KATASKION
LIX
TETRAX
DAMNAMENEUS
AISION
(There are some variations of spelling aision instead of aisia or askei and kataskei instead of askion kataskion. This variation found is not as odd as one might think, as the Temple was destroyed and all we have left are ancient reports.)
Clement of Alexandra referred to them as “the so called Ephesian Letters, famous among many…” Ephesia Grammata are Ancient Greek magickal formula attested from the 5 th century b.c.e. to 4 th century c.e. According to P. Sufenas Virius Lupus, “The statue of Ephesian Artemis herself was said to be the origin of the Ephesia Grammata,—as via Pausanias the lexicographer—they were engraved on the feet, girdle, and crown of her sacred image in the temple at Ephesus,” (p.5) The six words were also referred to as the "aski kataski formula" or the "Orphic formula". The formula seems to have been very popular in Ephesos.
These words are often deemed to be what scholars refer to as a magical “nonsense formula”. It generally assumed that possibly their original meaning—if there was one—has been lost.
On the other hand, P. Sufenas Virius Lupus, in his excellent book, Ephesia Grammata: Ancient History and Modern Practice, spent a great deal effort to ascertain and examine possible meanings. Rather than attempt to give a brief summary, I urge people to seek out his book.
An early known magical use recording of the words was in a curse in which named both Hekate and Persephone in a 5th century b.c.e. inscription.
Allegei Anaxilas indicated that the Ephesian grammata in 5th century b.c.e were worn in cloth bags (akin to modern charm bags or African-American hoodoo mojo bags). These bags were designed to bring health to a person who wore such a talisman. These words were also used for the protection of a bridal couple while ritually encircled. The "Ephesian words" also were reportedly spoken during exorcisms. Thus, it seem that the “Ephesian words” were written to "shield" the bearer.
The Ephesia Grammata is one of the oldest sets of voces magicae (a term used for magickal words from the misty past of unknown meaning and exact purpose). The "Ephesian words" appear a number of times in the ancient Greek Magical Papyri.
February 8, 2021 Myth Woodling Sources:
P. Sufenas Virius Lupus, Ephesia Grammata: Ancient History and Modern Practice , 2014.
Covenant of Hekate, Ephesian Letters, 2010-2018.
Hekatetemple, The Ephesian formula--old words of power for modern times…Ephesian Grammata , Feb 12, 2014.
Alberto Bernabé, The Ephesia Grammata: Genesis of a Magical Formula ; I read a fragment of this chapter which was titled The Ephesia Grammata: Genesis of a Magical Formula, and was available online through “Oxford Scholarship Online” in Christopher A. Faraone and Dirk Obbink, The Getty Hexameters 2013.
Graf, Fritz, (Columbus, OH), “Ephesia Grammata”, in: Brill’s New Pauly, Antiquity volumes edited by: Hubert Cancik and , Helmuth Schneider, English Edition by: Christine F. Salazar, Classical Tradition volumes edited by: Manfred Landfester, English Edition by: Francis G. Gentry. Consulted online on 27 January 2021 http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/1574-9347_bnp_e331410
First published online: 2006
First print edition: 9789004122598, 20110510
[The format for this particular citation was requested by the author Fritz Graf]
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