Dictionary of Ancient Magic Words and Spells From Abraxas to Zoar

From Reginald Scot, Discoverie of Witchcraft, 1584

It can also be found in a Greek charm for obtaining victory in the phrase: ablanathanalba akrammachamari pephna pho ’za phnebennouni naachthip . . . ounorba .

A Coptic amulet on papyrus that may date from the fourth century, found in Egypt, bears this phrase: AKRAMMAJAMARI AABLANAPHANALBAA. On a gem intended to inspire love, Ablanathanalba is written in a circle around the first name Faustina. A curse tablet found in Cypress shows the compound ABLANATHANALBASISOPETRON. On a phylactery discovered in Germany that was intended to protect several people, we read:

OYDAEAGANFOZL . . . UNI Ia Ia Iai Sabaôth Adônai Ablanathanalba* Akramachari Semeseilam Sêsêngembarpharangês, io io io.

&  PGM III, 633–34; IV, 307ff; XIc, 107–121; XII, 107–121; XXXIII, 1–25 ; XXXVI, 187–88 and 211–30; Martinez, Michigan Papyri XVI; Mastrocinque, “Metamorfosi di Kronos,” 118.

ABRA: Word of a spell intended to provide protection against a dwarf who was believed to transmit illnesses. † Abra Iesus † Alabra Iesus †

AX: To avoid pregnancy, Byzantines would resort to magic. When the moon was waning, they would write the following letters, which they then carried on their persons. The author of this prescription even offered a means to test their effectiveness: “Tie them to a tree, it will be sterile or wither.” α ζ β δ σ θ ω ζ η θ γ ω π ψ ε λ χ &  Tselikas, 73.

AXTU SVATUS SUTUS EIORTUS FIILKOUT ERTRATUS: This is a spell that a pig is given to swallow in order to cure it. &  Espeland, § 13.

AZARIEL! CAKARIEL! MESCA!: To put out a fire, one must cast rough salt that has been blessed into the four corners of the fire and say these words while holding one’s arms stretched out in front. These three names are corruptions of those of the three Hebrews in the furnace— Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego—who are regularly invoked during conflagrations. ✦ Anania. & Van Haver, no. 684.

Scandinavian amulet

EIS PNEUMATON: For individuals suffering from spleen problems, the following spell would be written, then placed on their naked skin while reciting three Our Fathers and three Hail Marys in honor of Saint Roch.

eis pneumaton archarton legetai en tô ôtis.

The entire prescription is written in Italian using Greek letters. & Pradel, 31.

HYLA HYLARIA DULIA MALASINLA: This phrase is found in a tenth-century blessing of the eyes. In a fifteenth-century German charm, it takes these forms: Nilaria dulcia filana and Nilaria del indena, dulta mila velena, and the corruptions are evidence of how frequently this phrase was used. &  Franz II, 496.

HYOF: In the fifth century, a cure for a migraine consisted of writing hyof on the right side of the head and cela hhhc on the other side. &  Pseudo Theodore, 30ff., 314.

Seals of the days