Exorcism, illness and demons in an ancient Near Eastern context: The Egyptian magical Papyrus Leiden I 343 + 345

by Susanne Beck

Overview

Papyrus Leiden I 343 + 345 is one of the most extraordinary manuscripts providing a deeper insight into magic and medicine in Ancient Egypt.

The main part of the papyrus deals with the ancient Near Eastern disease demon Sāmānu, who is well known from Sumerian and Akkadian incantations and medical texts. In addition, a broad range of other conjurations and spells against any pain and feet swelling are included. The papyrus also contains two curious spells dealing with ‘falling water from the sky.'

Eight out of fourteen incantations against the demon Sāmānu were incorporated twice in this papyrus. The texts are not only presented as parallel text edition but also with photographs of the papyrus. This re-edition of Papyrus Leiden I 343 + 345 is a revised transliteration, transcription, translation and up-to-date commentary.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9789088905391
Publisher:	Sidestone Press
Publication date:	03/15/2018
Pages:	175
Product dimensions:	8.26(w) x 11.00(h) x (d)

About the Author

Dr. Susanne Beck studied Egyptology and Arabic and Middle Eastern cultures at the University of Leipzig, Germany. She received her PhD in Egyptology at the Ludwig-Maximilians University in Munich, Germany in 2015.Dr. Beck held the position of the assistant professor at the LMU in Munich (summer semester 2015). In 2015 she became the curator of the Egyptian Collection of the University of Tuebingen, Germany. Her research interest is focused on magical-medical and religious texts as well as the transfer of knowledge from the ancient Near East to Egypt.

Table of Contents

I Introduction

1 Origin and date
2 Bibliography
3 Description of the manuscript
4 Reconstruction of the papyrus in its original form
5 Content
6 Language and grammar
7 Importance of the text

II Text with transliteration, translation and commentary

1 Incantation 1 (R:I1–I4/V:II4–II10)
2 Incantation 2 (R:I4–III2/V:III1–IV8)
3 Incantation 3 (R:III2–IV9/V:V8–VII5)
4 Incantation 4 (R:IV9–VI2/V:VII5–VIII12)
5 Incantation 5 (R:VI2–VIII9/V:XI, XII, XIII)
6 Incantation 6 (R:VIII10–X9/V:XIV, XV)
7 Incantation 7 (R:X9–XI1/V:XVI1–2)
8 Incantation 8 (R:XI2–14/V:XVII)
9 Fragments recto (R:XII–XXII1)
10 Incantation 9 (R:XXII1+x+1–2)
11 Fragments recto (R: XXIIIx+1–XXV1+ x+2)
12 Conjuration 1 and remedies 1–4 (R:XXV1+x+2–XXVI12)
13 Conjuration 2–3 (R:XXVI12–XXVIII5)
14 Incantation 10 (V:I1–8)
15 Incantation 11 (V:I8–II3)
16 Incantation 12 (V:IV9–V8)
17 Incantation 13 (V:IX1–X2)
18 Fragments verso (V:XVIII1–XXI3)
19 Incantation 14 (V:XXII1–3)
20 Conjuration 4 (V:XXII3–4)
21 Conjurations 5 and 6 (?) (V:XXIII1–XXIV6)
22 Spells 1–3 (V:XXV)

Appendix I: Glossary
Appendix II: Present appearance of the papyrus
Abbreviations
Bibliography
Indices
Sketch of Papyrus Leiden I 343 + I 345
Plates