Glotta 87, 155158, ISSN 00171298

Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht GmbH & Co. KG, Gttingen 2011

A List of epithets from the Greek Magical Papyri
that are not recorded in the LSJ and LSJ
Supplements

By ELENI PACHOUMI, Thessaloniki


In this paper I enclose a list of epithets which seem to be unique
to the Greek Magical Papyri.
1
Particularly, it is a list of epithets
in the PGM
2
that are not recorded at all in the LSJ and LSJ
Supplements.
3
Most of these epithets that occur only in the PGM
are included in the hymns.
4
They are mainly used to describe
and define the multiple characteristics of the gods. The richness
of the magicians religious thinking is suitably accompanied by
rich linguistic inventiveness, above all in the invention of
epithets for the various gods.


__________

1
I would like to thank David Jordan for his friendship and his kind
advices.

2
Papyri Graecae Magicae, hereafter PGM; Preisendanz, K. and
Henrichs, A. (ed.) (19731974) Papyri Graecae Magicae Die Griechischen
Zauberpapyri. Vols. III. Stuttgart: Teubner. The dates of the papyri cited in
this paper are: PGM I (iv/v AD), II (iv AD), III (iv AD), IV (iv AD), VII
(iii/iv AD).

3
Liddell, H. G., Scott, R. and Jones, H. S. (eds.), hereafter LSJ, (1996)
Greek-English Lexicon with a revised Supplement. Oxford: Clarendon Press.

4
Preisendanz has identified twenty six hymns in his second volume,
237264. Of these I include epithets from Hymn 5: To Helios and to the
gods of all (PGM III.198229), Hymn 11: To Apollo and to Apollo-
Helios (PGM II.81101, 133140, 1636), Hymn 12: To Apollo and
Daphne (PGM III.234258), Hymn 17: To Hekate-Selene-Artemis (PGM
IV.22422417), Hymn 18: To Hekate-Selene-Artemis (PGM IV.2785
2870), Hymn 20: To Hekate-Selene-Artemis (PGM IV.25222567) and
Hymn 21: To Hekate-Selene-Artemis (PGM IV.27142783). Most are
written in dactylic hexameter, twenty one out twenty six hymns; but, hymns
6, 17 and 25 are in iambic trimeter, hymn 8 in iambic pentameter and hymn
19 in iambic tetrameter acatalectic; therefore, most of these epithets are
metrically useful; Preisendanz (1974) vol.II, 237264.
Eleni Pachoumi
156
PGM epithets that are not recorded in the LSJ and LSJ
Supplements

, : gracious-minded; PGM IV.2547:
5
; in
pap. and Hymn 20: ;
6
, : improvident
, : eternal; PGM I.200:
7

, : extreme; PGM IV.2277: ; in pap. and in
Hymn 17:
8
()
, : indivisible; PGM IV.32312:
9

, , : helper; PGM V.2281 (and Hymn 17):
10

[], : star-coursing; PGM IV.2559: []; in
pap. and Hymn 20: ++; , : she who has
stars
, : infernal; PGM IV.2725 (and Hymn 21): ;
Reitzenstein emends it to , ;
11
also in PGM
IV.2855:
, -: the one who has a boat; PGM IV.2274 (and
Hymn 17):
, : giant; PGM IV.2714 (and Hymn 21):
, : he who subdues by force; PGM II.1656
(and Hymn 11):
12

, : she who subdues by force; PGM IV.28501:
(pap.); in Hymn 18:
13

__________

5
Recorded in: Jordan, D. (2008) Lexical notes, largely from magical
texts, 2705; in: Licht und Wrme in Memory of A. F. Christidis (eds.)
(2008) Centre for the Greek Language. Thessaloniki.

6
Preis. (1973) vol.I, 152, (1974) vol.II, 258. was recorded
in DGE II (Diccionario Griego Espaol; Barcelona, 1959).

7
PGM I.195222: Protective spell.

8
Preis. (1973) vol.I, 142, (1974) vol.II, 251.

9
PGM IV.320954: Aphrodites saucer divination. was
recorded in DGE II.

10
was recorded in DGE III; also recorded in Jordan (2008).

11
Preis. (1973) vol.I, 159; also Betz (1986) 89; Betz, H. D. (ed.) (1986)
The Greek Magical Papyri in Translation. Chicago: The University of
Chicago Press.

12
Recorded in DGE V.

13
Recorded in DGE V, fuerza dominadora.
A List of epithets from the Greek Magical Papyri that are not recorded
in the LSJ and LSJ Supplements

157
, : the one who shows forth, exhibitor; PGM IV.2274
(and Hymn 17):
, : of Dodona; PGM IV.2275 (and Hymn 17):

14

, : ghostly; PGM IV.2272: ; in pap. and Hymn
17:
, : she who is of a noble sire; PGM IV.2717 (and
Hymn 21):
, -: wide- aimed; PGM V.22812 (and Hymn
17): ;
15
in pap.
, : walking through the air; PGM VII.882:
(pap.)
16

, : with muddy wrinkles;
17
PGM IV.2185:

18

, -: the one who makes the graves to resound;
PGM IV.2867 (and Hymn 18): ; in pap.
-
<>, -: bending down necks that show
off; PGM IV.27189 (and Hymn 21): <>
; in pap.
, : of Klotho; PGM V.2280 (and Hymn 17):

: the one with a crest; PGM IV.2267 (and Hymn 17):

, : ruler of the month; PGM IV.2664 pap. (and
Hymn 19): ; Preis. emends it to:

19

, : with a headband; PGM IV.22745 (and Hymn 17):

__________

14
was recorded in DGE VI; in LSJ we find: ,
-, -, -, , and -, .

15
Recorded in Jordan (2008).
16
Also recorded in Pachoumi, E. (2011) Divine Epiphanies of Paredroi
in the Greek Magical Papyri, GRBS 51, 155165, esp. 160.

17
Preisendanz also suggests from - ; Preis. (1973) vol.I,
139.

18
PGM IV.21452240: Tristych of Homer as assistant.

19
Preis. (1973) vol.I, 1567.
Eleni Pachoumi
158
, : the one who draws (swords); PGM IV.2267 (and
Hymn 17): ()
, : crying like a shrill storm of rain; PGM
IV.2185:
20

, -: running with fair wind; PGM III.255 (and
Hymn 12) ; Dillon and ONeil read and translate
<>, heavenss runner; also Preis. as
Himmelslufer
21

, : holding the whole earth; PGM IV.2279: ;
in Hymn 17: ,
22
cf. Hsch.
<>, : most subordinate; PGM V.1370:
<>
23

, : the one who eats everything; PGM IV.2749
(and Hymn 21):
[], : most high; PGM VII.700: []
24

, : forethinking; PGM IV.2267: ; (in
LSJ the adverb: : shrewdly, warily); in pap. and
Hymn 17:
25

, : fiery at heart / in spirit; PGM III.209:
[]; in Hymn 5: [
, : with four faces; PGM IV.2560 (and
Hymn 20):
, : destroying death; PGM IV.2852 (and Hymn 18):

26
; in pap.
[, : bringing light; PGM III.255 (and Hymn 12)
[; from
27
(, -
28
); in pap.
[
__________

20
PGM IV.21452240: Tristych of Homer as assistant.

21
Betz (1986) 25, n. 60; and Preis. (1973) vol.I, 43.

22
Recorded in Jordan (2008).

23
PGM IV.133189: Power of the Bear constellation that accomplishes
everything; also recorded in Jordan (2008).

24
PGM VII.686702: Bear Charm.

25
Preis. (1973) vol.I, 142, (1974) vol.II, 251.

26
Merkelbach also translates as, Vernichter des Todesloses;
Merkelbach, R. (1982) , ZPE 47, 172.

27
Also Betz (1986) 25; and Preis. (1973) vol.I, 43.

28
Also in PGM IV 30478, 3069, V 175, 210 and LXXVIII 12.