PGM IV — breathing, hissing and bellowing
Reconstructing the sound instructions of the so-called 'Mithras Liturgy'.
Identification
- Corpus
- Papyri Graecae Magicae (PGM) IV
- Manuscript
- Grand Papyrus magique de Paris
- Shelfmark
- Paris, Bibliothèque nationale de France, suppl. gr. 574
- Date
- 4th c. CE
- Language
- Koine Greek + voces magicae
- Passage
- PGM IV.475–829 (passage usually called the ‘Mithras Liturgy’) (Standard citation of the passage per Betz 1992; per-instruction line numbering varies by edition (Preisendanz) and is not cited line by line.)
What the source prescribes
A: existence, order and repetition of the sound actions. Collation of Preisendanz shows a rich distribution: in the first invocation (IV.487–490) the papyrus embeds abbreviated marks repeated three times (πππ ςςς φρ / μμμ); then, spelled out, a long hiss + pop (561) and hiss ×2 + pop ×2 (578); plus inhaling ×3 (537) and σιγή ×3 (558). The bellow appears at several points (the abbreviated one at 490 and the long ones at 658, 704 and 713). B: the exact EXPANSION of the abbreviations (πππ→pop, ςςς→hiss, μμμ→bellow) is an editorial reading; the Koine phonetics of the speech is reconstruction. C: band, timbre, duration, F0, montage and pauses. NOT DOCUMENTED: pitch, frequency, melody; the exact mechanism of the pop.
El pasaje intercala acciones sonoras en su orden. DOCUMENTADO (A): en la primera invocación (IV.487-490) el papiro trae marcas abreviadas repetidas tres veces (πππ ςςς φρ / μμμ); mas adelante, deletreados, un siseo largo y un chasquido con voces magicae (561) y "un siseo dos veces y un chasquido dos veces" (578); inhalacion tres veces (537) y «σιγή σιγή σιγή» (558). El bramido aparece en varios puntos: el abreviado de 490 y los largos «como un cuerno» de 658 (flanco), 704 (vientre) y 713. RECONSTRUCCION (B): la expansion exacta de las abreviaturas (πππ→chasquido, ςςς→siseo, μμμ→bramido) es lectura editorial de Preisendanz, sin rubrica griega que la fije. El orden y la existencia de las marcas estan en la fuente; su realizacion acustica concreta es decision moderna (C).
Listen
↓ Download reconstruction · MP3 · 436 KB
Grimorium reconstruction. Includes third-party CC0 human takes (breath and bellow) credited on this page; not an entirely in-house recording.
Technical analysis (optional)
Measurements describe this recording, not the ancient prescription.
- bellow: f0_mean_hz=114.6, f0_span_semitones=8.5, f0_iqr_semitones=1.84, pitch_stability=variable · C — The performer's F0 (a CC0 'Male long groan' take, low and sustained); 'variable' = not a fixed chosen note.
The rite in context
"Mithras Liturgy" is a modern title (A. Dieterich, 1903); it is not the official liturgy of the Mithras cult.
An ἀπαθανατισμός (immortalization): a visionary ascent through the elements and heavens to the solar god Helios-Mithras, to behold him and receive an oracle. The emphasis is on the immortalizing vision.
Reading of the whole rite (modern reconstruction, not a transcription)
A prose reading of the rite, reconstructed from the surviving lines (not a transcription of the papyrus). It is not a hymn with a score but a recipe for ascent: the text calls itself apathanatismós, «immortalization», and frames it as a mystery handed from a mage to his only daughter. The operator draws in the light and «inhales from the ray three times» so as to be lifted and ascend through the regions of the cosmos until he meets the solar god Helios-Mithras, and at the end asks him for a revelation. The sounds are not in a block but spread through the ascent: already in the first cosmogonic invocation the papyrus inserts abbreviated marks repeated three times (πππ, ςςς, φρ, μμμ). Then, in order: the triple breathing; the silence commanded three times with a finger on the mouth (σιγή); a long hiss followed by a pop and the magical voices; a repeated hiss and pop; and the long bellowings, which the Greek describes with anatomical precision: one «like a horn» (a simile of emission, not an instrument) straining the flank, and another straining the belly «to stir the five senses». Once all is said, the god «immediately prophesies» and delivers the oracle in verse; afterwards the text names the rite, orders it repeated three times a year, and gives final instructions (a solar scarab, the kentritis herb, offerings and amulets). The order and the repetitions are documented; the concrete acoustics —note, pitch, timbre, frequency— are not in the text: they are reconstruction and modern decision.
- 1DocumentedIV.475–480
Proem: the magician dedicates the rite to his only child and states its aim — to request immortality (ἀθανασία) — transmitting the mystery.
Ἵλαθί μοι, Πρόνοια καὶ Ψυχή … μόνῳ δὲ τέκνῳ ἀθανασίαν ἀξιῶ
"Be gracious to me, Providence and Psyche… for an only child I request immortality."
Preisendanz p.88 — opening of the rite (lines 475 ff.)
Universitätsbibliothek Heidelberg · Preisendanz, Papyri Graecae Magicae, Bd. I (Teubner 1928), p.88 · DOI · View original facsimile at Heidelberg ↗Stated: The text states the aim: immortalization. - 2DocumentedIV.487–490
Within the first cosmogonic invocation the papyrus embeds abbreviated sound-marks, each repeated three times: πππ, ςςς, φρ and μμμ.
Γένεσις πρώτη τῆς ἐμῆς γενέσεως· αεηιουω … [πππ ςςς φρ] … [μμμ]
"First origin of my origin, aeēiouō…"; here the papyrus carries the abbreviated marks πππ, ςςς, φρ and μμμ.
Preisendanz p.88 — embedded sounds (lines 487–490)
Universitätsbibliothek Heidelberg · Preisendanz, Papyri Graecae Magicae, Bd. I (Teubner 1928), p.88 · DOI · View original facsimile at Heidelberg ↗Stated: What is documented is the existence of the abbreviated marks and their ×3 graphic repetition in the papyrus.Modern reading: Their EXPANSION into pop/hiss/[snort]/bellow is Preisendanz's editorial reading (cross-referenced to 561/578); there is no explicit Greek rubric fixing it. - 3DocumentedIV.537–540
Draw breath from the ray three times as much as you can: the text links this breathing to being lifted up and ascending on high.
ἕλκε ἀπὸ τῶν ἀκτίνων πνεῦμα γʹ ἀνασπῶν, ὃ δύνασαι … ὄψη σεαυτὸν ἀνακουφιζόμενον καὶ ὑπερβαίνοντα εἰς ὕψος
"Draw breath from the rays, inhaling three times as much as you can… you will see yourself lifted up and ascending on high."
Preisendanz p.90 — the triple breath (lines 537 ff.)
Universitätsbibliothek Heidelberg · Preisendanz, Papyri Graecae Magicae, Bd. I (Teubner 1928), p.90 · DOI · View original facsimile at Heidelberg ↗Stated: The link breath ×3 → ascent is in the text. - 4DocumentedIV.558–560
Put your right finger on your mouth and say: "Silence, silence, silence!", symbol of the living, imperishable god.
ἐπίθες δεξιὸν δάκτυλον ἐπὶ τὸ στόμα καὶ λέγε· σιγή, σιγή, σιγή, σύμβολον θεοῦ ζῶντος ἀφθάρτου
"Place the right finger on the mouth and say: silence, silence, silence, symbol of the living imperishable god."
Preisendanz p.92 — σιγή ×3 and the gesture (lines 558 ff.)
Universitätsbibliothek Heidelberg · Preisendanz, Papyri Graecae Magicae, Bd. I (Teubner 1928), p.92 · DOI · View original facsimile at Heidelberg ↗Stated: The threefold word and the gesture are attested.Modern reading: Its liturgical function (marking a sacred threshold) is interpretation. - 5DocumentedIV.561–565
Make a long hiss, then a pop, uttering magical words; after this the text says you will see the gods looking on you graciously.
ἔπειτα σύρισον μακρὸν συριγμόν, ἔπειτα πόππυσον λέγων· προπροφεγγη … καὶ τότε ὄψη τοὺς θεούς σοι εὐμενῶς ἐμβλέποντας
"Then hiss a long hiss, then pop, saying: proprophengē…; and then you will see the gods looking on you kindly."
Preisendanz p.92 — long hiss + pop + voces (line 561)
Universitätsbibliothek Heidelberg · Preisendanz, Papyri Graecae Magicae, Bd. I (Teubner 1928), p.92 · DOI · View original facsimile at Heidelberg ↗Stated: Existence and order (hiss → pop) are documented; and that the favorable vision follows these acts.Modern reading: That the hiss/pop "open the way" or "greet" the gods is a modern reading: the text gives the sequence, not a causal mechanism. - 6DocumentedIV.578–580
Repeat the signals: hiss twice and pop twice (exact ×2 repetition).
σύρισον β' καὶ πόππυσον β'
"Hiss twice and pop twice."
Preisendanz p.92 — hiss ×2 + pop ×2 (lines 578 ff.)
Universitätsbibliothek Heidelberg · Preisendanz, Papyri Graecae Magicae, Bd. I (Teubner 1928), p.92 · DOI · View original facsimile at Heidelberg ↗Stated: The exact ×2 repetition is documented. - 7DocumentedIV.658–660
First long bellow "like a horn", releasing all your breath and straining the flank (λαγόνα).
μύκωμα μακρὸν κερατοειδῶς, ὅλον ἀποδιδοὺς τὸ πνεῦμα, βασανίζων τὴν λαγόνα
"A long bellow horn-like, giving out all the breath, straining the flank."
Preisendanz p.94 — first bellow, κερατοειδῶς / λαγόνα (lines 658 ff.)
Universitätsbibliothek Heidelberg · Preisendanz, Papyri Graecae Magicae, Bd. I (Teubner 1928), p.94 · DOI · View original facsimile at Heidelberg ↗Stated: "κερατοειδῶς" = horn-like: a simile of emission (continuity/resonance), NOT an instrument. The flank-effort is prescribed.Modern reading: Pitch, register and F0 belong to the modern performer (level C), not the source. - 8DocumentedIV.704–705
Second long bellow, straining the belly (γαστέρα) "so that you set in motion the five senses".
μύκωμα μακρόν, βασανίζων τὴν γαστέρα, ἵνα συνκινήσῃς τὰς πέντε αἰσθήσεις
"A long bellow, straining the belly, that you may set in motion the five senses."
Preisendanz p.96 — second bellow, γαστέρα + "five senses" (lines 704 ff.)
Universitätsbibliothek Heidelberg · Preisendanz, Papyri Graecae Magicae, Bd. I (Teubner 1928), p.96 · DOI · View original facsimile at Heidelberg ↗Stated: The reason "to move the five senses" (τὰς πέντε αἰσθήσεις) is IN the Greek, not our interpretation. The belly-effort distinguishes this bellow from the first (flank). - 9DocumentedIV.713–714
While greeting the manifest god you do so "bellowing long" (a third point of sustained bellowing).
καὶ ἀτένιζε τῷ θεῷ μακρὸν μυκώμενος καὶ ἀσπάζου οὕτως· κύριε, χαῖρε…
"And gaze at the god bellowing long, and greet him thus: Lord, hail…"
Preisendanz p.96 — greeting, bellowing long (lines 713 ff.)
Universitätsbibliothek Heidelberg · Preisendanz, Papyri Graecae Magicae, Bd. I (Teubner 1928), p.96 · DOI · View original facsimile at Heidelberg ↗Stated: The bellow accompanies the greeting of the god: the source prescribes emitting it here too. - 10DocumentedIV.724–730
When this is said, the god prophesies at once: he gives you the oracle in verses and then departs.
ταῦτά σου εἰπόντος εὐθέως χρησμῳδήσει … λέγει δέ σοι διὰ στίχων τὸν χρησμὸν καὶ εἰπὼν ἀπελεύσεται
"When you have said these things he will at once prophesy… he tells you the oracle in verses and, having spoken, will depart."
Preisendanz p.96 — the oracle in verses (lines 724 ff.)
Universitätsbibliothek Heidelberg · Preisendanz, Papyri Graecae Magicae, Bd. I (Teubner 1928), p.96 · DOI · View original facsimile at Heidelberg ↗Stated: The revelation/oracle is the documented climax of the ascent. - 11DocumentedIV.748–750
The text NAMES the procedure: "this immortalization (ἀπαθανατισμός) takes place three times a year", followed by the "instruction of the operation".
γίγνεται δὲ ὁ ἀπαθανατισμὸς οὗτος τρὶς τοῦ ἐνιαυτοῦ … Διδασκαλία τῆς πράξεως
"This immortalization is performed three times a year… Instruction of the operation:"
Preisendanz p.98 — the rite named ἀπαθανατισμός (lines 748 ff.)
Universitätsbibliothek Heidelberg · Preisendanz, Papyri Graecae Magicae, Bd. I (Teubner 1928), p.98 · DOI · View original facsimile at Heidelberg ↗Stated: The text itself names the rite (ἀπαθανατισμός) and its frequency (3×/year). - 12DocumentedIV.750–787
"Instruction of the operation": take a twelve-rayed solar scarab, prepare it with lotometra seed and honey; keep the ointment of the mystery; and to show it to another, use the juice of the plant called "kentritis".
Διδασκαλία τῆς πράξεως· λαβὼν κάνθαρον ἡλιακὸν τὸν τὰς ιβ ἀκτῖνας ἔχοντα … τῆς καλουμένης βοτάνης κεντρίτιδος χυλόν
"Instruction of the operation: take a solar scarab having the twelve rays… the juice of the plant called kentritis."
Preisendanz p.98 — Διδασκαλία τῆς πράξεως, scarab and kentritis (lines 750 ff.)
Universitätsbibliothek Heidelberg · Preisendanz, Papyri Graecae Magicae, Bd. I (Teubner 1928), p.98 · DOI · View original facsimile at Heidelberg ↗Stated: The heading "instruction of the operation", the twelve-rayed scarab and the kentritis herb are in the source. - 13DocumentedIV.788–834
The kentritis herb (grows from the month Payni), offerings and timings (new moon, Sun in Leo; later once a month at full moon), and the amulets (φυλακτήρια) on black/white sheepskin with Homeric verses. The liturgy closes around line 830.
ἡ δὲ κεντρῖτις βοτάνη φύεται ἀπὸ μηνὸς Παῦνι … τὰ δὲ φυλακτήρια … εἰς ὑμένα προβάτου μέλανος … ὣς εἰπὼν τάφροιο διήλασε μώνυχας ἵππους
"The kentritis plant grows from the month Payni… the amulets… on the skin of a black sheep… 'So speaking he drove through the trench the single-hoofed horses' (Homeric verse)."
Preisendanz p.100 — kentritis, amulets and Homeric verses (lines 788 ff.)
Universitätsbibliothek Heidelberg · Preisendanz, Papyri Graecae Magicae, Bd. I (Teubner 1928), p.100 · DOI · View original facsimile at Heidelberg ↗Stated: The description of the herb, the sheepskin amulets and the inscribed Homeric verses are in the source.
Facsimiles fetched live from Heidelberg University Library IIIF and served through an edge proxy (Cloudflare); no local copy is stored. Rights remain Heidelberg's (In Copyright).
Modern reception
- Albrecht Dieterich (1903), Eine Mithrasliturgie textual — Edited the passage and coined the name; his thesis that it is a genuine Mithraic liturgy is today largely rejected (broad but not absolute consensus).
- G. R. S. Mead (1907), A Mithraic Ritual textual — Theosophical translation and reading; interpretive reception, with no documented acoustic performance.
No documented modern practice that acoustically PERFORMS these sounds has been located; reception is textual/interpretive. Grimorium's sound reconstruction is a modern realization, not a second historical source.
Based on the instructions preserved in the source. It is not an ancient recording nor an “authentic” performance; the sound arrangement does not literally reproduce every repetition of the papyrus. No ritual effect is claimed.
The public MP3 is a REPRESENTATIVE ARRANGEMENT (decision C): the source has a richer sound distribution (sounds embedded at 488–490 and bellows at 658, 704 and 713). The timeline (Study mode) shows the documented positions; the arrangement does not literally reproduce every ancient repetition.
What to do: Proem: the magician dedicates the rite to his only child and states its aim — to request immortality (ἀθανασία) — transmitting the mystery.
Ἵλαθί μοι, Πρόνοια καὶ Ψυχή … μόνῳ δὲ τέκνῳ ἀθανασίαν ἀξιῶ
"Be gracious to me, Providence and Psyche… for an only child I request immortality."
What to do: Within the first cosmogonic invocation the papyrus embeds abbreviated sound-marks, each repeated three times: πππ, ςςς, φρ and μμμ.
Γένεσις πρώτη τῆς ἐμῆς γενέσεως· αεηιουω … [πππ ςςς φρ] … [μμμ]
"First origin of my origin, aeēiouō…"; here the papyrus carries the abbreviated marks πππ, ςςς, φρ and μμμ.
What to do: Draw breath from the ray three times as much as you can: the text links this breathing to being lifted up and ascending on high.
ἕλκε ἀπὸ τῶν ἀκτίνων πνεῦμα γʹ ἀνασπῶν, ὃ δύνασαι … ὄψη σεαυτὸν ἀνακουφιζόμενον καὶ ὑπερβαίνοντα εἰς ὕψος
"Draw breath from the rays, inhaling three times as much as you can… you will see yourself lifted up and ascending on high."
What to do: Put your right finger on your mouth and say: "Silence, silence, silence!", symbol of the living, imperishable god.
ἐπίθες δεξιὸν δάκτυλον ἐπὶ τὸ στόμα καὶ λέγε· σιγή, σιγή, σιγή, σύμβολον θεοῦ ζῶντος ἀφθάρτου
"Place the right finger on the mouth and say: silence, silence, silence, symbol of the living imperishable god."
What to do: Make a long hiss, then a pop, uttering magical words; after this the text says you will see the gods looking on you graciously.
ἔπειτα σύρισον μακρὸν συριγμόν, ἔπειτα πόππυσον λέγων· προπροφεγγη … καὶ τότε ὄψη τοὺς θεούς σοι εὐμενῶς ἐμβλέποντας
"Then hiss a long hiss, then pop, saying: proprophengē…; and then you will see the gods looking on you kindly."
What to do: Repeat the signals: hiss twice and pop twice (exact ×2 repetition).
σύρισον β' καὶ πόππυσον β'
"Hiss twice and pop twice."
What to do: First long bellow "like a horn", releasing all your breath and straining the flank (λαγόνα).
μύκωμα μακρὸν κερατοειδῶς, ὅλον ἀποδιδοὺς τὸ πνεῦμα, βασανίζων τὴν λαγόνα
"A long bellow horn-like, giving out all the breath, straining the flank."
What to do: Second long bellow, straining the belly (γαστέρα) "so that you set in motion the five senses".
μύκωμα μακρόν, βασανίζων τὴν γαστέρα, ἵνα συνκινήσῃς τὰς πέντε αἰσθήσεις
"A long bellow, straining the belly, that you may set in motion the five senses."
What to do: While greeting the manifest god you do so "bellowing long" (a third point of sustained bellowing).
καὶ ἀτένιζε τῷ θεῷ μακρὸν μυκώμενος καὶ ἀσπάζου οὕτως· κύριε, χαῖρε…
"And gaze at the god bellowing long, and greet him thus: Lord, hail…"
What to do: When this is said, the god prophesies at once: he gives you the oracle in verses and then departs.
ταῦτά σου εἰπόντος εὐθέως χρησμῳδήσει … λέγει δέ σοι διὰ στίχων τὸν χρησμὸν καὶ εἰπὼν ἀπελεύσεται
"When you have said these things he will at once prophesy… he tells you the oracle in verses and, having spoken, will depart."
What to do: The text NAMES the procedure: "this immortalization (ἀπαθανατισμός) takes place three times a year", followed by the "instruction of the operation".
γίγνεται δὲ ὁ ἀπαθανατισμὸς οὗτος τρὶς τοῦ ἐνιαυτοῦ … Διδασκαλία τῆς πράξεως
"This immortalization is performed three times a year… Instruction of the operation:"
What to do: "Instruction of the operation": take a twelve-rayed solar scarab, prepare it with lotometra seed and honey; keep the ointment of the mystery; and to show it to another, use the juice of the plant called "kentritis".
Διδασκαλία τῆς πράξεως· λαβὼν κάνθαρον ἡλιακὸν τὸν τὰς ιβ ἀκτῖνας ἔχοντα … τῆς καλουμένης βοτάνης κεντρίτιδος χυλόν
"Instruction of the operation: take a solar scarab having the twelve rays… the juice of the plant called kentritis."
What to do: The kentritis herb (grows from the month Payni), offerings and timings (new moon, Sun in Leo; later once a month at full moon), and the amulets (φυλακτήρια) on black/white sheepskin with Homeric verses. The liturgy closes around line 830.
ἡ δὲ κεντρῖτις βοτάνη φύεται ἀπὸ μηνὸς Παῦνι … τὰ δὲ φυλακτήρια … εἰς ὑμένα προβάτου μέλανος … ὣς εἰπὼν τάφροιο διήλασε μώνυχας ἵππους
"The kentritis plant grows from the month Payni… the amulets… on the skin of a black sheep… 'So speaking he drove through the trench the single-hoofed horses' (Homeric verse)."
Composition of the reconstructed arrangement
This is the composition of the reconstructed ARRANGEMENT (decision C), not the source distribution: the positions and repetitions the papyrus prescribes are shown, collated line by line, in "The rite in context" (above).
| Breath ×3 | ×3 | |
| Hiss ×3 | ×3 | |
| Pop ×3 ⚠ anatomical mechanism undetermined | ×3 | |
| Voces magicae ×1 | ×1 | |
| Bellow ×2 (Human candidate realization) | ×2 | The source prescribes a long bellow, not a note/timbre/register; the human take was chosen for general phonation type; the F0 belongs to the performer. 'Like a horn' = simile of emission. |
| σιγή ×3 | ×3 |
Uncertainties
- No frequency/Hz/note is documented in the source for any sound.
- The 'pop' mechanism (ποππυσμός) is undetermined: broadly labial = B; labial/lingual subtype = C. Left procedural/blocked.
- Band/timbre/duration of hiss and breath = C.
- The human bellow is a candidate realization; its F0 belongs to the performer.
- Order and repetitions are A; pauses between actions = C.
- 'Mithras Liturgy' is a modern name (Dieterich); the identification with Mithras is disputed.
Methodology
Each reconstruction distinguishes what the source documents (A), the philological reconstruction (B) and our production decisions (C). A human take improves naturalness; it does not turn B/C into A-level evidence.
Sources
- Preisendanz, Papyri Graecae Magicae I
- Betz, The Greek Magical Papyri in Translation (GMPT), pp. 48–54
- Dieterich, Eine Mithrasliturgie
- LSJ s.v. ποππύζω / ποππυσμός / συρίζω
Licences and provenance
Not recorded by Grimorium; freely-licensed take, credited for transparency.
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