Durham E-Theses Recipes for Love: A Semiotic Analysis of the Tools in the Erotic Magical Papyri EVANS, LUKE,AARON,RALPH How to cite: EVANS, LUKE,AARON,RALPH (2016) Recipes for Love: A Semiotic Analysis of the Tools in the Erotic Magical Papyri, Durham theses, Durham University. Available at Durham E-Theses Online: http://etheses.dur.ac.uk/11454/ Use policy The full-text may be used and/or reproduced, and given to third parties in any format or medium, without prior permission or charge, for personal research or study, educational, or not-for-prot purposes provided that: • a full bibliographic reference is made to the original source • a link is made to the metadata record in Durham E-Theses • the full-text is not changed in any way The full-text must not be sold in any format or medium without the formal permission of the copyright holders. Please consult the full Durham E-Theses policy for further details. Academic Support Oce, Durham University, University Oce, Old Elvet, Durham DH1 3HP e-mail: [email protected] Tel: +44 0191 334 6107 http://etheses.dur.ac.uk 2 Abstract Luke Aaron Ralph Evans Recipes for Love: A Semiotic Analysis of the Tools in the Erotic Magical Papyri This thesis is a semiotic analysis of the tools instructed for application by the erotic magical papyri (EMP). Erotic magic, one of the largest categories instructed by the Papyri Graecae Magicae (PGM), is performed to establish or reinforce a relationship with an erotic nature. The performance of erotic magic is reliant on the incorporation of a broad variety of ritual practices, including, for example, necromancy, binding, divination, and sacrificial ceremonies. The tools have been defined as the physical substances, materials, and objects that are instructed for application by the PGM for the performance of erotic magic. Any analysis of the PGM will immediately notice that the manipulation of physical tools is ever-present and, as a consequence, the image portrayed of the magician is one of a tool-wielding practitioner. This statement can lead logically to the conclusion that the power of the rituals instructed by the EMP did not reside within the individual but in the manipulation of tools in the proper manner. As a consequence, to understand magic and how it was performed, it is essential to understand the instructions for the manipulation of tools. The main objective of this thesis is to discover, through the application of semiotics, if there was any rationale to the application of a tool and, if there was meaning, did this rationale correlate directly to the outcome of the erotic spells instructed by the PGM. Recipes for Love A Semiotic Analysis of the Tools in the Erotic Magical Papyri Luke Aaron Ralph Evans A thesis submitted for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy Department of Classics and Ancient History Durham University 2015 Contents Abbreviations i Glossary ii Statement of Copyright vi Acknowledgments vii Dedication viii I. Introduction 1 1. Outline 1 2. Semiotics and the EMP 6 3. Defining the Code 17 4. Defining the Perceiver 37 II. Analysis 55 1. Incantation 55 2. Fire Manipulation 80 3. Deposition 101 4. Potion Construction 126 5. Figurine Construction 139 6. Animal Killing 162 7. Minor Rituals 178 III. Conclusion 198 Bibliography 209 List of Tables Table Title Page I.3.a A categorisation of the EMP 32 II.1.a Tools in the ink paradigm 57 II.1.b Tools in the stylus paradigm 63 II.1.c Tools in the medium paradigm 67 II.2.a Tools in the flame paradigm 82 II.2.b Tools in the burnt substance paradigm 92 II.3.a Tools in the deposited paradigm 102 II.3.b Tools in the supporting item paradigm 105 II.3.c Tools in the deposition location paradigm 111 II.4.a Tools in the container paradigm 128 II.4.b Tools in the mixture paradigm 133 II.5.a Tools in the construction paradigm 140 II.5.b Tools in the form paradigm 148 II.5.c Tools in the insertion paradigm 153 II.5.d Tools in the adornment paradigm 158 II.6.a Tools in the victim paradigm 163 II.6.b Tools in the method paradigm 170 II.7.a Tools in the ointment paradigm 179 II.7.b Tools in the ointment location paradigm 180 II.7.c Tools in the object paradigm 185 II.7.d Tools in the target paradigm 185 II.7.e Tools in the phylactery paradigm 190 II.7.f Tools in the tie paradigm 190 II.7.g Tools in the liquid paradigm 193 List of Figures Figure Title Page I.2.a Syntagmatic and paradigmatic axes of an erotic magical ritual 13 I.2.b Syntagmatic and paradigmatic axes of a ritual action 14 I.2.c A semiotic deconstruction of an erotic magic ritual 15 II.1.a The incantation ritual 56 II.1.b Paradigmatic and syntagmatic axes of incantation 79 II.2.a The fire manipulation ritual 81 II.2.b A visual representation of the fire manipulation ritual in PGM IV.2441- 94 2621 II.2.c Paradigmatic and syntagmatic axes of fire manipulation 99 II.3.a The deposition ritual 101 II.3.b A visual representation of the deposition ritual in PGM IV.296-466 104 II.3.c A visual representation of the dog in PGM XXXVI.361-71 if used in the 119 figurine construction ritual II.3.d Paradigmatic and syntagmatic axes of deposition 124 II.4.a The potion construction ritual 126 II.4.b A visual representation of the fire manipulation ritual required for the 135 creation of MC1 II.4.c Paradigmatic and syntagmatic axes of potion construction 138 II.5.a The figurine construction ritual 139 II.5.b A visual representation of the incorporation of the incantation ritual into 154 the figurine construction ritual of PGM IV.1716-1870 II.5.c A visual representation of the incorporation of the incantation ritual into 159 the figurine construction ritual in PGM IV.296-466 II.5.d Paradigmatic and syntagmatic axes of the figurine construction ritual 160 II.6.a The animal killing ritual 162 II.6.b A visual representation of the cat in PGM III.1-164 if used in the 174 figurine construction ritual II.6.c Paradigmatic and syntagmatic axes of the animal killing ritual 177 II.7.a Paradigmatic and syntagmatic axes of the ointment construction ritual 195 II.7.b Paradigmatic and syntagmatic axes of the throwing ritual 195 II.7.c Paradigmatic and syntagmatic axes of the phylactery construction ritual 196 II.7.d Paradigmatic and syntagmatic axes of the libation ritual 196 III.a Paradigmatic and syntagmatic axes of PGM IV.1716-1870 202 III.b Paradigmatic and syntagmatic axes of PGM IV.1496-1595 202 Abbreviations For ancient authors, the abbreviations in the Oxford Classical Dictionary (OCD), 3rd ed., S. Hornblower and A. Spawforth, eds. (2003), have been followed. CT: Gager, J. G. 1992. Curse Tablets and Binding Spells from the Ancient World. Oxford. DT: Audollent, A. 1904. Defixionum Tabellae. Paris. DTA: Wünsch, R. 1897. Defixionum Tabellae Atticae. Berlin. FGrH: Jacoby, F. Fragmente der griechischen Historiker. (1923-) GMPT: Betz, H. D. 1992. The Greek Magical Papyri in Translation. London. LS: Sokolowski, F. Lois sacrées des cités grecques. Paris. 1969. LSJ: Liddell, H. G., & Scott, R. Greek-English Lexicon, 9th ed., rev. H. Stuart Jones (1925-40); Suppl. by E. A. Barber and others. 1968. OZ: Hopfner, T. 1921-1924. Griechische-Ägyptischer Offenbarungszauber in studien zu Paläographie und Papyruskunde 21 und 23. Leipzig. (repr. Amsterdam, 1974 and [in part] 1983) PGM: Preisendanz, K., ed. 1973-1974. Papyrie Graecae Magicae: Die griechischen Zauberpapyri, 2 vols., 2nd ed. SEG: Supplementum epigraphicum graecum (1923-). SGD: Jordan, D. R. 1985. “A Survey of Greek defixiones not included in the special corpora.” GRBS 26: 151-197. Suppl. Daniel, R. W., & Maltomini, F., ed. 1990. Supplementum Magicum. 2 Vols. Mag.: Cologne. TrGF: B. Snell, R. Kannicht, S. Radt, eds. 1971-1986. Tragicorum Graecorum Fragmenta. 4 vols. VD: Faraone, C. A. 1991. “Binding and burying the forces of evil: the defensive use of ‘voodoo dolls’ in ancient Greece.” Classical Antiquity 10: 165-205. i Glossary Adornment: A paradigm used for the figurine construction ritual. Animal killing: A ritual action consisting of a syntagm linking functions chosen from separate paradigms. Burnt substance: A paradigm used for the fire manipulation ritual. Code: A code is a system of related conventions in which the meaning of a sign is transmitted to those perceiving it via a complex interplay of all the signs within the code. Construction: A paradigm used for the figurine construction ritual. Container: A paradigm used for the potion construction ritual. Deposited: A paradigm used for the deposition ritual. Deposition: A ritual action consisting of a syntagm linking functions chosen from separate paradigms. Deposition location: A paradigm used for the deposition ritual. Erotic magic ritual: An erotic spell, as described by the EMP, consisting of a syntagm linking ritual actions chosen from separate paradigms. Figurine construction: A ritual action consisting of a syntagm linking functions chosen from separate paradigms. Fire manipulation: A ritual action consisting of a syntagm linking functions chosen from separate paradigms. ii Flame: A paradigm used for the fire manipulation ritual. Form: A paradigm used for the figurine construction ritual. Function: The smallest narrative unit of an erotic magic ritual. Iconic sign: A sign consisting of a signifier which is believed to be similar to or an imitator of the signified. Incantation: A ritual action consisting of a syntagm linking functions chosen from separate paradigms.