Sethian Luminaries in the Texts of Ritual Power and Related Coptic Compositions

Several texts of ritual power in Coptic contain the names of four spiritual powers known in the Sethian sources as luminaries. The article explores the relations between luminaries of the Nag Hammadi works and the “magical” and related texts. Two aspects are analysed. First, the sequence of luminari...

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Bibliographische Detailangaben
1. VerfasserIn: Piwowarczyk, Przemysław 1984- (VerfasserIn)
Medienart: Elektronisch Aufsatz
Sprache:Englisch
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Veröffentlicht: Brill 2023
In: Gnosis
Jahr: 2023, Band: 8, Heft: 1, Seiten: 102-125
weitere Schlagwörter:B Sethians
B Ancient Magic
B texts of ritual power
B Nag Hammadi
B luminaries
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Beschreibung
Zusammenfassung:Several texts of ritual power in Coptic contain the names of four spiritual powers known in the Sethian sources as luminaries. The article explores the relations between luminaries of the Nag Hammadi works and the “magical” and related texts. Two aspects are analysed. First, the sequence of luminaries, which is highly standardised in the Nag Hammadi Sethian dossier, and deviations from this standard in other texts help assess relations with original Sethian sources. Second, the texts of ritual power portray luminaries singing and playing musical instruments. The article traces the elements of the heavenly concert already in the Sethian texts. It also presents a development of this motif under the influence of the common Christian concept of the angelic concert in heaven.
ISSN:2451-859X
Enthält:Enthalten in: Gnosis
Persistent identifiers:DOI: 10.1163/2451859X-00801006