Sodalitas Graeciae (Nova Roma)/Religion from the Papyri/Mithraism
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This third century Oxyrhynchus papyrus was published by Bartoletti as n. 1162 in ''Papiri, Greci e Latini'' (= PSI) X. While the text is quite fragmentary, it clearly records an oath taken in the context of some astral mystery cult (''l.'' 21, ἀστέρων). The καυτοπαυ (= Καυτοπάτου?) in ''l.'' 14 suggests that this may be a Mithraic text. Although, much better attested in other parts of the Roman empire, Roman Mithraism did have a (minimal) presence in Egypt (c.f. CIMRM 91-105). Then in 1937 Bartoletti published another papyrus fragment with substantially the same oath formula in "Frammenti di un rituale d'iniziazione ai misteri" in ''Annali della R. Scuoli Normale Superiore de Pisa'' (Pisa: 1937) 143-152. | This third century Oxyrhynchus papyrus was published by Bartoletti as n. 1162 in ''Papiri, Greci e Latini'' (= PSI) X. While the text is quite fragmentary, it clearly records an oath taken in the context of some astral mystery cult (''l.'' 21, ἀστέρων). The καυτοπαυ (= Καυτοπάτου?) in ''l.'' 14 suggests that this may be a Mithraic text. Although, much better attested in other parts of the Roman empire, Roman Mithraism did have a (minimal) presence in Egypt (c.f. CIMRM 91-105). Then in 1937 Bartoletti published another papyrus fragment with substantially the same oath formula in "Frammenti di un rituale d'iniziazione ai misteri" in ''Annali della R. Scuoli Normale Superiore de Pisa'' (Pisa: 1937) 143-152. | ||
− | This new fragment allowed him to make some fairly certain restoration for the beginning of PSI 1162. Lines 1-6 can be restored with certainty (indicated in <span style="color:green">'''bold green'''</span>), the others a bit more speculatively (indicated in <span style="color:lime">'''bold light green'''</span>). Lines in <span style="color:blue">'''blue'''</span> in the new fragment indicate those lines used for the restoration. Lines 14-17a in the new fragment are pluses and suggest that the new fragment is secondary to PSI 1162. Bartoletti also made some minor adjustments (in <span style="color:red">'''red'''</span>) to other parts of the text. | + | This new fragment allowed him to make some fairly certain restoration for the beginning of PSI 1162. Lines 1-6 can be restored with certainty (indicated in <span style="color:green">'''bold green'''</span>), the others a bit more speculatively (indicated in <span style="color:lime">'''bold light green'''</span>). Lines in <span style="color:blue">'''blue'''</span> in the new fragment indicate those lines used for the restoration. Lines 14-17a in the new fragment are pluses and suggest that the new fragment is secondary to PSI 1162. Bartoletti also made some minor adjustments (in <span style="color:red">'''bold red'''</span>) to other parts of the text. The English translation below is that of [http://www.novaroma.org/civitas/album?id=3743 M. Cornelius Gualterus Graecus]. |
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==A Mithraic Catechism== | ==A Mithraic Catechism== | ||
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+ | This fourth century papyrus, P.Berol. 21196, from Hermopolis, was published by William M. Brashear in 1992, ''A Mithraic Catechism from Egypt <P.Berol. 21196>'' (Wien: 1992). The word λεοντίῳ ultimately clinched it as a Mithraic text (13-16), while other words such as πατήρ and βόθρῳ had earlier suggested a Mithraic provenance. Brashear's publication is highly recommended for its extensive commentary and suggested restorations of several lines. The English translation below is that of Brashear (19). | ||
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|<br> | |<br> | ||
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− | ||| | + | |"... He will say: 'Where ... ?'<br> |
+ | '... he is/(you are?) there (then/thereupon?) at a loss?' Say: ...<br> | ||
+ | Say: 'Night'. He will say: 'Where ... ?' ...<br> | ||
+ | Say: 'All things ...'<br> | ||
+ | (He will say): '... you are called ... ?' Say: 'Because of the summery ...'<br> | ||
+ | ... having become ... he/it has the fiery ...<br> | ||
+ | (He will say): '... did you receive/inherit?' Say: 'In a pit'. He will say: 'Where is | ||
+ | <div style="margin-left: 5%">your ...?...</div> | ||
+ | (Say): '...(in the...) ''Leonteion''.' He will say: 'Will you gird?' The (heavenly?)<br> | ||
+ | ...(Say): '... death'. He will say: 'Why, having girded yourself, ...?'<br> | ||
+ | '... this (has?) four tassels'.<br> | ||
+ | || | ||
+ | 'Very sharp and ...'<br> | ||
+ | '... much'. He will say: ...?<br> | ||
+ | (Say: '... because of/through?) hot and cold'. He will say: ...?<br> | ||
+ | (Say): '... red ... linen'. He will say: 'Why?' Say:<br> | ||
+ | '... red border; the linen, however, ...'<br> | ||
+ | (He will say): '... has been wrapped?' Say: 'The savior's ...'<br> | ||
+ | He will say: 'Who is the father?' Say: 'The one who (begets?) everything ...' (He<br> | ||
+ | <div style="margin-left: 5%">will say): '('How ?)...</div> | ||
+ | did you become a ''Leo''?' Say: 'By the ... of the father'. ...<br> | ||
+ | Say: 'Drink and food'. He will say '...?'<br> | ||
+ | '... in the seven-...'."<br> | ||
|} | |} | ||
==A Lexical Entry== | ==A Lexical Entry== | ||
+ | |||
+ | This late second/early third century papyrus, P.Oxy. 1802, contains a glossary on the verso, among whose entries one is for Mithras on ''l.'' 64, which reads:<br><br> | ||
+ | |||
+ | '''Μίθρας''' ὁ Προμηθεὺς κατὰ δ' ἄλλους ὁ ἥλιος παρὰ Περσ[αις ... | ||
+ | |||
+ | '''Mithras:''' Prometheus, but according to others the Sun, among Persi[ans ... | ||
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+ | |||
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|} | |} | ||
+ | [[Category:Sodalitas_Graeciae]] |
Latest revision as of 08:30, 26 June 2024
A Mystery Oath
This third century Oxyrhynchus papyrus was published by Bartoletti as n. 1162 in Papiri, Greci e Latini (= PSI) X. While the text is quite fragmentary, it clearly records an oath taken in the context of some astral mystery cult (l. 21, ἀστέρων). The καυτοπαυ (= Καυτοπάτου?) in l. 14 suggests that this may be a Mithraic text. Although, much better attested in other parts of the Roman empire, Roman Mithraism did have a (minimal) presence in Egypt (c.f. CIMRM 91-105). Then in 1937 Bartoletti published another papyrus fragment with substantially the same oath formula in "Frammenti di un rituale d'iniziazione ai misteri" in Annali della R. Scuoli Normale Superiore de Pisa (Pisa: 1937) 143-152.
This new fragment allowed him to make some fairly certain restoration for the beginning of PSI 1162. Lines 1-6 can be restored with certainty (indicated in bold green), the others a bit more speculatively (indicated in bold light green). Lines in blue in the new fragment indicate those lines used for the restoration. Lines 14-17a in the new fragment are pluses and suggest that the new fragment is secondary to PSI 1162. Bartoletti also made some minor adjustments (in bold red) to other parts of the text. The English translation below is that of M. Cornelius Gualterus Graecus.
Reconstructed PSI 1162 | New Fragment | PSI 1162 |
---|---|---|
[Ὀμνύω κατὰ τοῦ διχάσ]αντος γῆν ἀπ' οὐρανοῦ |
[...]φ̣[.]η̣χ̣ε[ [...]μ̣εγάλῃ φων̣[ῃ ..]...[.... ὁ πα-] |
]α̣ντος γῆν ἀπ' οὐρανοῦ |
[I swear by him who separates] earth from heaven, |
... ...great voice... |
...earth from heaven, |
A Mithraic Catechism
This fourth century papyrus, P.Berol. 21196, from Hermopolis, was published by William M. Brashear in 1992, A Mithraic Catechism from Egypt <P.Berol. 21196> (Wien: 1992). The word λεοντίῳ ultimately clinched it as a Mithraic text (13-16), while other words such as πατήρ and βόθρῳ had earlier suggested a Mithraic provenance. Brashear's publication is highly recommended for its extensive commentary and suggested restorations of several lines. The English translation below is that of Brashear (19).
Verso | Recto |
---|---|
.........]υ̣οημις. ἐ̣ρ̣ε̣ῖ̣· π̣ο̣[ῦ |
...................]..[ |
"... He will say: 'Where ... ?' '... he is/(you are?) there (then/thereupon?) at a loss?' Say: ... your ...?...
(Say): '...(in the...) Leonteion.' He will say: 'Will you gird?' The (heavenly?) |
'Very sharp and ...' will say): '('How ?)...
did you become a Leo?' Say: 'By the ... of the father'. ... |
A Lexical Entry
This late second/early third century papyrus, P.Oxy. 1802, contains a glossary on the verso, among whose entries one is for Mithras on l. 64, which reads:
Μίθρας ὁ Προμηθεὺς κατὰ δ' ἄλλους ὁ ἥλιος παρὰ Περσ[αις ...
Mithras: Prometheus, but according to others the Sun, among Persi[ans ...