Sexual Dynamis and Dynamics of Magical Practice in Graeco-Roman Egypt: Erotic Spells in the Greek and Demotic Magical Papyri (PGM and PDM) and their Cultural Traditions
Egyptology and Ancient Near Eastern Studies
Religious Studies and Jewish Studies
Final Report Abstract
For the first time, this project analysed the erotic spells of the Greek and Demotic magical papyri from Graeco-Roman Egypt through a comprehensive, transcultural, diachronic and interdisciplinary perspective. These spells have been generally called ‘love spells’, but considering that they mainly focus on sexual relationships, are better labelled ‘erotic’. Our investigation led to a new categorisation based on the different ritual structures, emic terminology and phraseology. Our categories also included spells that were never studied before as a unity, such as spells to control the sexuality and behaviour of women, or to improve sexual pleasure. The detailed analysis of each category not only led to new insights concerning the meaning of single elements, but also to a better understanding of the cultural history of different traditions of erotic magic and their mutual influences and developments. Contrary to earlier research which gave more importance to the Greek material and cultural background (especially for Agogai/fetching spells and binding spells), we discovered that many erotic spells’ categories have strong roots in Egyptian tradition, for example erotic ‘favour spells’ (Charitesia), pharmacological recipes for love potions and to enhance sexual pleasure, and spells to control women. This is furthermore demonstrated through the evidence of previously unknown or misunderstood Egyptian magical papyri from earlier periods, which were (re-)edited in the framework of our project. We discovered that even some central elements and patterns of Agogai-spells themselves have Egyptian precursors, which were combined with the aggressive expressive patterns typical of the Greek (erotic) curse tradition. Comparisons between handbook formularies and activated examples of spell categories demonstrated that the handbook instructions could be relatively freely and spontaneously adapted to the particular situation, in which a client or user found him-/or herself. Furthermore, the de facto use of the same types of spells by both men and women, and also for homosexual relationships, is confirmed by the extant evidence of applied spells, even if some spell categories are (by their very nature) not represented by this type of evidence.
Publications
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Erotische Magie im griechisch-römischen Ägypten. Die Sprüche der griechischen und demotischen Zauberpapyri in ihrem transkulturellen Kontext ‘, Colloquium of the Research Centre ‘Griechisch-Römisches Ägypten’ of Trier University, June 7, 2018
Nagel
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Das Streben nach Gunst im Alten Ägypten’, 20th jubilee of the Collegium Aegyptium, Munich, May 9, 2019
Quack
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Narrations of Magical Power in Ancient Egypt or: A Counter-Narrative to "Witchcraft" Concepts. Magic, Ritual, and Witchcraft, 14(1), 11-36.
Nagel, Svenja
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‘A Dark Side to Success and Justification?’, Egyptological Conference in Copenhagen, May 8, 2019
Quack
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Greek and Demotic Magical Papyri: an Introduction’, ‘Vortragsreihe zu Papyri und Ostraka aus der Ub Leipzig’, Universitätsbibliothek Leipzig, May 21, 2021
Bortolan
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‘Between shaping and framing: the tabula ansata in magical texts/amulets and “prayers for justice”’, ‘Conference in Classics & Ancient History’, panel 09 ‘Layout and Materiality of Writing in Ancient Documents, from the Archaic Period to Late Antiquity: a Comparative Approach’, University of Coimbra, June 22–25, 2021
Bortolani, Giuditta Mirizio
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‘Greek and Demotic magical Papyri: some methodological glimpses from our research’, advanced research seminar ‘Magica in der griechisch-römischen Welt’ (online), under direction of Prof. A. Jördens, Heidelberg University, March 9, 2021
Bortolani; Nagel
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‘Ritualtechniken und kulturelle Traditionen erotischer Magie in den demotischen und griechischen magischen Papyri’, Ständige Ägyptolog*innenkonferenz 2021 (online), Mainz, July 10, 2021
Nagel
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‘The Magical Hymn to Typhon-Seth: between Universalistic Trends and the Translation of Egyptian Tradition’, in L. Bricault and M. A. Stadler (eds.) Hymnen und Aretalogien im antiken Mittelmeerraum. Von Inana bis Isis, Philippika 154, Wiesbaden, 149-176. (ISBN: 978-3-447-11686-2)
Bortolani, L. M.
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‘A chorus for Kybele in a new papyrus from the Red Sea’, in N. le Meur, B. Delignon and O. Thévenaz (eds.) Performance et mimesis. Variations sur la lyrique cultuelle de la Grèce archaïque au Haut-Empire romain, Kernos Supplement 40, Liège, 31-38. (2022)
Furley, W.
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‘How to ‘hack’ your body – and those of others. The (gendered) body as subject, object and medium in Graeco-Egyptian erotic magical practices’, international conference ‘Bodies in Ancient Egypt: Subjects, Objects, Media’, Münster, July 17, 2022, organised by U. Matić, A. Rickert and D. Serova
Nagel
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‘Rituals for gaining favor in the late Middle Kingdom Ramesseum Papyri’, international workshop ‘Materiality, Layout and Formulas. Detecting Patterns in Written Artifacts from Egypt’, organised by several sub-projects of the CRC 933 ‘Material Textcultures’ in Heidelberg, March 10-12, 2022
Quack
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‘“Erotic” charitesia vs. “general” charitesia: Format, formulae and classification’, international workshop ‘Materiality…’ (see previous entry), March 10-12, 2022
Bortolani; Nagel
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Voces magicae in Egyptian Context(s)’, international online conference ‘Voces Magicae and the Power of the Unintelligible’ (part 2 of 3), January 27, 2023
Nagel
