Close Reading of the Praxis Ritual of the Cat (PGM III 1-164/GEMF 55)

This article examines the Ritual of the Cat on Papyrus Mimaut, a complex curse centred on the ritual use of a cat. I argue that the extant version preserves clear traces of editorial reworking, especially in the illustration and invocation to Seth-Typhon on the third lamella and in the second solar prayer. These passages show that the text developed in layers, as a more general curse ritual against enemies was reshaped for a specific anti-charioteer purpose. A close reading of the layout, scribal signs, and the relation between text and image helps to reconstruct this process of recomposition.