The Apostle Paul and His Times Issue 47 | 1995

ARTICLE TOOLS

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From a papyrus containing magical incantations:

For those possessed by demons, an approved charm by Pibechis:

Take oil made from unripe olives, together with the plant mastigia and lotus pith, and boil it with marjoram (very colorless), saying, “Joel, Ossarthiomi, Emori, Theochipsoith, Sithemeoch, Sothe, Joe, Mimipsothiooph, Phersothi, Aeeioyo, Joe, Eochariphtha: Come out of such a one”—and the other usual formulae.

But write this phylactery upon a little sheet of tin: “Jaeo, Abraothioch, Phtha, Mesentiniao, Pheoch, Jaeo, Charsoc,” and hang it round the sufferer. It is of every demon a thing to be trembled at, which he fears.

A letter from husband to wife:

Hilarion to his sister [=wife] Alis, very many greetings; likewise to my lady Berous, and Apollonarion:

Know that we are still in Alexandria. Do not be anxious; if they really go home, I will remain in Alexandria. I beg and entreat you, take care of the little one, and as soon as we receive our pay, I will send it up to you. If by chance you bear a child, if it is a boy, let it be, if it is a girl, cast it out.

You have said to Aphrodisias, “Do not forget me.” How can I forget you? I beg you, then, not to be anxious.

A notable man of letters (Aelius Aristides) describes his encounter with the god Asclepius:

For there was a feeling as if taking hold of him [the god] and of clearly perceiving that he himself had come, of being midway between sleeping and waking, of wanting to look, of struggling against his departure too soon, of having applied one’s ears and of hearing some things as in a dream … hair stood straight; tears flowed in joy; the burden of understanding seemed light. What man is able to put these things into words? ...