What is it about?
The paper continues to considers a rare type of Syriac love charms -- magic texts found in Syriac magic books dated back to 18th-20th centuries. In the second part the prayer-type texts are published. The study is based on the texts according to manuscripts from USA (Hooughton library, Cambridge MA; Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary, Evanston IL; New York Public Library; Ashurbanipal library, Chicago), Armenia (Mesrop Mashtots Institute of Ancient Manuscripts, Yerevan) and Russia (Private collection in Krasnodar). The incantation formulas used are: "Let them obey each other as the apostles obeyed our Lord...", "As a woodworm in the wood, as a horse in the bridle...", "As Adam loved Eve, as Abraham loved Sara..." and others.
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Why is it important?
This is a first attempt to create critical editions of the group of Syriac charms dedicated to one theme, human love. The core of this group of texts aims to instill love in a woman or a man; other texts have more general purpose, to gain love and grace from any person. In the second part of this study two new manuscripts of Syriac magic are presented for the first time: one from Chicago, another from Krasnodar.
Perspectives
This research opens new perspectives in the study of Syriac charms (spells); it is a first step on the long road towards creating a comprehensive catalogue of Syriac charms according to their functions and pragmatic purposes.
Alexey Lyavdansky
National Research University Higher School of Economics
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Syriac Love Charms, Scrinium, July 2022, Brill,
DOI: 10.1163/18177565-bja10060.
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