Dear supporters,

I am writing with a major update on the progress of Interlinear Magic: An Anthology of the Greco-Egyptian Magical Papyri. In what follows, I will discuss my progress towards completion, the book’s new website, the estimated page count after stretch-goal additions, the revised table of contents, and the revised delivery estimate.

First, I would like to tell you about the new course I am offering, which begins February 5. The course, Magic in Hieroglyphs: An Introduction to the Language and Culture of Ancient Egyptian Ritual Practice, will examine historical precursors to the Greco-Egyptian magic of the PGM while teaching the basics of the hieroglyphic script and Egyptian vocabulary and grammar. Note that if you have already signed up for the Egyptian magic class as part of your Kickstarter pledge, you do not have to register again. Note also that this is NOT the free class unlocked by the $50K stretch goal (which will be released after the book is done). The full details about the new course are available here: https://www.greekmagicalpapyri.com/egyptian-courses

Since the last update in late November, I have made significant progress on writing the introductions, both the general introduction and those for the first 12 rituals. Additionally, the translations, both interlinear and English, are now mostly complete, although I will still be revising them as I go in order to accurately reflect cross-references and to provide consistent translations across the 60+ rites. I am especially excited about the two-translation format because it allows me to fine-tune both the more literal interlinear translations and the more natural (standalone) English translations. I have plans to post an example of these two translation styles on the website soon.

The new website for the project: http://interlinearmagic.com/

The website will be used to post updates about the project as well as examples of the content as we get closer to the ship date. I will also be adding a reference section with bibliography, glossary of important terminology, and additional media files to support the book. These will eventually include links to all the audio recordings and video lessons for the free class (both from the Kickstarter stretch goals).

Given the additions to the book from the unlocked stretch goals, my original estimate of 300 pages will likely increase by 30-50%. I will update you again as soon as I know more.

The revised table of contents is appended to the end of this message.

It is perhaps needless to say at this date that the original estimate of a February 2022 ship date will not be met. It is probable, given the additional work underway (stretch goal texts, cross-references, and structural and formatting improvements that I will cover in the next update), that the books will ship sometime in June of this year. I have given myself a new set of deadlines in order to accomplish this goal, and I feel confident it will give me enough time. Thank you for your patience! This is all very new to me, but I am learning a lot and will be able to give better delivery estimates for Volume 2 of this project (already underway).

Thank you for your support and patience! Please let me know if you have any questions.

Warmest Regards,

Brian P. Alt

Revised Table of Contents (subject to change):

• 0. General Introduction

Part I: Featured Rites with Full Analysis

• 1. Ouroboros Phylactery (PGM VII.579-90)
• 2. Protective Rite of Isis (PGM VII.490-504)
• 3. Multipurpose Invocation of Zeus/Sarapis (PGM V.459-89)
• 4. Invocation of the Solar Quarters and Four Elements (PGM II.101-18)
• 5. Secret Name of Aphrodite (PGM IV.1265-74)
• 6. Divine Encounter with the Personal Daemon (PGM VII.505-28)
• 7. Invocation of the Lunar Goddess (PGM VII.756-794)
• 8. Invocation of Hermes/Thoth for Business or Other Purposes (PGM VIII.1-63)
• 9. Solar Prayer against Anger, for Victory, and to win Divine Favor (PGM XXXVI.211-30)
• 10. The Hidden Stele (PGM IV.1115-66)
• 11. The Oracle of Serapis (PGM V.1-53)
• 12. Solar Consecration Rite for All Purposes (PGM IV.1596-1715)

Part II: Additional Rites, Translated with Notes

• 13. Lunar Rite of Klaudianos (PGM VII.862-918)
• 14. The Stele that is Effective for All Things (PGM IV.1167-1226)
• 15. Stele of Iēou or the “Headless Rite” (PGM V.96-172)
• 16. Egyptian Rite for Gathering Herbs (PGM IV.2967-3006)
• 17. Rite to Gain Control of One’s Own Shadow(PGM III.612-32)
• 18. Rite for Gaining the Divine Favor of Kmeph (PGM XII.182-89)
• 19. Rite for Gaining the Divine Favor of Aphrodite (SM 63)
• 20. The Stele of Aphrodite (PGM VII.215-18)
• 21. Rite for Business with Typhonian Ink (PGM XII.96-106)
• 22. Rite of Hermes for Business (PGM IV.2359-72)
• 23. Hermes’ Wondrous Victory Charm (PGM VII.919-24)
• 24. Rite of Hermes to Catch a Thief (PGM V.172-212)
• 25. Another Rite to Catch a Thief (PGM V.70-95)
• 26. Chain-Breaking Rite (PGM XII.160-78)
• 27. Rite to Open a Door (PGM XXXVI.312-20)
• 28. Prayer for Deliverance and Protection (PGM I.195-222)
• 29. Excellent Rite for Driving Out Daemons (PGM IV.1227-64)
• 30. Initiation and Bowl-Divination of the Sun, or the “Typhonic Initiation” (PGM IV.154-285)
• 31. Divinatory Rite of Kronos, called “Little Mill” (PGM IV.3086-3124)
• 32. Saucer-Divination of Aphrodite (PGM IV.3209-54)
• 33. Rite for a Direct Vision (Bowl-Divination) of Anubis (PGM VII.319-34)
• 34. Direct Vision Formula Using a Bronze Cup and Shipwreck Water (PGM V.54-69)
• 35. Divination by Means of a Boy (PGM VII.348-58)
• 36. Lamp Divination of Hermes (PGM VII.540-578)
• 37. Rite for Obtaining Dream Revelations (Hermes Hymn) (PGM VII.664-85)
• 38. Request for a Dream to Hermes-Thoth (PGM XII.144-52)
• 39. Dream-Revelation Rite (PGM VII.359-69)
• 40. Another Dream-Revelation Rite (PGM VII.740-55)
• 41. Dream Divination of Eros and the Personal Daemon (PGM VII.478-90)
• 42. Rite for Divine Revelation from the “Serpent-Faced God” (PGM XII.153-60)
• 43. Rite for Esoteric Memory with Myrrh-Ink Recipe (PGM I.232-47)
• 44. Attracting a Lover through Wakefulness (PGM IV.2943-66)
• 45. Wondrous Attracting Rite of Isis and Osiris (PGM XXXVI.134-60)
• 46. Another Rite to Attract a Lover (PGM XXXVI.295-311)
• 47. “You are Olive Oil, You are not Olive Oil” (PGM LXI.1-38)
• 48. “You are Wine, You are not Wine” (PGM VII.643-51)
• 49. A Good Cup Spell (PGM VII.385-89)
• 50. Attraction Rite that Works in the Same Hour (PGM VII.300a-310)
• 51. Separation Rite of Typhon/Seth (PGM XII.365-75)
• 52. Parallel to above Separation Rite (PGM XII.453-65)
• 53. Parallel to above Separation Rite (PGM XIVc.16-27)
• 54. Restraining Rite (PGM VII.417-22)
• 55. Rite to Restrain Anger and Instill Obedience (PGM VII.940-68)
• 56. Rite to Restrain Anger (PGM XII.179-81)
• 57. Rite of Hekate-Ereshkigal against Fear (PGM LXX.5-29)
• 58. Indispensable Obfuscation Rite (PGM I.222-31)
• 59. Tested Rite for Obfuscation (PGM I.247-62)
• 60. Circle of the Moon in the Zodiac (PGM VII.272-83)

Part III: Supplementary Hymns and Other Passages

• 61-67: Planetary Orphic Hymns in Interlinear Translation
• 68-71: Hymns to Hekate in Interlinear Translation
• 72: Appendix of Short Passages in Interlinear Translation