Love Potion No. 9: PGM 32.1-11

 Like Pompeiian graffiti, recovered papyri are an excellent source for voices otherwise lost to history. There are numerous examples of magical spells in the ancient world, with topics ranging from wishes, curses, and love spells.  The following papyrus fragment preserves a love spell that asks to attract one woman to another.

ADIURO TE, EVANGELE,

PER ANUBEM PER MERCURIUM ET PER DEOS MANES

UT SARAPIAM, QUAM HELENA PEPERIT,

HUIC HERAIDI, QUAM THERMOUTHARIN PEPERIT,

CAPTES ET VINCIAS

CITO CITIUS CITISSIME!

ANIMO SUI ANIMAQUE, CAPTES

IPSAM SARAPIAM, QUAM HELENA SUO VENTRE PEPERIT!

ΕΞΟΡΚΕΙΖΩ ΣΕ, ΕΥΑΓΓΕΛΕ,

ΚΑΤΑ ΤΟΥ ΑΝΟΥΒΙΔΟΣ ΚΑΙ

ΤΟΥ ΕΡΜΟΥ ΚΑΙ ΤΩΝ ΛΟΙΠ ΩΝ ΠΑΝ

ΤΩΝ ΚΑΤΩ, ΑΞΑΙ ΚΑΙ ΚΑΤΑΔ-

ΗΣΑΙ ΣΑΡΑΠΙΑΔΑ, ΗΝ ΕΤΕ-

ΚΕΝ ΕΛΕΝΗ, ΕΠ’ ΑΥΤΗΝ ΗΡΑ-

ΕΙΔΑΝ, ΗΝ ΕΤΕΚΕΝ ΘΕΡΜΟ-

ΥΘΑΡΙΝ, ΑΡΤΙ, ΑΡΤΙ, ΤΑ-

ΧΥ ΤΑΧΥ.  ΕΞ ΨΥΧΗΣ ΚΑΙ ΚΑΡΔΙΑΣ

ΑΓΕ ΑΥΤΗΝ ΤΗΝ ΣΑΡΑΠΙΑ-

ΔΑ, ΗΝ ΕΤΕΚΕΝ [ΕΛΕΝΗ] ΕΙΔΑ ΜΗΤΡΑ…

--PGM 32.1-11; Translated into Latin by K. Masters

Evangelos, I beseech you! By Anubis, by Hermes, by all others Below,

I bid that you bind Sarapias, daughter of Helen,

To Herais, daughter of Thermoutharin.

Now! Now! Now! Bind her, heart and soul,

This Sarapias, whom Helen birthed from her womb!

<Anonymous>	MAP:
Name:  ???? Date:  2nd century CE Works:  Papyri Graecae Magicae	REGION  4
BIO:	Timeline:
The Papyri Graecae Magicae are a collection of texts that deal with magical topics. This spell, PGM 32, is from the 2nd century CE.	AGE OF CONFLICT