Ancient spellbooks from Egypt reveal a world where gods were dangerous and demonic

History · Published 3 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: The Greek Magical Papyri are a collection of ancient manuscripts containing rituals, hymns, and spells from Greco-Roman Egypt. Dating from the 100s BCE to the 400s CE, these texts offer a rare glimpse into a syncretic culture where Greek, Egyptian, Jewish, and Babylonian traditions blended into powerful, often secretive, magical practices.

The PGM, as scholars call them, are not a single archive but a modern compilation of fragmentary texts discovered through the antiquities trade starting in the 18th century. Many were acquired in the 1820s by Jean d'Anastasi, a diplomat in Alexandria, who claimed they originated in Thebes. These manuscripts range from scholarly collections of arcane knowledge to practical manuals used by traveling magicians for everything from love charms and medical cures to fatal curses.

The content of these papyri challenges traditional views of Hellenistic religion. While they feature familiar Greek deities like Zeus and Hermes, these figures are often portrayed as bestial or chthonic rather than the refined aristocrats found in mainstream literature. This shift reflects a deep syncretism where Egyptian, Greek, and Jewish elements merge. For instance, the goddess Aphrodite is sometimes identified with the Egyptian Hathor, adopting the epithet Neferihri, meaning nice eyes.

Scholars remain divided on the nature of these texts. Hans Dieter Betz suggests they represent an underground literature suppressed by historical book-burnings, while others, like David Frankfurter, argue they were simply the innovative work of Egyptian priests during the decline of temple infrastructure. Regardless of their status, the papyri provide a vital link to broader Mediterranean practices, sharing formulaic similarities with ancient curse tablets found as far away as Athens and Sicily, proving that magic was a pervasive, if often hidden, part of the ancient world.

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