Magical Hymns From Roman Egypt - A Study of Greek and Egyptian Traditions of Divinity

This interdisciplinary study investigates the divine personas in the so-called magical hymns of the Greek magical papyri which, in a corpus usually seen as a significant expression of religious syncretism with strong Egyptian influence, were long considered to be the 'most authentically Greek' contribution. Fifteen hymns receive a line-by-line commentary focusing on religious concepts, ritual practice, language and style. The overarching aim is to categorise the nature of divinity according to its Greek or Egyptian elements, examining earlier Greek and Egyptian sources and religious-magical traditions in order to find textual or conceptual parallels. Are the gods of the magical hymns Greek or Egyptian in nature? Did the magical hymns originate in a Greek or Egyptian cultural background? The book tries to answer these questions and to shed light on the religious plurality and/or fusion of the two cultures in the treatment of divinity in the Greek magical papyri.

List of contents

Introduction; Part I. Hymns to the Male Deity; Part II. Hymns to the Female Chthonic/Lunar Deity; Conclusions.

About the author

Ljuba Merlina Bortolani has studied classics, Egyptology and papyrology and is a Postdoctoral Researcher in the Cluster of Excellence 'Asia and Europe in a Global Context' at the University of Heidelberg, working on the project 'Cultural plurality and the fusion of traditions between East and West: the magic of transculturality'.

Summary

This study of Greek and Egyptian deities in the Greek hymns of the magical papyri (collections of spells from Graeco-Roman Egypt) includes texts, translations and commentaries and focuses on the dynamics of plurality and fusion. Its interdisciplinary approach encompasses classics, Egyptology, papyrology, the history of religions and ancient magic.

Product details

• Authors: Ljuba Merlina Bortolani, Ljuba Merlina (Ruprecht-Karls-Universit Bortolani, Ljuba Merlina (Ruprecht-Karls-Universitat Heidelberg Bortolani
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press ELT
• Languages: English
• Product format: Hardback
• Released: 10.10.2016
• EAN: 9781107108387
• ISBN: 978-1-107-10838-7
• No. of pages: 488
• Subjects: Humanities, art, music > History > Antiquity; HISTORY / Ancient / General, Christianity, History of Religion, Ancient Rome, Ancient History, Classical history / classical civilisation, Ancient Egyptian religion and mythology, Ancient Egyptian religion & mythology, Magic, alchemy and hermetic thought, Magic, spells and alchemy, Ancient Egypt, Prayers and liturgical material, Christian Hymnals