Ritual and Magic

This paper argues for a limited generic relationship between the “Orphic” gold lamellae and inscribed funerary epigram, with particular attention to conventions of apostrophe and direct address as reflections of ritual practice in both genres. The lamellae are a collection of small gold tablets/leaves deposited in Greek graves of both men and women in the later Classical and Hellenistic periods.

This talk will begin by quickly presenting the main arguments that support an identification of the (previously unidentified) Akkadian plant sikillu with Greek σκίλλα (En. “sea squill,” or “onion squill,” Scilla Maritima Linn.). These include etymology, similarity of habitat, physical characteristics and specific medical and magico-religious applications.

The Oriental Institute Museum of the University of Chicago has a small, but important collection of Demotic papyri, nearly all of which have now been published. Yet, surprises remain to be found. Recently the presence of an unpublished Demotic papyrus was discovered during the planning stages for an upcoming special exhibit at the Oriental Institute on the Book of the Dead scheduled for autumn 2017.

I propose that Vergil’s descriptions of bugonia in Georgics 4 (308-11 and 554-8) draw on Stoic theories of generation, according to which the heating properties of pneuma is responsible for any development of life. By defending this proposal, I set out to remove an interpretative taboo in Vergilian studies: looking for an allegorical bugonia in the Aeneid. Vergil compares the souls in Elysium awaiting rebirth to bees (A.