Power of Roman Curses (Part 1of 3)

By Liisa Eyerly

Imagine living in a society where a version of Halloween exists in everyday life. I don’t mean candy and costumes but the serious business of navigating malevolent demons, fickle goddesses, evil portents, and the neighbor down the street paying the local magician to curse you.

Temple_of_Diana_at_Ephesus_by_Fedinand_Knab_(1886).png ‎

Ancient Ephesus, the setting of my mystery series, was a melting pot of religious beliefs and practices, where the dominant pagan religions intertwined with the lives of its citizens, offering a sense of security and control through magic and ritual. However, the emergence of Christianity introduced a significant shift, challenging the traditional reliance on the ancient gods. The Apostle Luke records a dramatic moment when Ephesian converts to Christianity, rejecting the old ways, publicly burned their costly books of magical papyri, spells, and incantations. This act was a profound religious declaration and a substantial financial sacrifice, symbolizing their commitment to the new faith and their belief in Christ's power over the unseen forces of the universe.

In my sleuth, Sabina's first-century world, these tensions between the entrenched pagan superstitions of the day and the rising Christian faith create a rich and contentious backdrop where beliefs in magic and the supernatural are constantly at odds with the emerging Christian doctrine. 

Lucio Massari – http://www.otherfood-devos.com/2012/01/is-it-time-for-burning.htm

Archeological artifacts, literature, and ancient laws highlights the deep-rooted belief in curses, magic, and protective rituals across the Greek and Roman Empires from early BC to the late 5th century AD/CE. Abundant evidence exists on buildings and in homes, revealing a society steeped in superstition, where both public spaces and private homes were adorned with symbols and artifacts designed to ward off evil. Among these artifacts are mosaics depicting magical themes, amulets engraved with cryptic symbols, and recipes for herbal concoctions believed to repel malevolent forces. These objects were not just decorative but served as protective measures, deeply ingrained in the daily lives of the people. Blue glass Amulet of Isis -1st century 

 https://clevelandart.org/art/1916.220, CC0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=77279601

One of the most intriguing examples is the Ephesian Letters, a set of six secret words believed to possess extraordinary magical powers. Originating from Ephesus, these words were highly coveted by magicians, who could command substantial fees to engrave them on amulets or recite them in spells to protect against demons and evil spirits.

A mosaic found in the House named “The House of the Evil Eye” includes a blue eye attacked by a bird, dog, trident, sword, and scorpion, Heracles’s struggle with serpents, as a bald dwarf advances to the left. He holds sticks in his hands, one forked. It may be a talisman to ward off evil. A text above him reads “and you too,” a curse meaning “may it happen to you as well.”

Dosseman, CC BY-SA 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

But why did the average Roman need such devices and spells? The answer lies in the precariousness of life in the ancient world. The natural environment was fraught with dangers—disease, natural disasters, and sudden death were ever-present threats. In an attempt to make sense of these unpredictable forces, people turned to the gods and magical practices for protection.

Many believed that misfortune could result from displeasing a god—perhaps by neglecting temple offerings or failing to observe religious feast days. Others feared that a neighbor, colleague, or even a relative might enlist a magician to curse them out of spite. In this way, magic and superstition offered a semblance of control over the chaotic and often frightening uncertainties of life.

Archeologists have found thousands of curse tablets in countries that were part of the Roman Empire. One found in Greece, contains this curse written by someone jealously in love with a man called Kabeira who tries to damn his wife Zois: (13)

I assign Zois the Eretrian, wife of Kabeira, to Earth and to Hermes — her food, her drink, her sleep, her laughter, her playing of the kithara, her pleasure, her little buttocks, her thinking, her eyes… (Hermes escorts the dead into Hades)

Curse tablets. Pic. By Joyofmuseums – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=65535299

Christians were not immune to the sorcery and superstitions around them. Sabina, the Christian sleuth in my mystery novels Obedient Unto Death and Fortunes of Death, is believed to be under a curse following the death of her husband. When Sabina was born her childhood nurse wove a bracelet to ward off evil and protect the baby in her care. It becomes a significant clue in Fortunes of Death.

The famous naturalist and philosopher Pliny the Elder viewed magic as ineffective and disreputable, yet he states it contains “shadows of truth,” particularly in the “arts of making poisons.” And “there is no one who is not afraid of spells.” He did not recommend amulets and charms for protection but did not deride them either, acknowledging “that it was better to err on the side of caution, for, who knows, a new kind of magic, a magic that really works, may be developed at any time.” 

Bibliography

Magic of ancient Romans « IMPERIUM ROMANUM
Brenk, E. (1977). In Mist Apparelled: Religious Themes in Plutarch’s “Moralia” and “Lives”. Leiden: E.J. Brill. p. 59. ISBN9789004052413.
Tatum, J. (1979). Apuleius and the Golden Ass. Ithaca, New York: Cornell University Press. pp. 28–29.
Mystakidou, Kyriaki; Eleni Tsilika; Efi Parpa; Emmanuel Katsouda; Lambros Vlahos (1 December 2004). “Death and Grief in the Greek Culture”. OMEGA: Journal of Death and Dying. 50 (1): 24. doi:10.2190/YYAU-R4MN-AKKM-T496. S2CID144183546. Retrieved 23 June 2022.
11 of the Most Infamous Ancient Curses in History – Oldest.org
7 Ancient Roman Curses You Can Work into Modern Life | Mental Floss
Ancient Roman Curses Translated – The Language Blog by K International (k-international.com)
Benko, Stephen. Pagan Rome and the Early Christians. Indiana Univ. Press, 1986.
Stern, K. B. (2020). Writing on the wall: Graffiti and the forgotten jews of antiquity. Princeton University Press.
Disturbing Red Painted Curse Discovered In Jerusalem Catacomb | Ancient Origins (ancient-origins.net)
The Passion of Saints Perpetua and Felicity – Wikipedia
Magic in the Greco-Roman world – Wikipedia
Ancient Spells and Charms for the Hapless in Love | Ancient Origins (ancient-origins.net)

In the bustling streets of ancient Ephesus, fortunes can change in an instant. When one of the city’s wealthiest citizens is found crushed beneath his own triumphant memorial, the powerful elite demand justice—but at what cost? Enigmatic investigator Sabina faces her most perilous case yet. As secrets unravel and enemies close in, she must navigate political intrigue, dark sorcery, and forbidden love to uncover the truth. In a city where everyone has something to hide, who can be trusted? And how far will Sabina go to solve a mystery that could cost her everything?

Liisa Eyerly’s Secrets of Ephesus series adds a Christian twist to first-century Roman Empire mysteries. Her debut novel, Obedient Unto Death (2022), won the Eric Hoffer First Horizon Award and first place in Spiritual Fiction. The second book, Fortunes of Death, launched in October. A lifelong mystery lover, Liisa was inspired by the Apostle Paul’s depiction of early Christians. After careers in teaching, librarianship, and stained glass, she began writing full-time at fifty. Liisa lives in northern Wisconsin with her husband and enjoys pickleball, kayaking, Bible study, and visiting Ancient Roman sites.

You can purchase her books at:

at https://www.crossrivermedia.com/product/fortunes-of-death/

And on her Amazon book page https://amzn.to/4cs2bok

visit Liisa at her website www.LiisaEyerly.com

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