"I am the Knowledge of my Name" Names as a Reflection of Belief and Cult in the Magical and Documentary Papyri of Late Antique Oxyrhynchus (100-500 CE)

<p dir="ltr">The rituals preserved in papyri and related materials, sometimes described as ‘magic,’ frequently invoke deities for assistance with everyday concerns, desires, and fears. However, whether these deities reflect local or Pan-Egyptian traditions is unclear. The relationship between local and broader beliefs, traditions, and ritual practices of late antique Egyptian life is seldom clarified in sources. Famous corpora, such as the Theban Magical Library, risk being misinterpreted as normative Pan-Egyptian ritual practice if not properly contextualised, as the rituals they contain may reflect only the selective interests of a small number of individuals. This study analyses onomastic data preserved in the ancient rubbish heaps of Oxyrhynchus to test whether the powers invoked in Oxyrhynchite ‘magical’ papyri held particular significance for the broader community. Focusing on Oxyrhynchus between the second and fifth centuries, this study demonstrates tangible links between the names of deities invoked in ‘magical’ texts, personal names containing corresponding divine elements, and local cults. Whether through the biblical divinities that became common in magical texts or traditional divination techniques associated with local saints, these connections highlight a locally distinct application of broader traditions. Furthermore, they suggest change and continuity in belief and cult amidst a shifting religious landscape.</p>