Angels in Coptic Magic: Hierarchy, Rituals, and Divine Messengers
Angels in Coptic Magic I: Introduction
I explore the role of angels in Late Antique and early Medieval Egypt, where they were viewed as fire and spirit beings acting as God's agents. This introduction outlines how Coptic magical texts draw from Greco-Egyptian, Jewish, and Christian traditions to classify celestial hierarchies. We examine how practitioners invoked specific angels like Michael and Gabriel, or groups such as the Twenty-Four Presbyters, for healing, protection, or curses through prayers and amulets.
In the imaginary of Christian Egypt, the actions of angels were believed to have actual effects on the material world, enacting God's will.