Abstract:
This article uses Speech Act Theory to analyse The Prayer of Jacob, a magical
incantation from the fourth-century Greek Magical Papyri (PGM 22b. 1-26). Drawing
from Austin and Searle’s Speech Act Theory, I examine various speech acts within
the prayer, following Lesses’ methodology. Three primary speech act types
(directives, expressives, and direct addresses) are identified, alongside an
exploration of phrases invoking the power and names of God, and enigmatic voces
magicae. Ultimately, the paper suggests that the combination of verbal utterances
with divine names, expressions of power, and voces magicae enhances the prayer’s
potential effectiveness, leading to the desired outcomes under appropriate
conditions.
