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Source Description
This thin sheet of gold (lamella) is inscribed with Greek letters and magical symbols. The text, written by a professional scribe for a man named Proclus, contains a spell to ensure his victory in a trial before the military governor of the Roman province of Arabia. It ends with a curse on his opponents, whom he wishes silenced, subjugated, and enslaved. Tightly rolled, the inscription was originally held inside a small capsule and worn around the neck as an amulet.
Scholar Source Context
Document identity
localId
20316
label
Amuletic Inscription
core
obj
dtoType
object
citationUrl
pageCount
17
Source metadata
id
20316
sourceUrl
contentType
object
stage
normalized
title
Amuletic Inscription
description
This thin sheet of gold (lamella) is inscribed with Greek letters and magical symbols. The text, written by a professional scribe for a man named Proclus, contains a spell to ensure his victory in a trial before the military governor of the Roman province of Arabia. It ends with a curse on his opponents, whom he wishes silenced, subjugated, and enslaved. Tightly rolled, the inscription was originally held inside a small capsule and worn around the neck as an amulet.
provenance
Robert Garrett, Baltimore, [date of acquisition unknown] by purchase; Garrett family, Baltimore, 1961, by inheritance; Walters Art Museum, 1964, by gift.
date
4th century (Late Antique)
citationUrl
rightsUri
CC0
language
en
genreSpecific
Gold, Silver & Jewelry
tablets
imageCount
17
pageCount
17
source
import
dimensions
units
cm
width
7.9
height
4.3
depth
0.1
dimensionsRaw
H: 3 1/8 x W: 1 11/16 in. (7.9 x 4.3 x 0.1 cm)
Source extras
cul
Roman
inscriptions
[Transcription] Σαβαώθ εεεεε ηηη/ηη (magic signs) μ χ χ ψ / Ἀστραήλ
ηη οοο ψψω / (magic signs) Ἰάω
Σαβαώθ
Ἀμιωφεουευισ/αγιζου ηρα ηη ιουω τ δ / (magic signs) Ἀρτεν/χενμα Ζεμια Θωπτιεχω Βδητο/φωθ Βαθο (magic signs) Ἰάω
Σαβαώθ
/ ια Ἰπιοθ ζ θ
ἅγιον καὶ ἰσχυρόν
κραταιὸν / καὶ μεγαλοδύναμον {ον} ὄνομα
δὸς χάριν
/ δόξαν
νίκην Πρόκλῳ ὃν ἔτεκεν Σαλα/ουῖσα
ἐπὶ Διογενιανοῦ τοῦ δουκὸς Βόστρ/ων τῆς Ἀραβίας
ἐπὶ Πελαγίου τοῦ συνκαθέδρου / καὶ ἐπὶ πάντων ἀνθρώπων μικρῶν καὶ / μεγάλων
ἐπὶ θεῶν
ἐπὶ διαμόνων
ἵνα νι/κήσῃ δικαίως καὶ ἀδίκως πᾶσαν δίκη/ν
ἐπὶ παντὸς δικαστοῦ
ἐπὶ μαγίστρου
ἐπὶ / πάντων τῶν καθορώντων τὸν καὶ / ἀκουόντων αὐτοῦ καὶ τῶν λόγων αὐτοῦ. / Σύνστησον αὐτὸν κραταιόν
ποίησον νι/κητὴν πάντων
μάλιστα δὲ Σαλαουῖνα/ς
ἣν ἔτεκεν Εὔα
τῆς τεκούσης Ἀβδανχα
/ Βαλωνα
Μικκην
ἵνα νίκην λάβῃ Πρό/κλος ὃν ἔτεκεν Σαλανουίνη
καὶ δόξαν· καὶ φί/μωσον καὶ ὑπόταξον καὶ καταδούλωσον / Σαλουίνην
ἣ<ν> ἔτεκεν Εὔα
καὶ Αβαδανχα καὶ / Βαλωναν καὶ Μικκην οὓς ἔτεκεν Σαλουῖ/να καὶ πάντας ἔχθρους καὶ ἀντιδίκους καὶ / φίλους καὶ Διογενιανὸν τὸν ἄρχοντα καὶ / Πελάγιον
τὸν σχολαστικὸν αὐτοῦ
συν/κάθεδρον
καὶ πάντας τοὺς ἐξ ἐναντίας / μικροὺς καὶ μεγάλους
ἄνδρας καὶ γυναῖκας / καὶ νήπια
πάντας τοὺς ὁρῶντας Πρόκλον ὃν {ε} / ἔτεκεν Σαλαουίνα
τὸν φοροῦντα σου τὴν / ἅγιαν καὶ ἀνίκητον δύναμιν. Καὶ δὸς δύν/αμιν
<ν>ίκην
χάριν
θράσος
τόλμαν
φόβον / κα{ι}τὰ πάντων
ἐπὶ πάσης τύχης καὶ ψυξῆς
/ ἐν παντὶ τόπῳ
κατὰ πᾶσαν ὥραν / καὶ ἡμέραν καὶ νύκτα· καὶ μήδ᾿ ἃν εἷς / ἀντιπράξῃ ἢ ἀντίπῃ ἢ ἀντιβουλεύσητα<ι> / ἐν μηδενὶ τὸ σύνολον
ἀλλὰ ἐπὶ νίκην
/ χάριν
δόξαν
δύναμιν
τῷ φοροῦντι σου / τὴν δόξαν
ἤδη ἤδη
ταχὺ ταχύ
ἀμήν.[Translation] Holy and strong
mighty and great-powerful Name
give favor
glory
victory to Proclus whom Salvina bore
before Diogenianus the dux of Bostra in Arabia; before Pelagius the assessor; and before all men small and great; before gods; before demons
in order that he might be justifiably or unjustifiably victorious in any judgment before any judge
before a magister
before all who observe him and who hear him and his words. Establish him strong. Make [him] a victor over everyone
particularly over Salvina
whom ‘Eve’ bore
who bore Abdancha
Balona
Mikke; in order that Proclus
whom Salvina bore
might receive victory and glory. Silence
subjugate
and enslave Salvina
whom ‘Eve’ bore; and Abdancha and Balona and Mikke
whom Salvina bore; and all enemies
opponents
and associates; and Diogenianus the ruler; and Pelagius his scholasticus
and assessor; and all opposing parties
small and great; men
women
and children – all who are watching Proclus
whom Salvina bore
the one bearing your holy and unconquerable power. And give [him] power
victory
favor
courage
boldness
[raising] awe in everyone
in all fortune and life
in every place
according to every hour
both day and night. And may no one act in opposition in anything at all except for the victory
favor
glory
power for the one bearing your glory; now
now; quickly
quickly
quickly. Amen!
med
gold
creator_ids
6191
3930
collection_ids
ROM
exhibition_ids
2507
2128
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