Daimonology of the PGM: A Complete Course in Theory and Practice
This new course on the Greco-Egyptian magical papyri explores the many types of daimon in the PGM, based on the original research and methodology developed by the instructor over years of engagement with these ancient documents. Over eight weekly sessions, we will examine all the major types of daimon in the PGM, from the Personal Daimon who guides the practitioner to the Parhedros Daimon who serves as an otherworldly assistant, from daimons related to specific gods to the anonymous corpse-daimons, with a little bit of everything in between. Each class session will also involve a deep dive into one or more ritual texts from the PGM that best exemplify each type of daimon. Provided course materials will include original English translations, historical notes, performance notes, and pronunciation recordings in MP3 format. The 8-week course begins July 1, 2023.
Registered students will receive:
Each week for 8 weeks, there will be a live videoconference of approximately 120 minutes. Each session will cover:
A historical and theoretical overview of a specific type of daimon in the PGM, including additional historical material from Greek and Egyptian sources that help to contextualize the PGM texts.
An analysis of one (or more) ritual-text that directly relates to the week’s daimonic type.
An optional “try this at home” exercise based on the week’s ritual-text(s).
The opportunity to ask questions and share reactions to (or other personal experience with) the course materials.
Topics covered include: Daimons as intermediate beings in the Greek and Egyptian traditions, the Agathos Daimon, the Personal Daimon, daimonic assistants (parhedroi), corpse-daimons (nekudaimones) and the blessed dead, protection and exorcism, dreams and the afterlife, philosophical and other daimonological approaches, and the early Christian demonization of daimons.
All registered students will receive access to the recordings of the videoconferences. These videos will remain available to students for at least one year.
Each week, I will release a new interlinear edition (with the original Greek/Coptic/Demotic text and an English translation) of one or more ritual-texts from the PGM. These documents will include original translations, as well as historical, etymological, and performance notes.
Each week, I will release an original audio recording (MP3) of the primary ritual-text for the week to aid in pronunciation.
To get the most out of the course, it is recommended that you acquire a copy of The Greek Magical Papyri in Translation (GMPT) before the course begins. Although original translation of the featured ritual-texts will be provided, having GMPT handy will allow you to track down cross-references and compare other ritual-texts that share elements with the featured rituals.
About the Instructor:
This course is taught by Brian P. Alt, PhD, the author of the forthcoming book, Interlinear Magic: An Anthology of the Greco-Egyptian Magical Papyri. Brian holds a PhD in Religious Studies (2020, with a PhD minor in Egyptology) and a Master’s Degree in Classics (ancient Greek and Latin). His professional research focuses on the intersections of ancient Mediterranean cultures and religions, with an emphasis on the religious movements, ritual practices, and philosophies of ancient Greek and Egyptian cultures. He has been studying, reading, and translating ancient Greek and Egyptian languages for more than 18 years, while teaching courses and seminars on the history of religion, magic, and mythology.
Important!
This course is not intended to provide medical advice, nor to treat physical, psychological, or any other medical condition. All course content is intended for informational purposes only.
