Thwarting the ‘Evil Eye’

Psḥʾ Through the Prism of Achaemenid Aramaic Sources

Dados Bibliográficos

ID20249666
AutoresGad Barnea (0000-0001-5144-5761, University of Haifa, autor correspondente)
Ano2025
Volume17
Fascículo1
Páginas1
Data de publicação2025-12-19
Peer ReviewedSim
Open AccessSim
TipoARTICLE
PeriódicoReligions (JOURNAL)
Identificadores do periódicoISSN: 2077-1444 • E-ISSN: 2077-1444
EditoraMDPI AG (PUBLISHER • IT)
DOI10.3390/rel17010001
OpenAlexW7116122153
IdiomaEN
Citações recebidas1
Referências citadas35

The Aramaic term psḥ(ʾ) and its possible relation to the Hebrew psḥ (recorded in the Hebrew Bible) are associated with “the Passover” feast in Judaism and Samaritanism and, by extension, with Easter in Christianity. This lexeme is exceedingly rare in extra-biblical sources and my goal with the present article is to closely examine the only two unambiguous sources available to us—both of which are found on Aramaic ostraca associated with the Yahwistic community at Elephantine and both share an acute sense of impending trepidation and anxiety. The article is divided into two parts. The first offers a new epigraphic analysis of the two ostraca on which this term appears—building upon a recent publication of one and offering a new publication: reconstruction, translation, and detailed commentary of the other. The second presents a multifaceted analysis—combining etymological and contextual data with insights from social psychology, archeology, and anthropology—supporting the connection of the term psḥ(ʾ) with apotropaic magic rituals tied to the fear of evil-eye, disease, malicious spirits, demons, curses, etc. Finally, insights from these first-hand documents are applied to the ongoing debate regarding the origins and etymology of the term psḥ(ʾ) and its use in the biblical narrative

Etymology · Hebrew · Lexeme · Prism · Ancient Near East History · Archaeology and Historical Studies · Historical, Religious, and Philosophical Studies

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