης συνοχῆς, ἀπὸ παντὸς μίσους θ[ε]ῶν τε καὶ ἀνθρώπ(ων).

every constraint, from all hatred of gods and men.

δότωσαν μοι χάριν καὶ νίκην καὶ πρᾶξιν καὶ εὐπορίαν. σύ γὰρ

Let them give me favour and victory and success and plenty. For you

ἐγὼ καὶ ἐγὼ σύ τὸ σὸν (ὄνομα) ἐμὸν καὶ τὸ ἐμὸν σόν· ἐγὼ γάρ εἰμι τὸ

are I and I am you; your (name) is mine and mine is yours; for I am the

ἡμέρας τῆς ἀνατολῆς τῆς (σελήνης), τὸ δὲ δεύτερον (ὄνομα) ἔχον

days of the rising of the (moon); and the second (name) has

ἀριθμὸν ζ τῶν κυριευόντων τοῦ κόσμου,

the number 7, [that] of the rulers of the world,

τήν ψῆφον ἔχον τξε πρὸς τὰς ἡμέρας τοῦ ἐνι-

with the numerical value 365, corresponding to the days of the

αυτοῦ. ἀληθῶς· Ἀβρασάξ.* οἶδά σε, Ἑρμῆ, καὶ σύ ἐμέ.

year. Truly: Abrasax. I know you, Hermes, and you [know] me.

ἐγώ εἰμι σύ καὶ σύ ἐγώ. καὶ πρᾶξόν μοι πάντα καὶ

I am you and you are I. So do everything for me, and

συνρέποις σὺν Ἀγαθῇ Τύχῃ καὶ Ἀγαθῷ Δαίμονι,

may you turn the scale [for me] with Good Fortune and the Good Daimon,

ἤδη β, ταχύ β.

now, now, quickly, quickly.

λαβὼν ξύλον ἐλάϊνον ποίησον κυνοκεφάλιον καθήμε-

Taking olive wood, make a small baboon, seated,

ἐπίθυε λιβανωτὸν καὶ τίθει, ὅπου θέλεις ἐν ἐργαστηρίῳ

burn frankincense on it, and set it wherever you wish in the workshop,

μέσον. ἔστι δὲ τὸ (ὄνομα) τὸ γρ(α)φό(μενον)· φθορον, φθιονη Θωύθ*

in the middle. The (name) to be written is: phthoron phthionē Thōuth;

προσέτι γράφε, καὶ τὰ μεγάλα (ὀνόματα) ταῦτα· Ἰάω* Σαβαώθ*

write besides these great (names) too: Iaō Sabaōth

Ἀδωναῖε* ἀβλαναθ(αναλβα) ἀκραμμαχ(αμαρει), τξε, δὸς τῷ ἐγραστηρίῳ

Adōnaie ablanath(analba) akrammach(amarei), 365, give to the workshop

τὴν πρᾶξιν, τὴν χάριν, τὴν εὐπορίαν, ἐπαφροδισίαν,

business, favour, prosperity, charm,

αὐτῷ τῷ δεῖνα καί⟦κα⟧ τῷ ἐργαστηρίῳ, ἤδη, ἤδη, ταχύ, ταχύ.

to NN himself and to the workshop, now, now, quickly, quickly.

σου λέγων τὸν λό(γον), καὶ ἐλεύσεται πρὸς σέ. ἔχε ἔγγιστα σου

you, saying the (formula), and he will come to you. Keep very near you

πινακίδα, ἵνα ὅσα λέγει γράψῃς, ἵνα μὴ κοιμη[θ]είς

a tablet, so that you may write down whatever he says, so that you do not, falling asleep,

ληθαργήσῃς. ἐπικαλοῦμαί σε, τὸν ἀκέφαλον θ(εό)ν, σοῖς

forget. I call on you, the headless (god), who at your

παρὰ τοῖς ποσὶν ἔχοντα τὴν ὅρασιν, τὸν ἀστράπτοντα

feet have your sight, who flash lightning

καὶ βροντάζοντα. σὺ εἶ, οὗ τὸ στόμα διὰ παντός πυ-

and thunder. You are the one whose mouth is continually full of fire,

ρὸς γέμει, ὁ ἐπὶ τῆς Ἀνάγκης τεταγμένος. ἐπικα-

the one set over Necessity. I call

λοῦμαί σε, τὸν ἐπὶ τῆς Ἀνάγκης τεταγμένον θ(εό)ν

on you, the (god) set over Necessity,

Ἰαεω* Σαβαώθ* Ἀδωναί* Ζαβαρβαθιάω* σὺ εἶ ὁ ἐ-

Iaeō Sabaōth Adōnai Zabarbathiaō; you are the one who

πὶ τῇ ζμυρνίνῃ σορῷ κατακείμενος, ἔχων ὑπα-

lies on the coffin of myrrh, having under your

γκώνιον ῥητίνην καὶ ἄσφαλτον, ὃν λέγουσιν· Ἀνούθ*

elbow resin and asphalt, whom they call: Anouth

Ἀνούθ* ἀνάστα⟦ἀνάσδα⟧, δαίμων· οὐκ εἶ δαίμων, ἀλλὰ τὸ αἷμα

Anouth, rise up, daimōn [spirit]; you are not a daimōn, but the blood

τῶν δύο ἱεράκων τῶν πρὸς κεφαλῆς τοῦ Ὀσίρεως

of the two hawks that at the head of Osiris

λαλούντων καὶ ἀγρυπνοῦντων. σὺ εἶ ὁ χρησμῳδὸς

chatter and keep watch. You are the oracle-giving

θ(εὸ)ς Σαλβαναχαμβρη* Ἀνούθ* Ἀνούθ* Σαβαώθ* Ἀδωναί*

(god) Salbanachambrē Anouth Anouth Sabaōth Adōnai

ιη ιε ιη ιε κοι(νόν). κοιμῶ δὲ ἐπὶ θρυΐνης ψιάθου ἔ-

iē ie iē ie (the usual). And sleep on a rush mat, with

χων πρός κεφαλῆς σου πλίνθον ὠμήν. ἔστιν δὲ

an unbaked brick at your head. And what

ὃ γράφεις, τοιοῦτο· ἄνθρωπος γυμνός, ἑστώς, ἔχων βασί-

you draw is this: a naked man, standing, with a royal

λειον ἐπὶ τῆς κεφαλῆς, ἐν δὲ τῇ δεξιᾷ χειρί

crown on his head, and in his right hand

ξίφος καμπῇ ἐπὶ τὸν τράχηλον κείμενον καὶ ἐν

a sword lying curved against his neck, and in

τῇ εὐωνύμῳ ῥάβδον. ἐὰν δὲ χρηματίσῃ σοι, ῥοδίνῳ

his left a staff. If he gives you an oracle, with rose

μύρῳ ἀπάλειψον σου τὴν χεῖραν. ἔστι δὲ ζῴδιον

perfume wipe off your hand. And this is the figure

τῆς πράξεως·

of the rite: