Ephesian Letters

Askei Kataskei Eron Oreon Ior Mega Samnyer Baui Phobantia Semne

The Rite of Her Sacred Fires include the use of the “Ephesian Letters” – and a number
of people have asked about this – so I decided to put together the following for those
unfamiliar with its use, I hope that it explains its inclusion in the rite.

“Askei Kataskei Eron Oreon Ior Mega Samnyer Baui Phobantia Semne.”

One of the oldest and most significant sets of voces magicae (a term used for magical
words of unknown meaning and origin) was the Ephesian Letters or Characters, a group
of six words. These words were askion, kataskion, lix, tetrax, damnameneus and
aision(or aisia). We cannot be absolutely certain whether the Ephesian Letters were
specifically connected with Hekate, though from the evidence it does seem likely. Their
first known appearance was in a Mycenaean inscription from the fifth century BCE.

The Ephesian Letters occur a number of times in the Greek Magical Papyri in charms
which call on Hekate. Thus the first two of the Ephesian Letters were used in a Hekate
charm associated with initiation (PGM LXX.12) as part of a string of voces magicae,
being:

“Askei Kataskei Eron Oreon Ior Mega Samnyer Baui Phobantia Semne.”

The fifth word, damnameneia, was used in the Bear Charm, which included reference to
Hekate as Brimo (PGM VII.686-702). A second-third century CE lead defixione tablet to
Hekate as torch bearer of the crossroads also uses this word repeatedly (SM 49).

An early fragmentary protective charm on a lead tablet from Phalasarna on Crete

included the Ephesian Letters with phrases indicative of Hekate like ‘She-wolf’. It is also
interesting to note that they are called the Orphic Formula in the Greek Magical Papyri
(PGM VII.451). Considering the connections between Hekate and the Orphic Mysteries,
this is another hint which suggests a specific ritual connection with Hekate and these
words.

The Ephesian Letters were also referred to by the Greek poet Anaxilas in his lost fourth
century BCE play The Harp Maker, when he wrote “[unnamed person] carries around
marvellous Ephesian letters in sewn pouches.” Various qualities were attributed to the
Ephesian Letters, including endowing the wearer with great power (particularly wrestlers
as described in Eustathius, Photius and the Suda) and protecting newly married couples
(mentioned by Menander, fragment 371).

It should also be noted that when Plutarch commented on the powers of the Ephesian
Letters (Moralia 706E), he referred to daimones, who were specifically under the rule of
Hekate:
“For just as sorcerers advise those possessed by daimones to recite and name over to
themselves the Ephesian letters.”

The Christian theologian Clement of Alexandria, who was well known for being the
teacher of the theologian Origen, recorded suggested meanings for the Ephesian Letters
in his workStromata (Miscellanies) in the early third century CE:

“Androkydes the Pythagorean, indeed, says that the so-called Ephesian letters, which
were well-known among many, were of the order of symbols. And he said that Askion is
darkness, for this has no shadow; and Kataskion is light, since it casts a shadow with its
rays; and Lix is the earth, according to the ancient name; and Tetrax is the year,
according to the seasons; and Damnameneus is the sun, the tamer; and Aisia is the true
word. And truly the symbol signifies that the divine things have been set in order:
darkness to light, the sun to the year, the earth to every kind of genesis of nature.”

(Based on Voces Magicae, ch. 5 of Hekate Liminal Rites, d’Este & Rankine, 2009:65-69)

Returning to the words used in the Rite of Her Sacred Fires, “Askei Kataskei Eron Oreon
Ior Mega Samnyer Baui Phobantia Semne” – as voces magicae we cannot know for
certain what they meant when they were used, but we can draw together likely
speculations. From Clement of Alexandria, we can see that the phrase starts with Askei
Kataskei which could mean ‘darkness, light’. Mega in Greek means ‘great’, and it has
been suggested that Baui may refer to the barking of a dog (Betz 1996:297, fn.7). All of
these speculations hint at Hekate – both darkness and light, greatness, and dogs. As
such it is possible that this phrase was a coded sequence which called on Hekate’s
powers.

Today the Ephesian letters continue to be used in rites honouring Hekate, I have been
using it for many years in a form of chanting honouring Hekate, much like the pujas
found in spiritual traditions such as Hinduism. It is being used to honour Her, but also to
protect and empower magical rites.

I hope that this goes someway towards explaining its inclusion and history,

Dancing in Her Flames

Sorita d’Este