zmyrnomelan
Egypt
1th Century
Source: Miriam Blanco Cesteros, 'Written in Blood? Decoding Some Red Inks of the Greek Magical Papyri', in WoW! Writing on Wax in Ancient Mesopotamia and Today, 2021.
Recipe Details
Ingredients
myrrh, wormwood, sumac, roses
Preparation Steps
The ink is based on myrrh and wormwood, which are burned together with sumac and roses. (p. 37)
Original Recipe Text
The ink is based on myrrh and wormwood, which are burned together with sumac and roses. (p. 37)
Evidence
"It is a kind of myrrh ink — the technical term in PGM is zmyrnomelan (ζμυρνόμελαν) — based on myrrh and wormwood (common ingredients in magical inks), burned with sumac (a substance with high-tannic content employed in Antiquity to produce pigments) and roses."
Remarks
Sumac is noted for its high-tannic content, commonly used in Antiquity for pigment production. (p. 37) Roses were likely a sympathetic ingredient associated with Aphrodite for erotic magical practices. (p. 37)
Scientific Analysis
Analytical Techniques
textual analysis
Certainty Level
Inferred
Instrumentally Verified
Not Verified
Metadata
Material Type
ink
Paper TypePapyrus
ColorBlack
RegionEgypt
Approx. Year50
Source Information
AuthorMiriam Blanco Cesteros, 'Written in Blood? Decoding Some Red Inks of the Greek Magical Papyri', in WoW! Writing on Wax in Ancient Mesopotamia and Today, 2021.
CollectionPGM IV 2205 and 2226
Language
N/A
AI Suggestions
Find similar recipes based on ingredients and preparation methods.