IV.616
Papyri Graecae Magicae IV.616 · Sound it all, with fire and breath — seven timesIV.616Sound it all, with fire and breath — seven times
The performance rubric for the vowel-names: say them all with fire and breath, completing the first round, then begin the second the same way, and so on until you have completed the seven immortal gods of the world.
· · ·
ταῦτα1
taûta
thesethis
πάντα2
pánta
allevery / whole
λέγε3
lége
sayspeak / tell / recite
μετὰ4
metà
withafter
πυρὸς5
pyròs
firelightning / altar-flame
καὶ6
kaì
and
πνεύματος7
pneúmatos
breathwind / spirit
τὸ8
tò
the
πρῶτον9
prôton
firstforemost
ἀποτελῶν10
apotelôn
completingbring to completion / accomplish / finish, perform
, εἶτα11
eîta
thennext, thereupon
ὁμοίως12
homoíōs
likewisein the same way
τὸ13
tò
the
δεύτερον14
deúteron
secondnext, following
ἀρχόμενος15
archómenos
beginningbegin / be first / rule, command
, ἕως16
héōs
untilas long as, while
ἐκτελέσῃς17
ektelésēis
you completeaccomplish fully / finish, carry out
τοὺς18
toùs
the
ζ'19
heptá
seven(as ζ′) seven
ἀθανάτους20
athanátous
immortaldeathless / undying
θεοὺς21
theoùs
godsgod / a divinity
τοῦ22
toû
of the
κόσμου23
kósmou
worldorder / adornment / universe
. Say all these with fire and breath, completing the first round, then likewise beginning the second, until you complete the seven immortal gods of the world.
Say all these with fire and breath, completing the first round, then likewise beginning the second, until you complete the seven immortal gods of the world.
Interpretation
Say all these with fire and breath, completing the first round, then likewise beginning the second, until you have completed the seven immortal gods of the world.
The rubric turns the vowel-series into a machine with seven cycles. You do not sound the names once; you run the whole sequence through, complete it, then begin again — seven times, one round for each of the seven immortal gods of the world, the planetary powers. The vowels and the planets are the same seven, so the sevenfold repetition is not padding but structure: each pass 'completes' one of the seven governors.
The instruction “with fire and breath” (metà pyròs kaì pneúmatos) is the rite's constant refrain made literal one last time — the sounds are to be produced with an actual flame present and with forced breath, the body's fire and air joined to the cosmic ones the prayer kept invoking. The whole immortalization has been, from first to last, a discipline of breathing fire into vowels; here it is set to a count of seven.
IV.621
Papyri Graecae Magicae IV.621 · The doors open on the world of the godsIV.621The doors open on the world of the gods
When the vowel-names are sounded, thunder and a shaking of the surrounding air answer, and you feel yourself disturbed. Say 'silence' once more, then open your eyes — and you will see the doors flung open and the world of the gods that lies within them.
· · ·
When you have said these, you will hear thunder and a shaking of the surrounding air, and feel yourself disturbed. Say again, 'Silence.' Then open your eyes, and you will see the doors flung open and the world of the gods which is within the doors.