I’ve just become aware of a website devoted to the academic study of Ancient Magic and its rituals. The site is Charaktêres – Ancient Magic and Ritual Practice, and it is run by Kirsten Dzwiza. Apparently it dates back to 2008 originally – about the same date as this blog. It is full of interesting material, papyri, gems, inscriptions; some of it of much wider interest. There was a series about rubrics in the magical papyri recently – yes, in red ink.
If you are on Twitter, Dr Dzwiza tweets in English and German at https://twitter.com/antikemagie.. This is very well worth following She also has a German-language site, https://www.antike-magie.de/.
My attention was originally drawn by this magnificent 3rd century magic gem, made of Carnelian (Getty 80.AN.132.2):
Dr Dzwiza wrote a detailed description of the item here.
Recommended.
What the heck? The “magic signs” on the large side — they look like Chinese characters?!
Not that they look like they make sense, but….
Lol! All intended to mystify…