Category: Ritual Expertise > Consecration > Rituals of Consecration
1 Introduction
This Consecration For All Purposes from the Greek Magical Papyri (PGM IV.1596–1715) is intended to work for any sort of stone or amulet (phylaktērion), especially a gem engraved with an image of a deity and set into a ring, but potentially also conventional cult statues or other representations of gods. Unlike other consecration rituals, it is purely verbal, consisting of two parts, a long address spoken towards the Sun, and a short declaration of the power of Zeus Sarapis spoken “when you are finishing”, which may either mean the moment of consecration (teletē = “perfection, completion”) or the end of the consecratory process.
In the main address, the Sun is called upon as Agathos Daimon (“Good Fortune”), a Greek name that can translate the Egyptian divine names Šꜣy (Shai) and Km-ꜣt-f (ahistorical vocalization “Kematef”). Both of these names appear in their Coptic form in the text, as Psois (vocative Psoi) and Kmēph, respectively. The god is also called upon by powerful secret names, and ascribed twelve shapes and names, one for each solar hour.
Where the practitioner has to insert appropriate words, I put the placeholder words in italics.
2 Translation
This is the consecration (teletē) for all purposes.
Address (logos) towards Helios:
“I call upon you, the greatest god, everflowing lord, cosmocrator, who is above the cosmos and below the cosmos, bold ruler of the sea, who shines at dawn, rises from the East for the entire cosmos and sets in the West.
“Come here to me, (you,) who rises from the four winds, the mirthful (hilaros) Agathos Daimon, for whom heaven is a processional path!
“I call upon your sacred, great and hidden names, which you delight in hearing.
“The Earth flourished when you appeared, the plants bore fruit when you laughed, and the animals reproduced when you allowed it.
“Give glory (doxa), honor (timē), grace (kharis), fortune (tykhē) and power (dynamis) to the such-and-such stone I am consecrating today—or to the amulet that is being consecrated—for such-and-such purpose!
“I call upon you, the great one in heaven:
Ēi
Lankhykh
Akarēn
Bal Misthrēn
Marta Mathath
Laïlam
Mūsūthi
Siethō
Bathabathi
Iatmōn
Aleï
Iabath
Abaōth
Sabaōth
Adōnai, the great god
Orsenophrē
Orgeatēs
Tothornatēsa Krithi
Biōthi
Ïadmō
Iatmōmi
Methiēï
Lonkhoō
Akarē
Bal Minthrē
Banebaikkhykkhūphri
Notheūsi thraï
Arsiūth
Erōnerther
The shining Sun, illuminating the whole world.
“You are the great serpent, leader of these gods, who holds the beginning of Egypt and the end of the whole world, who mate in the Ocean, Psoi Phnūthi Ninthēr; you are the one who becomes visible every day, who sets in the Northeast of heaven and rises in the Southwest.
“In the 1st hour you have the shape (morphê) of a cat, and your name is Pharakūnēth; give glory and grace to this amulet!
“In the 2nd hour you have the shape of a dog, and your name is Sūphi; give strength (iskhys) and honor to this amulet, this stone and such-and-such!
“In the 3rd hour you have the shape of a serpent, and your name is Amekranebekheo Thōyth; give honor to such-and-such god!
“In the 4th hour you have the shape of a scarab, and your name is Sentherips; strengthen this amulet in this night, for the purpose for which it is being consecrated!
“In the 5th hour you have the shape of a donkey, and your name is Enphan Khūph; give strength and boldness (tharsos) and power to such-and-such god!
“In the 6th hour you have the shape of a lion, and your name is Baï solbaï, the one who rules time; give fortune (epitykhia) to this amulet, and noble victory!
“In the 7th hour you have the shape of a goat, and your name is Ūmesthōth; give charm (i.e., ‘loveliness’) to this ring, or to this amulet, or to this engraving!
“In the 8th hour, you have the shape of a bull, and your name is Diatiphē, who has become invisible. Let all things done by the use of this stone be accomplished!
“In the 9th hour you have the shape of a falcon, and your name is Phēūs Phōūth, the lotus grown from the abyss; give good fortune and noble opportunity (kairos) to this amulet!
“In the 10th hour you have the shape of a baboon, and your name is Besbyki.
“In the 11th hour you have the shape of an ibis, and your name is Mū Rōph; consecrate the great amulet for such-and-such good from this day to all time!
“In the 12th hour you have the shape of a crocodile, and your name is Aerthoē.
“You who have set at last as an old man, who is above the cosmos and below the cosmos, bold ruler of the sea; hear my voice on this day, in this night, during these holy hours, and let all things done through this stone, through this amulet, such-and-such thing for which I am consecrating it, be accomplished.
“Indeed, lord Kmēph;
Lūtheūth
Orphoikhe
Ortilibekhūkh
Ierkhe
Rūm Iperitaō Yaï!
“I adjure Earth and Heaven, Light and Darkness, and the great god who has created the universe, Sarūsis, you, the helpful Agathon Daimonion, to accomplish all things done through the use of this ring or stone for me.”
When you are consecrating/finishing, say:
“Zeus Sarapis is one!”
3 Notes
I use ū to stand for ου here.
“Cosmocrator”: “ruler of the world”. But this term does not imply a single ruler necessarily; the Neoplatonists use cosmocrator as a synonym for “planet” (Kronos, Zeus, Ares, Helios, Aphrodite, Hermes or Selene).
“who is above the cosmos and below the cosmos”: probably a reference to the revolution of the Sun, whereby it is sometimes above the Earth, sometimes below.
“Banebaikkhykkhūphri”: Βανεβαιχχυχχουφρι. An expanded form of Ⲃⲁⲓⲛⲭⲱⲱⲭ, “Soul of (the god) Darkness (Kkw)”. This is not the only secret name in the text that admits of explanation, but I am not the best qualified to explain them.
“In the 1st hour”: The reference is to he hours from sunrise to sunset.
“Psoi Phnūthi Ninthēr”: Coptic for “Shai (=Agathos Daimon), the god (ⲡ-ⲛⲟⲩⲧⲉ) of the gods (ⲛ-ⲉⲛⲧⲏⲣ)”.
“You who have set at last as an old man”: In Egyptian representations, the Sun rises as a young boy and sets as an old man.
“Zeus Sarapis is one”: Heis Zeus Sarapis. A formula of praise, equivalent to “Zeus Sarapis is the greatest!”
SARTRIX 