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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