Hecate-Selene-Artemis and Related Deities

in the Greek Magical Papyri

and on Curse Tablets.

In the Greek Magical Papyri (PGM),¹ only the following seven major pieces address themselves exclusively to the syncretistic|The fusion or blending of different religious beliefs or figures into a single deity goddess named in the title: A. Avertive Tablet to Selene original Greek: Δέλτος ἀποκρουστικὴ πρὸς Σελήνην (Deltos apokroustike pros Selenen) (An apotropaic inscription addressed to the Moon)² in the Paris Papyrus (Pap. IV Pʀ.), lines 2243–2347 (Vol. I, pp. 140–146 Pʀ.); B. Compulsion Spell original Greek: Ἀγωγὴ (Agoge) (an attraction spell for love), ibid. lines 2441–2621 (Vol. I, pp. 148–154 Pʀ.); C. Slander Spell against Selene original Greek: Διαβολὴ πρὸς Σελήνην (Diabole pros Selenen) (a spell of defamation against the Moon, used simultaneously as a love spell), ibid. lines 2622–2706 (Vol. I, pp. 154–158 Pʀ.); D. Another Compulsion Spell original Greek: Ἄλλη ἀγωγή (Alle agoge) (another love attraction spell), ibid. lines 2709–2784 (Vol. I, pp. 158–160 Pʀ.); E. Prayer to Selene original Greek: Εὐχὴ πρὸς Σελήνην (Euche pros Selenen), ibid. lines 2785–2890³; F. Prayer original Greek: Εὐχὴ (Euche) (namely, again to Selene), London Papyrus 121 (Pap. VII Pʀ.), lines 756–795 (Vol. II, pp. 34–35 Pʀ.); G. Claudian's Moon-Incense and Rite of Consecration to the Sky and the Bear Constellation for Moon-Incense original Greek: Κλαυδιανοῦ Σεληνιακὸν καὶ οὐρανοῦ καὶ ἄρκτου τελετὴ ἐπὶ σεληνιακῶν (Klaudianou Seleniakon kai ouranou kai arktou telete epi seleniakon) (which is actually another love attraction spell), ibid. lines 862–918 (Vol. II, pp. 38–40 Pʀ.).

In the invocations, prayers, and formulas of pieces A, B, C, E, and F, Selene is explicitly called by her name, Selene or Mene⁴. However, in several places, epithets are added to these names of the Moon Goddess which point to her syncretism with other goddesses, namely "three-headed" original Greek: τρικάρανος (trikaranos) and "triple-named Selene"⁵ original Greek: τριώνυμος Σελήνη (trionymos Selene), or "triple-named Mene"⁶ original Greek: τριώνυμος Μήνη (trionymos Mene). And that we are dealing with documents of the most highly developed syncretism—which is self-evident given the era of the papyri (the 3rd and 4th centuries AD) and their general character—is strikingly proven by the fact that this "Moon Goddess" is invoked in a single breath...

¹ Edited by Karl Preisendanz, Papyri Graecae Magicae (The Greek Magical Papyri), Vol. I (1928), Vol. II (1931).
² Texts and translations generally follow Preisendanz.
³ In the following, the line numbers for the Paris Papyrus are given omitting the thousandth digit; thus, line 243 ff. = line 2243 ff.
⁴ B 524, 545, 557; C 664; E 786, 821, or A 278; B 546, 609; E 815; F 758.