Collection: Macquarie University History Museum
Incantation bowl
| Accession # | MU4232 |
| Creator | |
| Culture | Unknown |
| Period | Unknown |
| Date | unknown |
| Provenance | Unknown |
| Material/s | Ceramic |
| Dimensions | 12.09 cm x 14.01cm x 14.44cm |
| Collection | Macquarie University History Museum |
| Source | Macquarie University, MAC |
| Classification |
Click here to inspect 3d item.
MU4232 is an incantation bowl that is inscribed on the inner surface with pseudo-text and four figures. The text is in Aramaic script, however, the inscription does not communicate any meaning in Aramaic. It is possible that the writer has inscribed a series of letters which have no particular meaning other than as magical incantations (like “abracababra”). Alternatively, the text may have been written by an illiterate person who copied or possessed the knowledge of individual characters of Aramaic and consequently produced a text that is nonsensical. Incantation bowls were used in a religious context for a variety of purposes. The most common use was for general protection in the home, for example from injury, disease or misadventure such as a sting from a scorpion or snake. It was believed that by chanting the spell inscribed on the bowl while rotating the bowl and then quickly turning the bowl upside down, the evil forces or bad luck would be captured and so the owner’s family and possessions are granted protection. This is not dissimilar to how one might capture a spider or cockroach in the home - under an upturned bowl or jar, however in this case the unwelcome intrusion - and it’s capture - is purely symbolic.
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Syllabus Links
- Syllabus Links Stage 6 Preliminary
- Investigating Ancient History, The investigation of Ancient sites and sources
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Stage 6 HSC Ancient Societies. Option C Society in Israel from Solomon to the fall of Samaria
- Religion, death and burial, including; nature of conflicting religious beliefs and practices (ACHAH114).
- Cultural and everyday life, including; art and architecture; writing and literature.
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Stage 6 HSC Historical Period. Option C The Ancient Levant - First Temple Period c.970-586 BC
- The Ancient Levant as a strategic geopolitical location and the evidence for the presence of other peoples.
- Expansion of the population, trade and settlement in the region.
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Historical Concepts and Skills; Analysis and use of sources
- Explain the meaning and value of sources for an historical inquiry (ACHAH007, ACHAH009)
- Analyse sources to identify and account for the different perspectives of individuals and groups in the past (ACHAH010)
- Analyse and synthesise evidence from different types of sources to develop reasoned claims (ACHAH008)
- Identify and analyse problems relating to sources in the investigation of the past (ACHAH011)
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Historical Concepts and Skills; Historical interpretation
- Form judgements about historical significance
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Historical Concepts and Skills; Historical investigation and research.
- Use evidence from a range of sources to inform investigation and research (ACHAH005)
- Syllabus Links Stage 6 Preliminary
- Online Resources
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Bibliography/References
- Saar, O.P. (2013) “An Incantation Bowl for Sowing Discord”, Journal of Semitic Studies, Volume 58, Issue 2. pp. 241–256.
- Hunter, E.C.D. (1998) “Who Are the Demons? The Iconography of Incantation Bowls”, SEL vol.15, pp. 95-115.
- Hunter, E.C.D. (2000) “The typology of the incantation bowls; physical features and decorative aspects”, in J.B. Segal, Aramaic and Mandaic Incantation Bowls in the British Museum. London; British Museum. pp 163–188.
- Levene, D. (2003) A Corpus of Magic Bowls. Incantation Texts in Jewish Aramaic from Late Antiquity. London.
- Montgomery, J.A. (1913) Aramaic Incantation Texts from Nippur. Philadelphia; University of Pennsylvania Museum.
- Shanks, H. (2007) “Magic incantation bowls”. Biblical Archaeology Review, pp. 62–65.
Cite this page
Macquarie University History Museum (2020). Incantation bowl, MU4232. //objectbasedlearning.com/Macquarie-University-History-Museum/MU4232 (accessed on: 14 June 2020).Rights & Permissions
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