An example for the power of secret names in ancient magic and their translatability, contradicting Iamblichus’ claim that translated names of higher powers wouldn’t keep their power. It shows how individual the approaches to ancient magic were
Ritual for making a magic ring
Graeco-Egyptian magical papyrus pdm/PGM XII, 262-268
O lord, for to you, the god in heaven, all things are subject,
and none of the daimons or spirits will oppose mebecause I have called on your great namefor the consecration. And again I call upon you:
according to Egyptians: Phnô Eai Iabôk;
according to Jews: Adônaie Sabaôth;
according to Greeks: The king of all, ruling alone;
according to the high priests: Hidden, Invisible, Overseer of all;
according to Parthians: Ouertô, Master of all.
Consecrate and empower this object for me, for the entire and glorious time of my life!
This example contradicts Iamblichus’ claim that: “The translated names do not keep the same meaning, but some linguistic characteristics of one people can’t be expressed in the language of another’s people; and if it were possible to translate these names, the names would never retain the same power.” (Iamblichus, De Mysteriis, VII, 5)
Photo: The bilingual papyrus PGM XII / pdm xii, 4th century, Egypt. AMS 75 (I 384) © Rijksmuseum van Oudheden, Leiden, Niederlande