Hippolytus of Rome, The Refutation of All Heresies

But neither shall I be silent respecting that piece of knavery of these (sorcerers), which consists in the divination by means of the cauldron. For, making a closed chamber, and anointing the ceiling with cyanus for present use,242 Some read φανερὸν for παρὸν. they introduce certain vessels of cyanus,243 What cyanus was is not exactly known. It was employed in the Homeric age for the adornment of implements of war. Whatever the nature of the substance be, it was of a dark-blue colour. Some suppose it to have been blue steel, other, blue copper. Theophrastus’ account of it makes it a stone like a dark sapphire. and stretch them upwards. The cauldron, however, full of water, is placed in the middle on the ground; and the reflection of the cyanus falling upon it, presents the appearance of heaven. But the floor also has a certain concealed aperture, on which the cauldron is laid, having been (previously, supplied with a bottom of crystal, while itself is composed of stone.244 Or, “with the head downwards.” Underneath, however, unnoticed (by the spectators), is a compartment, into which the accomplices, assembling, appear invested with the figures of such gods and demons as the magician wishes to exhibit. Now the dupe, beholding these, becomes astonished at the knavery of the magician, and subsequently believes all things that are likely to be stated by him. But (the sorcerer) produces a burning demon, by tracing on the wall whatever figure he wishes, and then covertly smearing it with a drug mixed according to this manner, viz., of Laconian245 There is some hiatus here. and Zacynthian asphalt,—while next, as if under the influence of prophetic frenzy, he moves the lamp towards the wall. The drug, however, is burned with considerable splendour. And that a fiery Hecate seems to career through air, he contrives in the mode following. Concealing a certain accomplice in a place which he wishes, (and) taking aside his dupes, he persuades them (to believe himself), alleging that he will exhibit a flaming demon riding through the air. Now he exhorts them immediately to keep their eyes fixed until they see the flame in the air, and that (then), veiling themselves, they should fall on their face until he himself should call them; and after having given them these instructions, he, on a moonless night, in verses speaks thus:—

“Infernal, and earthy, and supernal Bombo, come!

Saint of streets, and brilliant one, that strays by night;

Foe of radiance, but friend and mate of gloom;

In howl of dogs rejoicing, and in crimson gore,

Wading ’mid corpses through tombs of lifeless dust,

Panting for blood; with fear convulsing men.

Gorgo, and Mormo, and Luna,246 Or, “memory.” and of many shapes,

Come, propitious, to our sacrificial rites!”

[35] Ἀλλ' οὐδὲ τὴν λεκανομαντείαν αὐτῶν οὖσαν πανούργημα σιωπήσομαι. οἴκημα γάρ τι κεκλεισμένον σκευάσαντες καὶ κυάνῳ τὸν ὄροφον χρίσαντες, εἰς δὴ τὸ παρὸν ἐπάγονται σκεύη τινὰ κυάνεα καὶ ἀνατείνουσι: μέση δὲ λεκάνη κατὰ τῆς γῆς ὕδατος μεστὴ τίθεται, ἣ τὴν ἀντανάκλασιν τῆς κυάνου προσπεσοῦσαν δίκην οὐρανοῦ ἐνδείκνυσιν. ἔχει δὲ καὶ στόμιόν τι τὸ ἔδαφος λεληθός, ᾧ ἐπικειμένη ἡ λεκάνη τὸν μὲν πυθμένα ἔχει ὑαλοῦ[ν], αὐτὴ δέ ἐστι πετρίνη. ὕπεστι δὲ οἶκος λεληθώς, εἰς ὃν συμπορευόμενοι οἱ συμπαῖκται σχήματα ὧν ἂν βούληται δεικνύναι ὁ μάγος θεῶν καὶ δαιμόνων ἐνδυσάμενοι ἐμφαίνουσιν. οὓς καθορῶν ὁ πλανώμενος, τὸ πανούργημα καταπέπληγε τοῦ μάγου καὶ λοιπὸν πάντα πιστεύει τὰ ὑπ' αὐτοῦ ῥηθησόμενα. Δαίμονα δὲ ποιεῖ καίεσθαι, ἐν τοίχῳ διατυπώσας σχῆμα ὃ βούλεται: εἶτα λαθραίως ἐπιχρίει φαρμάκῳ μεμιγμένῳ τῷδε τῷ τρόπῳ: Λακωνικῷ καὶ ἀσφάλτῳ Ζακυνθίᾳ: εἶτα ὡς ἀποφοιβάζων τὴν λαμπάδα προσφέρει τῷ τοίχῳ, τὸ δὲ φάρμακον ἐκλάμψαν καίεται. Ἑκάτην δὲ δοκεῖν ἔμπυρον διατρέχειν ἐν ἀέρι οὕτω τεχνάζεται: συμπαίκτην τινὰ κρύψας ἐν τόπῳ ᾧ βούλεται, παραλαβὼν τοὺς πλανωμένους πείθει λέγων δείξειν διϊππεύουσαν δι' ἀέρος ἔμπυρον τὴν δαίμονα. οἷς παραγγέλλει τὰς ὄψεις ταχὺ φυλάσσεσθαι ἡνίκα ἴδωσιν ἐν ἀέρι τὴν φλόγα, καλυψαμένους τε ἐπὶ πρόσωπον πίπτειν, ἕως αὐτὸς καλῇ. καὶ ταῦτα διδάξας, ἐν ἀσελήνῳ νυκτὶ δι' ἐπῶν οὕτως φθέγγεται: Νερτερίη, χθονίη τε καὶ οὐρανίη μολὲ Βομβώ: εἰνοδίη, τριοδῖτι, φαεσφόρε, νυκτεροφοῖτι, ἐχθρὴ μὲν φωτός, νυκτὸς δὲ φίλη καὶ ἑταίρη, χαίρουσα σκυλάκων ὑλακῇ τε καὶ αἵματι φοινῷ, ἂν νέκυας στείχουσα κατ' ἠρία τεθνηώτων, αἵματος ἱμείρουσα, φόβον θνητοῖσι φέρουσα, Γοργὼ καὶ Μορμὼ καὶ Μήνη καὶ Πολύμορφε: ἔλθοις εὐάντητος ἐφ' ἡμετέρῃσι θυηλαῖς.