Type: Paraliterary text

749 records found
AIU IV.C.486
Two copies of a poem by Avraham ben Yiju, praising Maḍmūn and cursing his enemies. T-S 8J16.23 is written in the hand of Ben Yiju himself, while the AIU fragment is written in the calligraphic square hand of a scribe. The poet signs his name in an acrostic: ABRHM ḤZQ YJW. The poem is about how Maḍmūn's enemies requited his kindness with treachery. But these enemies were ultimately compelled to acknowledge Maḍmūn's titles Sar and Nagid. Dating: ca. 1140–44 CE. (Information from Goitein and Friedman, India Book II.)
AIU IX.B.13
Ladino magical recipes.
AIU V.A.65
Recto: The colophon to a copy of a certain Sharḥ attributed to Samuel Ibn Tibbon (d.1232). Verso: A brief medical prescription.
AIU V.A.68
Perhaps an amulet: small, square piece of paper filled with calligraphic Judaeo-Arabic invocations of Gods' names and various prophets on both sides.
AIU VI.B.2
4 pages containing permutations of YWHW with various vowels, and on the last page, God's 13 attributes along with a prayer designed for invoking any given one of them (מדה פלונית) for any given time (שעה פלונית).
AIU VI.B.23
Fragment of a document with magic squares and magical recipes, including for mercantile success.
AIU VI.B.30
Magical amulet, including a portion for binding the demon Ḥayimun.
AIU VI.B.31
Magical amulet, to be hung up it seems (scalloped top edge, like a plaque), with the formula "Senoy Sansenoy Semangelof Adam ve-Hava Lilit Hutz." In the binder at AIU with a note: "Amulette pour une femme donnant naissance. Fragment manuscrit, encre sur parchemin" — but actually it's paper. Exhibited in "Anges et démons: croyances et pratiques magiques dans le monde juif" at the Musée d'Art et d'histoire du judaïsme in 2015. 17.2x11.4 cm. Same scalloped top edge and same text as AIU VI.C.9.
AIU VI.B.35
2 bifolia (8 pages), each containing a table corresponding to one of the stones of the Urim ve-Tumim, each one intended to be used for a different sort of Yes/No prognostication (whether so-and-so will be judged fairly... whether so-and-so will be saved from danger... whether so-and-so is righteous or wicked...).
AIU VI.B.48
Magical amulet.
AIU VI.B.67
Kabbalistic illustration of a schematic face filled in with text. Four circles labeled left ear, left eye, right eye, right ear. Forehead above, peʾot to either side, nose, mouth, etc. Probably post-15th c.
AIU VI.C.11
Amulet in Hebrew and Aramaic (and Judaeo-Arabic as well?).
AIU VI.C.15
Fragment of an amulet for healing, with remnants of a design composed of large calligraphic words interwoven with micrography. Curatorial note: Exposition "L'Egypte au temps des Fatimids" Institut de Monde Arabe 1998.
AIU VI.C.17
Amulet for success and against the evil eye, complete with calligraphic angel names, line-and-stick doodles, a star of David, and a magic square on verso.
AIU VI.C.18
Fragment of a striking amulet, partially colored in with green ink
AIU VI.C.19
Hebrew amulet formularies.
AIU VI.C.20
Late Hebrew amulet, with doodles and using the disappearing-word technique
AIU VI.C.21
Long, elaborate amulet for Sāda bt. Samar. Parchment, written on hair side; flesh side is blank.
AIU VI.C.22
Long amulet for Simḥa bat Esther (suggesting late and perhaps Sephardic origin, since Simḥa was a man's name in the classical Geniza period), asking the archangel Michael (ונבקש ממעלת קדושתכם, almost like it is a letter) to make her pleasing to her husband, whose name has not been filled in.
AIU VI.C.23
Kabbalistic menora surrounded by floral motifs composed of micrography. Visually arresting. Also massive: 51.5 x 37 cm and missing at least ⅓ from the top.