Bonner, SMA, 196.
Bonner, SMA – PDF, 196.cited to attest the statements made about the inscriptions. When the specimens have been published, references are given to the place of publication; otherwise the amulets are cited by their catalogue or inventory numbers.
MAGICAL NAMES OF GODS, AND WORDS ASSOCIATED WITH SPECIAL DESIGNS
Here are included words that are chiefly, or at least often, associated with particular divinities or groups of divinities, or else with certain symbols. Minor variations spelling are usually disregarded.
Αθθα βαθθα, which sounds like one of the babbling phrases, is inscribed round several representations of Isis with the infant Horus.33 It occurs also under a group consisting of Sarapis seated, with a female figure, probably Isis, standing before him; the reverse shows Harpocrates seated on a sphinx.34 The stone unfortunately only a fragment. The connection of αθθα βαθθα with Isis and Horus confirmed by a charm in the Paris papyrus, ἐγώ εἰμι Ὧρος . . . υἱὸςs Ἴσιδος αθθα βαθθα καὶ Ὀσίρεως.35
Ακτιωφι: see Ερεσχιγαλ.
Αρσενοφρη is cut on the back of a stone in the British Museum (Harpocrates seated on the lotus),36 and Ιεου Αρσενοφρη occurs on the reverse of a similar design in Montfaucon, which is evidently inaccurately drawn.37 As the first syllable indicates, it is a Horus name, perhaps “Horus, son of the Good One” (i.e. Osiris), or “Horus, son of the Good Sun.” It is used in two invocations to the sun, and in the other places where it occurs nothing speaks against interpreting it as a solar epithet.38
Αρωριφρασις, like Νεφεριηρι,39 is a secret name of Aphrodite, or Hathor-Aphrodite, who often represented on amulets standing nude and drying her hair.40 Ares is sometimes present, sometimes Harpocrates is in the group or on the reverse of the stone. The name appears twice on Harpocrates amulets without Aphrodite.41 It is used in love charms in the papyri.42 Aphrodite seems to be fused with Brimo (Hecate-Persephone) in an inscription on an amulet originally published by Rossi,43 where the words φοβερόμματε Βριμὼ Αρωριφρασις encircle the familiar design.
Δαρυνγω is engraved on gem amulets whose chief design is an ibis wearing the atef or the hemhem crown and usually holding a caduceus under its wing.44 A combination of evidence indicates that the word is a secret name of Hermes-Thoth. It occurs in the sixth place of the seven-word sequence σημεα καντευ
35 PGM IV, 1075 ff.
37 L'Antiquité expliquée, Suppl. II, Pl. 55, 4.
38 PGM II, 118; IV, 1629.
39 PGM IV, 1265.
40 D. 55; Southesk N 22, 23, 26; B. M. 56139 (King, Gnostics, Pl. E 2); B. M. 56194; De Ridder 3473 (other specimens cited in his note), Pl. 29.
42 PGM IV, 2234, 2928.
43 Rossi-Maffei, Gemme Antiche, III, 7 (No. 5); Kopp, Pal. Crit., IV, 54.
Last modified: 2012-11-01 19:26:52
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