CLASSICS 330 Lecture Notes - Lecture 8: Ephesia Grammata, Abracadabra, Ordinary Language Philosophy
20 Feb 2018
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Sometimes makes up as much as 90% of the content. Sometimes these words are based on more familiar things like references to the gods. Repeated patterns of this leads us to infer these references even though it is mainly nonsensical. From lucian, dialogues of courtesans 288-9 (ogden #52); a witch performs love magic: An incantation of foreign and terrifying names with a tripping tongue. Describing a young witch at work who uses incomprehensible words. Gager 47: curse tablet from bithynia, 3rd-4th c. ad. This example shows a repetition of nonsensical words/ voces magicae . Voces magicae are inserted in the middle of sentences. The same series of voces magicae (from this example) are also found in other tablets and papyri from other times and places. These words are meant to mean something particular. The voces magicae used here has a very secretive element. The idea that magical words have more power if they are secret (?)
