Discussion Notes - Week 5

Thursday 2-3

Spells against the dark arts -

- many of the spells call upon sun gods, such as PGM IV 296-466

* sun is cleansing, light = good, vs dark = bad

* bringing objects into the light, out of darkness, for protection

* sun vs. moon: moon goddess is invoked in curses; she represents darkness and death, while the sun represents growth (vegetation). Also, the cosmology of the ancient world is such that the earth is at the center, and the sun and moon revolve around it at different distances from the earth's surface. The sun is in the highest level.

* sun-affiliated gods include: Helios (name for the sun), Apollo (invoked less frequently than others), Abrasax (whose name adds up to 365, the days in a solar year; his visual form is of a man with snakes for legs and a rooster's head. the rooster calls up the dawn, while the snakes may represent the earth, so his form presents a progression from the ground to the solar realm), Ourobouros (snake biting its tail, symbol of infinity), Adonai and IAO.

- the amulets are presented in the form of adornments or jewelry

* wearing the amulet keeps it close to you, out of others' hands

* it is made of more expensive materials, should look good

* wearing these amulets makes a certain statement (shows that one is popular or wealthy enough to have enemies) and also invites a certain type of derision (against fops or "yuppies" for their affectations).

* they use color, shape, material, or other physical characteristics to represent the affect the amulet is supposed to have.

- the power of images

* modern parallels: angel pins, crosses, eyes

* evil eye represents the ill will of others, manifested in "negative energies" or otherwise, which has the intention of holding back or injuring.

- PDM spells vs. PGM spells

* the PDM spells designed for ailments such as choking on a bone or suffering a scorpion bite, needed to be dispensed quickly; they may have formed a sort of "common" knowledge; these were spells to be memorized by individuals, not necessarily professionals, "just in case".

* the PDM seemed more formulated, with more specific instructions than the PGM. Also, they were more verbally oriented, with little magical material required, and they told stories (historiolas).

----------------------------------------------------------------------

-protective amulets call on sun gods a lot:

-Sun is more attractive than dark

-trying to protect something - put it in the light

-Moon has connections with death/Underworld/insanity/curses whereas Sun brings new life, new day, growth

-the Heavenly realm is the area of the sky above the Moon (above which no living things or mountains can rise)

-the Sun is either the center or the top of this heavenly realm, but is always regarded as the most powerful object

-there are a number of different deities invoked on amulets:

-Helios

-Apollo

-Abrasax (letters=365, days of solar year=365...has head of rooster, which signals the beginning of a new day...snake as legs, which are associated with Earth/Underworld...overall abrasax represents EVERYTHING or ALL)

-Ourobouros (everything)

-Iao (supreme Hebrew god...Derived from Yaweh)

-(Adonai also appears on the amulets frequently, though it is not the name of a god)

-amulets come in many forms, but usually as jewelry or gems because:

-you can keep them with you so you know they are working

-you aren't "throwing it away" like you do with lead tablets

-you want it to be attractive if you have to wear it

-it's a status symbol of sorts...signifies wealth or power that others want to take from you

--------------------------------------------------------

PROTECTIVE SPELLS

Called on Sun gods more than curses or love charms which called on moon gods more often (sets up dark/light contrast). As example see PGM IV 296 on.

Note: the sun is not envoked in love charms because it is not a burning agent (as in let this person burn with love for me), instead it is meant to symbolize health and growth like growing/healthy foliage, etc.

The sun is in the godly relm (i.e. - the area of the universe above the moon; everything from the moon down to the earth is part of the mortal, earthly realm)

Abrasax is an important sun god, the letters of his name add up to 365, he is also called Iao and is depicted with snake legs, armor, and the head of a rooster.

Jewelry makes for good for protective amulets because you can wear them all the time, they are fashionable, and they promote social prestige (e.g. - "I am important enough to need protection from someone who would want what I have.', etc)

PDM utilize histriola or storytelling. they are usually the types of spells to fix ailments that require immediate action (i.e. - choking on a chicken bone) and so could possibly be memorized by hypochondriacs.

-------------------------------------------------

Thursday 3-4

Ways the gods were favoriable toward you:

1. name the god with all their different names within you spell

2. what you say to them

3. do something for the god and the god will do something for you

4. make sure what you do will get to the god

-torture animals: it makes an impression on you and shows the god he means something

-sacrifice:giving something up you could use to the god

-a mark that the gods get something

-they breath in the fragrant smoke when you burn the offerings

To what extent are the amulets helping the person wearing it? What good is it going to do for you?

-amulets:you want to keep on doing what you do

-protection on the ocean, people really were afraid of Posiden, to die at sea was unwanted because your soul would wander around

Sorts of amulets:

1. specific: protection from diseases, it describes the symptoms, gets rid of the demons that's causing the symptoms

How the amulets managed to get rid of the disease?

-some sort of outside force

-someone causing you harm

How do all amulets work together?

-they appeal to the gods to help and protect the person wearing it

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I-Magic: Did they think it worked?

-You can't be certain how/if it will work

-Would people take more direct actions for getting what they want in addition to magic?

--There are literary examples of people doing this, but we can't know since this would leave no physical evidence

-Some spells include provisions for if they fail

-Some tell you to check with the gods before you do the spell to see if the gods are favorable to you.

--To gain favor many magicians tried to deal with the gods directly

--To gain favor people wanted the most efficient means and powerful symbols

->things that have an effect on a person seem powerful to that person

->people gave gods things that were useful to people (at least in theory for example, sacrifices were the part of the animals humans didn't want.)

-Magic works in that people believe they can influence things. this is necessary for both offensive and defensive magic.

II-Protective Magic: Examples of subjects

-The sea

--Poseidon is a very scary god of storms and other natural disasters.

--Dying at sea is considered to be a very horrible death, because you can't get a proper burial.

-Health

--Spells/charms etc. could be against a specific problem, specific person, or specific symptoms.

--Often were to get rid of the demon causing teh illness

-> This is a similiar principle to the sea ones and such, appealing to/commanding gods and/or demons. )

->external uncontrolable threats, considered to be from unnatural sources

-->We don't know why something works or which part of it does, even now

-->humans are rationalizing, even if not rational

Side notes:

-Saying soemthing is an action, in a spell and such

-Would spells be considered cheating?

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Friday 3-4

Healing and Protection

-Dream reading as a magical art; dreams seen as an excellent way to contact the gods

-How come everyone who visited the shrine dreamed of the god? Was it induced somehow, possibly through drugs? How did Asclepius and the priest have the same dream? May have been suggested through discussions, even possibly hypnosis of some kind. If one of them, most likely the priest, made up the dream, it would have been to give it validity and authority.

-Regarding the possibility of hallucinogens, they do work with your state of mind. Suggestion and expectation are more powerful than is often realized, they might not have needed drugs at all.

-Presume some degree of sincerity: most of the seekers and the priests believed in what they were doing.

-A factor in how the cures worked, not just the dreams, is the complete change in lifestyle that was often brought about by them.

-Why would someone go to the healing shrines? Special place of the deity = condensed power, facilitated communication. The gods were thought to live in their temples.

-There were other methods besides the pilgrimages and such: letters, sacrifices (good vs. bad sacrifices, as witnessed before in the slander spells.

-All kinds of gods invoked, including Christ. Was the Christian stuff added on to older spells?

-Other gods mentioned: Hermes, Hekate (to repel), Persephone, Osiris (lord of death and life). Some of these were invoked for a protection against evil, others to scare evil away.

-Angels often called upon as well.

PGM XLIII

-Image made with words, evil power diminishing as the word diminishes

-Powers with specific influence called upon. (Influence = flowing in of the power of the stars into earthly life.)

-Symbols sometimes obscure, sometimes very plain (an image of a particular god).

-Amulets and such required carrying with you, wrapping papyrus on an ailing part, wearing as ring or necklace.

-Apollo called upon as well-- sun, music, healing. Also Helios-- sun god. Moon is associated with the realm of mortality and death, sun with life, growing things, and also with the otherworldly, immortal realm because it is above the moon.