Sphragizoēl: an unrecognized deity and the rise of angelology

Michael Zellmann-Rohrer

doi:10.1628/rre-2024-0030

Sphragizoēl: an unrecognized deity and the rise of angelology

Michael Zellmann-Rohrer

School of Humanities

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

17 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

An inscribed object from late ancient Ephesos is re-interpreted as an amulet naming a previously unknown angel, Sphragizoēl. The combination of amulet and angel illustrates the coinage of functional angel names, in this case referencing ‘sealing’. Reversed writing produced by impressing the object may have served as an analogy for sealing enemies. The artefact would thus stand between textual amulets and curse tablets.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	434–450
Number of pages	17
Journal	Religion in the Roman Empire
Volume	10
Issue number	3
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1628/rre-2024-0030
Publication status	Published - 2024

Bibliographical note

Copyright the Author(s) 2024. Version archived for private and non-commercial use with the permission of the author/s and according to publisher conditions. For further rights please contact the publisher.

Keywords

Angel
Magic
Amulet
Late Antiquity
Ephesos
Sealing

Access to Document

10.1628/rre-2024-0030

Publisher version (open access)Final published version, 1.2 MBLicence: CC BY-SA

Cite this

@article{2365b0ec870e4254b901a4e89c201e27,

title = "Sphragizoēl: an unrecognized deity and the rise of angelology",

abstract = "An inscribed object from late ancient Ephesos is re-interpreted as an amulet naming a previously unknown angel, Sphragizoēl. The combination of amulet and angel illustrates the coinage of functional angel names, in this case referencing {\textquoteleft}sealing{\textquoteright}. Reversed writing produced by impressing the object may have served as an analogy for sealing enemies. The artefact would thus stand between textual amulets and curse tablets.",

keywords = "Angel, Magic, Amulet, Late Antiquity, Ephesos, Sealing",

author = "Michael Zellmann-Rohrer",

note = "Copyright the Author(s) 2024. Version archived for private and non-commercial use with the permission of the author/s and according to publisher conditions. For further rights please contact the publisher.",

year = "2024",

doi = "10.1628/rre-2024-0030",

language = "English",

volume = "10",

pages = "434–450",

journal = "Religion in the Roman Empire ",

issn = "2199-4463",

number = "3",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Sphragizoēl

T2 - an unrecognized deity and the rise of angelology

AU - Zellmann-Rohrer, Michael

N1 - Copyright the Author(s) 2024. Version archived for private and non-commercial use with the permission of the author/s and according to publisher conditions. For further rights please contact the publisher.

PY - 2024

Y1 - 2024

N2 - An inscribed object from late ancient Ephesos is re-interpreted as an amulet naming a previously unknown angel, Sphragizoēl. The combination of amulet and angel illustrates the coinage of functional angel names, in this case referencing ‘sealing’. Reversed writing produced by impressing the object may have served as an analogy for sealing enemies. The artefact would thus stand between textual amulets and curse tablets.

AB - An inscribed object from late ancient Ephesos is re-interpreted as an amulet naming a previously unknown angel, Sphragizoēl. The combination of amulet and angel illustrates the coinage of functional angel names, in this case referencing ‘sealing’. Reversed writing produced by impressing the object may have served as an analogy for sealing enemies. The artefact would thus stand between textual amulets and curse tablets.

KW - Angel

KW - Magic

KW - Amulet

KW - Late Antiquity

KW - Ephesos

KW - Sealing

U2 - 10.1628/rre-2024-0030

DO - 10.1628/rre-2024-0030

M3 - Article

SN - 2199-4463

VL - 10

SP - 434

EP - 450

JO - Religion in the Roman Empire

JF - Religion in the Roman Empire

IS - 3

ER -