November/December 2023 Alchemical Voice

It had been donated by Reverend Charles Bousfield
Huleatt (1863-1908), a one time undergraduate of
the college. After graduating in 1886 in Classics at
Magdalen he took holy orders and spent every
winter until 1901 as chaplain of the English Church
in Luxor, Egypt. It was here he bought the Matthew
papyrus at a local antiquities market, bequeathing it
to Magdalen College when he took up a chaplaincy
in Messina, Sicily. Far more would be known about
his understanding of the papyrus, had he and his
family not perished in the great Sicilian earthquake
in 1908.
With Huleatt were lost most of his effects and
papers, leaving a dead end to any further enquiry.
Matthew d’Ancona from The Times published an
article about the papyrus, catalogued as Magdalen
Gk 17 on Christmas Eve 1994.
Why have we heard no more about this?
Dr Thiede’s and Matthew d’Ancona wrote a book
called The Jesus Papyrus in 1996 expounding on
their research into the fragments.
Unsurprisingly, the academic establishment were
unimpressed. ‘Not invented here’ is alive and well in
these circles…
Central figure above door
Magdalen college was founded in 1458 by William
of Wayneflete, Bishop of Winchester. He dedicated
the college to Mary Magdalene.
According to Magdalen College, during the 15th
century English speakers called Mary Magdalene
Mary ‘Maudelayne’ without the ‘g’. The ‘g’ was put
back in some time later but the pronunciation has
not changed.
When you visit Magdalen College her presence is
unmissable. Magdalen Papyrus Fragment 1
translates as -
She poured it on his head as he was at table. When
they saw this, the disciples said indignantly…”
Matthew Ch 26, verses 7-9: “there came unto him a
woman carrying an alabaster jar of very expensive
perfume, which she poured on his head as he was
reclining at the table. When the disciples saw this, they
were indignant…”
As you enter the chapel
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