Magic tablet from Pergamon with Greek voces magicae surrounding each of the figures

Voces magicae (singular: vox magica, "magical names" or "magical words") or voces mysticae[1] are pronounceable but incomprehensible magical formulas that occur in spells, charms, curses, and amulets from Classical Antiquity, including Ancient Greece, Egypt, and Rome.[2]

These formulas may include alternative names of gods or other unusual phrases which may have been intended as the secret, authoritative true name of certain gods.[3][4] As an example: in the Greek Magical Papyri, the first spell of the first papyrus intended to summon a daimon assistant and included the phrase (in translation) "[This] is your authoritative name: ARBATH ARBAOTH BAKCHABRE".[5]

The voces magicae have been said to be related to the Greek Ephesia Grammata.[2]

See also

References

  1. John G. Gager (1999) Curse Tablets and Binding Spells from the Ancient World. Oxford University, 278 pages. ISBN 9780195134827
  2. 1 2 Versnel, H. S. (2012). "Magic". In Simon Hornblower; Antony Spawforth; Esther Eidinow (eds.). The Oxford Classical Dictionary (4 ed.).
  3. Wilburn, Andrew T. (2012). Materia Magica : The Archaeology of Magic in Roman Egypt, Cyprus, and Spain. University of Michigan Press. p. 71.
  4. Dieleman, Jacco. "The Greco-Egyptian Magical Papyri". Guide to the Study of Ancient Magic. Brill. pp. 283–321.
  5. Betz, Hanz Dieter, ed. (1992). The Greek Magical Papyri in Translation including the Demotic Spells (Volume One: texts) (2 ed.). University of Chicago Press. pp. 3–4.
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