Stele of Aiōn
Immediately following the Hymn of the Hidden Stele in the Greek Magical Papyri, this prayer, taken from PGM IV.1167—1226, is untitled, but headed as a “stele that is useful for all things; it even delivers from death”, but with the warning “do not investigate what it in it” (“Στήλη πρὸς πάντα εὔχρηστος, ῥύεται καὶ ἐκ θανάτου. Μὴ ἐξέταζε τὸ ἐν αὐτῇ”). It is a prayer of adoration to God, specifically by the Hermetic name of Aiōn, with overtones of early Jewish and Christian elements, though also associating God with the primordial divinity of the Sun and, interestingly, Wisdom (Sophia) as Aiōn herself.
Although not explicitly prescribed in the text, Betz in his translation of the PGM says that a small gold lamella is to be used as a protective charm, containing the “hundred-lettered name” as indicated by the prayer. Two such hundred-letter names are given in this text, the first starting “ΑΘΗΖΕ ΦΩΪ ΑΑΑ ΔΑΪΑΓΘΙ ΘΗΟΒΙΣ…” and the second starting “ΙΑΩ ΑΙΗ ΙΩΗ ΩΙΗ…”, both towards the end of the prayer. Bear in mind that these only amount to one hundred letters in the original Greek script. Besides these, however, many of the barbarous words in this text seem more of an Egyptian nature, and bear some similarity to those used in the Headless Rite. Also of special note is the palindromic name “ΪΕΟ ΥΗΩΗ ΪΑΗΑΪ ΗΩΗΥ ΟΕΪ”, which is also used in the preceding Hymn of the Hidden Stele, and the emphasis of particular elements of Jewish myth.
I praise you, the one and blessed of the eons and father of the world, with cosmic prayers.
Come to me, you who filled the whole cosmos with air, who hung up the fire from the heavenly water and separated the earth from the water.
Pay attention, Form, Spirit, Earth and Sea, to the words of the wise who know divine Necessity. Accept my words as arrows of fire, because I am Man, the most beautiful creature of the God in Heaven, made out of spirit, dew, and earth.
Open, o Heaven; accept my words!
Listen, Helios, Father of the World!
I call upon you with your great name, you, the only one having the original element!
AŌEU ĒOIAIOĒ UEŌA
ŪORZARA
LAMANTHATHRĒ
KANTHIOPER GARŌHARTHRĒ
MENLARDAPA KENTHĒR DRUOMEN THRANDRĒTHRĒ
IABE ZELANTHI BER ZATHRĒ
ZAKENTI BIOLLITHRĒ
AĒŌ OUO ĒŌ OŌ RAMIATHA AĒŌ ŌĒŌ OŌO ŌAUŌ
You are the holy and powerful name considered sacred by all the angels.
Protect me from every excess of power and from every violent act.
Yea, do this, Lord, God of gods!
IALDAZAŌ BLATHAM MAKHŌR PHRIKS AĒ KEŌPH
EĒA
DUMEŌ
PHERPHRITHŌ
IAKHTHŌ
PSUKHEŌ
HIRITHMEŌ
RŌSERŌTH
THAMASTRAPHATI RIMPSAŌKH IALTHE
MEAKHI ARBATHANŌPS
O Creator of the world, Creator of the cosmos, Lord, God of Gods!
MARMARIŌ IAŌ
I have spoken of your unsurpassable glory, you who created gods, archangels, and decans. The ten thousands of angels stood by you and exalted the heaven, and the lord witnessed to your Wisdom which is Aiōn:
IEOU ĒŌĒ IAĒAI ĒŌĒ OUEI
and said that you are as strong as he is.
I invoke your hundred-lettered name, which extends from the sky to the depth of the earth! Save me, for you are always ever rejoicing in saving those who are yours!
ATHĒZE PHŌI AHAHA DAIAGTHI THĒOBIS
PHIATH
THAMBRAMI ABRAŌTH
KHTHOLKHIL THOE
OELKHŌTH
HIOHŌĒMKH
KHOHOMKH SAĒSI
ISAKHKHOĒ
IERŪTHRA
OHOHOHOHO AIŌAI