Adjuration Formula with orkizo/adiuro in Greek and Latin
Epigraphical Documentation

k 2018

Adjuration Formula with orkizo/adiuro in Greek and Latin Epigraphical Documentation

FRANEK, Juraj and Daniela URBANOVÁ

Basic information

Original name

Adjuration Formula with orkizo/adiuro in Greek and Latin Epigraphical Documentation

Authors

FRANEK, Juraj (703 Slovakia, guarantor, belonging to the institution) and Daniela URBANOVÁ (203 Czech Republic, belonging to the institution)

Edition

Symposium Classicum Peregrinum: Blessings and Curses in Antiquity, Lonato di Garda, Itálie, 21.-24. 6. 2018, 2018

Other information

Language

English

Type of outcome

Prezentace na konferencích

Field of Study

60202 Specific languages

Country of publisher

Italy

Confidentiality degree

není předmětem státního či obchodního tajemství

RIV identification code

RIV/00216224:14210/18:00103131

Organization unit

Faculty of Arts

Keywords (in Czech)

defixe; tituli sepulcrales; řecké a latinské amulety; adiuro-formule

Keywords in English

defixiones; curse tablets; tituli sepulcrales; Greek and Latin amulets; adjuration formula

Abstract

V originále

One of the persistent features of ancient Greek and Latin curse tablets is the use of various adjuration formulae, usually introduced by orkizo/adiuro and their compounds. These are very well attested, with no less than 68 Greek and 12 Latin defixiones extant. Greek curses with adjuration formulae come mostly from Africa, Egypt, Greece (including Cyprus) and Italy (esp. Rome), while Latin curses containing an adjuration formula are attested exclusively from Africa. On a syntactic level, adjuration formula may be simple (orkizo/adiuro + acc.) or complex (reinforced via prepositional phrase, usually introduced by kata/per). The primary addressee of the adjuration formula is usually a ghost of an untimely dead, who is compelled, by means of invoking magical names or other (usually higher) supernatural entities, to fulfil the wish of the author of the curse. This adjuration formula is, however, attested also in other Greek and Latin epigraphical documents (there are around 50 Greek and 19 Latin inscriptions extant, dated variously from 4th to 7th century CE), in most cases Christian epitaphs and other funerary inscriptions, as well as magical amulets. In our contribution, we present some tentative conclusions on the evolution of the structure and performative function of the adjuration formula in Greek and Latin epigraphical evidence from its earliest attestations (1st century CE) up to the end of Late Antiquity. Special focus is placed on the “pagan” vs. Christian specifics of use that significantly alter the semantics and the configuration of the formula. The longevity and persistence of this adjuration formula on magical amulets, up to 13th century CE are also of note.

Links

MUNI/A/0916/2017, interní kód MU

Name: Zkoumání starověkých jazyků, jejich písemnictví a příslušných kultur, včetně jejich recepce – 2018 (Acronym: Staré jazyky, písemnictví, kultury)

Investor: Masaryk University, Category A

Citovat

FRANEK, Juraj and Daniela URBANOVÁ. Adjuration Formula with orkizo/adiuro in Greek and Latin Epigraphical Documentation. In Symposium Classicum Peregrinum: Blessings and Curses in Antiquity, Lonato di Garda, Itálie, 21.-24. 6. 2018. 2018.

@proceedings{1422325,
   author = {Franek, Juraj and Urbanová, Daniela},
   booktitle = {Symposium Classicum Peregrinum: Blessings and Curses in Antiquity, Lonato di Garda, Itálie, 21.-24. 6. 2018},
   keywords = {defixiones; curse tablets; tituli sepulcrales; Greek and Latin amulets; adjuration formula},
   language = {eng},
   title = {Adjuration Formula with orkizo/adiuro in Greek and Latin Epigraphical Documentation},
   year = {2018}
}

TY  - CONF
ID  - 1422325
AU  - Franek, Juraj - Urbanová, Daniela
PY  - 2018
TI  - Adjuration Formula with orkizo/adiuro in Greek and Latin Epigraphical Documentation
KW  - defixiones
KW  - curse tablets
KW  - tituli sepulcrales
KW  - Greek and Latin amulets
KW  - adjuration formula
N2  - One of the persistent features of ancient Greek and Latin curse tablets is the use of various adjuration formulae, usually introduced by orkizo/adiuro and their compounds. These are very well attested, with no less than 68 Greek and 12 Latin defixiones extant. Greek curses with adjuration formulae come mostly from Africa, Egypt, Greece (including Cyprus) and Italy (esp. Rome), while Latin curses containing an adjuration formula are attested exclusively from Africa. On a syntactic level, adjuration formula may be simple (orkizo/adiuro + acc.) or complex (reinforced via prepositional phrase, usually introduced by kata/per). The primary addressee of the adjuration formula is usually a ghost of an untimely dead, who is compelled, by means of invoking magical names or other (usually higher) supernatural entities, to fulfil the wish of the author of the curse. This adjuration formula is, however, attested also in other Greek and Latin epigraphical documents (there are around 50 Greek and 19 Latin inscriptions extant, dated variously from 4th to 7th century CE), in most cases Christian epitaphs and other funerary inscriptions, as well as magical amulets. In our contribution, we present some tentative conclusions on the evolution of the structure and performative function of the adjuration formula in Greek and Latin epigraphical evidence from its earliest attestations (1st century CE) up to the end of Late Antiquity. Special focus is placed on the “pagan” vs. Christian specifics of use that significantly alter the semantics and the configuration of the formula. The longevity and persistence of this adjuration formula on magical amulets, up to 13th century CE are also of note.
ER  -

FRANEK, Juraj and Daniela URBANOVÁ. Adjuration Formula with orkizo/adiuro in Greek and Latin Epigraphical Documentation. In \textit{Symposium Classicum Peregrinum: Blessings and Curses in Antiquity, Lonato di Garda, Itálie, 21.-24. 6. 2018}. 2018.

Detailed Information on Publication Record