Inventory number

General description

Magical papyrus Isis

Papyrus CGT 54067 is a fragmentary manuscript written in the hieratic script preserved in two fragments. The recto of the papyrus contains several magical spells, all of which have parallels with the text on the verso of papyrus Cat. 1993.

On the first fragment is written a spell against snake bites. This spell contains a mythological episode in which the god Thoth, after being stung by a poisonous animal, begs the god Horus, in the story his brother, to reveal his secret name, so that Thoth can save himself. Episodes like this are of fundamental importance in the healing process: by associating the present situation with a mythical precedent, the magician can recreate the past event and evoke the power he needs to heal the patient he is curing.

The second fragment contains a spell against snake poison, similar to the one before. In this case the magician addresses deities and, in order to frighten them and obtain their help, threatens them to unleash cosmic catastrophes and prevent the sun from rising again.

On the verso of he papyrus a divinatory text is written. Its content is similar to that of papyrus CGT 54068.