BARlines
Magic Incantation Bowl—Gift to Hebrew University Library
A magic incantation bowl inscribed in Jewish Babylonian-Aramaic with an admonition to ghosts not to do harm was recently presented to the Library of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. The gift came from Professor Gershom Scholem of the Hebrew University at Jerusalem. Scholem is the world’s leading authority on Jewish mysticism. Scholem had received the bowl as a gift from Dr. Vladimir Rosenbaum of Ascona, Switzerland.
The incantation on the bowl is written, as is typical with incantation bowls, in spiral concentric lines from the center of the bowl out to its edge. It begins with a story aimed at persuading ghosts not to do harm to a newborn baby, and ends with magic names and “shmira” verses from the Bible, verses meant to guard one from harm. Unseen in this view, a drawing of a ghost is in the center of the spiral on the inner bottom of the bowl.
A unique feature of the incantation on this bowl is the Greek proper names which appear in Aramaic transliteration. The names are actually attributes, such as “Iron” or “Sea,” designating demonic beings.
Magic texts are known from the beginning of the Common Era on amulets, metal sheets (such as gold, silver or lead), and earthenware vessels. Inscribed pottery incantation bowls, such as this one, were quite common in Babylonia between the 4th and 7th centuries A.D. In the Islamic period other materials were usually used for magical incantations, though inscribed bowls, sometimes made of metals, are still attested down to the twentieth century (written, of course, in Arabic). From Palestine, metal phylacteries (inscribed sheets placed inside small containers designed to be worn on the body) are also found in the earlier period.
Most of the magicians who wrote incantations on crude pottery bowls and many of the clients who purchased them were Jews who spoke Aramaic and who were influenced by Babylonian magical practices. The incantations on the bowls mostly belong to the category of “white” magic—talismans to ward off evil—rather than “black” magic which directs harm toward a particular person.
The formulas used on incantation bowls also have an affinity with New Testament practices: A noteworthy example on an incantation bowl is the abjuration of the demons, who are required to abandon the house and the body of the owner. Similarly, in Mark 5:2–13, it is recounted that Jesus met a man with an “unclean spirit”; Jesus ordered the devils in the man to leave and to enter into a herd of swine.
Judaeo-Christian Studies at Seton Hall University
A unique program, concentrating on the relationship between Jews and Christians, is offered by Seton Hall University in New Jersey. Intended for teachers of religion, including ministers, priests and rabbis, and all people seeking wider intellectual and spiritual horizons, the Masters Program in Judaeo-Christian Studies was inspired by the ecumenical spirit of the Second Vatican Council in 1965. The Council proclaimed the bond of the Catholic church to the Jewish people and encouraged “mutual understanding and appreciation … especially by way of Biblical and theological inquiry and through friendly discussions.” Fulfilling that intention, Seton Hall University, under the guidance of Msgr. John R. Oesterreicher, began a program in 1975 with 13 students. Today, the greatly-expanded graduate program offers a diverse program which includes Old and New Testament Studies, Talmudic Thought, The Teachings of Jesus, and Jewish History from Biblical Times to Today.
Admission is open to degree candidates and to non-degree students.
A booklet entitled “Beginnings” describing the history and philosophy of the program as well as its courses, may be obtained by writing to the Department of Judaeo-Christian Studies, College of Arts and Sciences; Seton Hall University; South Orange, New Jersey 07079.
British School Appoints Committee to Oversee Reports on Jerusalem and Jericho
In BAR’s obituary of Kathleen Kenyon, the renowned British archaeologist, we expressed the “hope that some way will be found to complete the final publication of both Jericho and Jerusalem. This should be a major concern and obligation of Biblical archaeology in Great Britain,” we said (“Kathleen Kenyon 1906–1978,” BAR 04:04).
Dame Kathleen excavated Jericho from 1951 to 1958. In Jerusalem, she dug from 1961 to 1967. She died in 1978 without completing the final publication of Jericho or beginning the final publication of Jerusalem.
We are pleased to report that the Council of the British School of Archaeology in Jerusalem has reconstituted its publications sub-committee for the express purpose of planning and supervising the publications of final reports on Jericho and Jerusalem.
Dr. T. A. Holland, for many years Dame Kathleen’s research assistant, has been appointed full-time editor of the Jericho reports. At the time of her death Dame Kathleen had nearly completed a volume fully describing areas she excavated on the tell. This will be published shortly, together with a separate volume of plates of the excavations on the tell. During the next three years Dr. Holland hopes to publish the pottery reports and to assemble and edit the specialists’ reports on Jericho which Dame Kathleen had already commissioned.
Dr. A. D. Tushingham of the Royal Ontario Museum, who served as Dame Kathleen’s co-director at Jerusalem, will serve as editor-in-chief of the Jerusalem reports. Unfortunately, at the time of her death, Dame Kathleen had not yet even begun systematic preparation of her Jerusalem report. We look forward to following Dr. Tushingham’s work with intense interest and wish him well in his monumental task.