Miniaturization and the Opening of The Mouth in a Greek Magical Text (Pgm Xii.270-350)

Abstract

PGM XII.270-350, a text prescribing rituals for the creation and use of a magical ring, provides a particularly useful example through which to explore the phenomenon of miniaturized ritual in the magical papyri of late Graeco-Roman Egypt (as elucidated by Smith 1995). The ritual for creating and consecrating the ring's gemstone makes it clear that the stone is considered a miniature cult statue. The subsequent "Ouphor" invocation to be performed whenever the ring is used corresponds in name and function to the Egyptian wp. t-r or Opening the Mouth ritual as used in daily temple liturgy. The nature of these ritual miniatures reveals the sophisticated discursive and conceptual level at which the traditional forms of temple ritual were adapted and redeployed for use in other contexts by members of the Egyptian priestly class in late antiquity.

Indirekte und direkte Evidenz für das Dreisilbengesetz. Überlegungen zur ägyptischen Sprachgeschichte unter besonderer Berücksichtigung der Namen Nofretete und Nefertari sowie einer ungewöhnlichen Schreibung des Toponyms Memphis

“…für eine morphologisch abweichende Schwesterform wpw.t-rA ~ *wĭpắwăt-răA > *ẉpṓr ~ οὐφῶρ "Mundöffnung" Vergote (1961b: 213-214); Gundacker (2018a: 160 [mit n. 9]) & (in druck); cf. für die griechische Wiedergabe preisendanz (1973-2001: ii 79-80); Moyer & dieleman (2003); cf. zu den hier angewandten prinzipien der akzentsetzung Clarysse (1997); cf.…”

From Ritual To Magic: Ancient Egyptian Precursors Of The Charitesion And Their Social Setting

“…This begins with the fact that although the language of the spells itself is Greek, the actual title, "A ring," is written in Demotic. One of the consecrations is given the name of Ouphor, and this is likely to be a phonetic rendering of the Egyptian word wpi.t-r1 "opening of the mouth," a ritual actually used for consecrating objects produced by handcraff, and even attested for a ring-stone with a scarab within the Egyptian documentation (Moyer & Dieleman 2003;Quack 2006b: 144f.). The Egyptian elements in the spells are quite clear, even though some elements of obvious Jewish or Greek derivation are present-it is after all a good example of the intermingling of magical traditions so typical of Roman-period Egypt.…”