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ANCIENT JUDAICA FROM THE COLLECTION OF DANIEL M. FRIEDENBERG
A MESOPOTAMIAN POTTERY INCANTATION BOWL FOR MAIHARNAHOD BAT AHAT
CIRCA 4TH-7TH CENTURY A.D.
Details
A MESOPOTAMIAN POTTERY INCANTATION BOWL FOR MAIHARNAHOD BAT AHAT
Circa 4th-7th Century A.D.
The shallow bowl inscribed in Judeo-Aramaic with a nine-line spiral incantation in scribal handwriting, each line underlined, invoking healing from heaven to cure the infertility of Maiharnahod, daughter of Ahat, who is called Botus, the overtly Jewish incantation includes two references to Old Testament texts, reading: "May there be mighty healing from heaven for Maiharnahod, daughter of Ahat, who is also called the holy Botus Burkish, in her pouring forth her wishes... Maiharnahod, daughter of Ahat, who is called Botu Botus, and let her have living and surviving children, in the name of Gafter and Gaftiel, Sanfat and Sanfatiel, Teet, Yat, YHWH Amen Amen Selah. 'And the Lord remembered Rachel, and the Lord of Lords heeded her and opened her womb.' (Genesis 30:22) And He remembered and adjured you who are gathered, and urged that he will darken your portion and YHWH will force...thus you shall die if you approach and if you touch her flesh or her stature or her bed...Maiharnahod, daughter of Ahat, who is called Botus, 'And the Lord said unto Satan, the Lord rebukes you, Satan, the Lord who has chosen Jerusalem rebukes you; is this man not a brand plucked from the fire?' (Zechariah 3:2) Amen Amen Selah."
7 1/8 in. (18.1 cm) diameter
Circa 4th-7th Century A.D.
The shallow bowl inscribed in Judeo-Aramaic with a nine-line spiral incantation in scribal handwriting, each line underlined, invoking healing from heaven to cure the infertility of Maiharnahod, daughter of Ahat, who is called Botus, the overtly Jewish incantation includes two references to Old Testament texts, reading: "May there be mighty healing from heaven for Maiharnahod, daughter of Ahat, who is also called the holy Botus Burkish, in her pouring forth her wishes... Maiharnahod, daughter of Ahat, who is called Botu Botus, and let her have living and surviving children, in the name of Gafter and Gaftiel, Sanfat and Sanfatiel, Teet, Yat, YHWH Amen Amen Selah. 'And the Lord remembered Rachel, and the Lord of Lords heeded her and opened her womb.' (Genesis 30:22) And He remembered and adjured you who are gathered, and urged that he will darken your portion and YHWH will force...thus you shall die if you approach and if you touch her flesh or her stature or her bed...Maiharnahod, daughter of Ahat, who is called Botus, 'And the Lord said unto Satan, the Lord rebukes you, Satan, the Lord who has chosen Jerusalem rebukes you; is this man not a brand plucked from the fire?' (Zechariah 3:2) Amen Amen Selah."
7 1/8 in. (18.1 cm) diameter
Provenance
Moriah Galleries, New York