By Liisa Eyerly
Have you ever wanted a rival sports team to
lose? How about wishing revenge on a failed love relationship or their new
love? Not happy with the opposing political view? Did someone ever steal from
you or cause you harm? A common response is to wish for a bit of payback. In
Ancient Rome, the boundaries between divine will and witchcraft were often
blurred, with curses serving as a potent tool for those seeking to influence
events or exact revenge. Whether driven by personal grudges, political
ambitions, or competitive spirit, Romans frequently turned to curses to address
conflicts and desires.
These curses were not just empty threats; they were believed to carry real
power. The act of inscribing the curse, often accompanied by a drawing of an
anatomically correct deity, was thought to bind the target to the desired
outcome, whether it was a rival's downfall, a lover's return, or a competitor's
failure. This belief in the efficacy of curses underscores the complex
relationship Romans had with the divine, where the line between seeking divine
favor and engaging in witchcraft was often indistinguishable.
Personal grievances also found their way
onto curse tablets in Ancient Rome, where people sought to exact severe
punishment on those who wronged them. One such tablet laments the theft of two
gloves, with the owner, Docimedis, invoking a curse that the thief should lose
their mind and eyesight in the goddess's temple.
Bathhouse stealing was common, and another curse reveals the extent of anger and desire for retribution in
Roman society: "The human who stole Verio’s cloak or his things... may the
worms, cancer, and maggots penetrate his hands, head, feet, as well as his
limbs and marrows." The severity of this curse highlights the intense
emotions and beliefs in the power of these spells to cause real harm.
Even high-ranking individuals, such as senators, were not immune to these
curses. One particularly vicious curse targeted Senator Fistus, with the intent
to "Crush, kill Fistus, the senator. May Fistus dilute, languish, sink and
may all his limbs dissolve..." This demonstrates the widespread use of
curses across all social strata, reflecting the deep-rooted belief in their
efficacy.
This observation by Pliny underscores how pervasive and influential magic
was in the ancient world, affecting not just common people but the highest
echelons of society.
In the 4th century AD, Emperor
Constantine I sought to regulate the pervasive use of magic within the Roman
Empire by drawing a clear line between what was considered acceptable and what
was not. He ruled that “helpful charms,” which were seen as benign, were
permissible, while “antagonistic spells” were punishable offenses. This
distinction reflected the Roman authorities' broader approach to divination,
where certain state-sanctioned practices, such as augury (interpreting bird
behavior) and haruspication (examining sacrificed animal entrails), were
respected for their role in maintaining the pax deorum, the harmony
between the human and divine realms.
In contrast, antagonistic spells, like those inscribed on curse tablets,
were deemed dangerous and could be met with severe punishment, including
crucifixion. Despite these harsh penalties, the use of curse tablets persisted,
underscoring the deep-rooted belief in their power.
Christians in this era often faced accusations of
wielding supernatural powers. This fear is vividly captured in the Passion
story of Perpetua and Felicitas from the third century, where a Roman judge
feared that these Christian women would magically disappear and escape their
impending execution at the celebration of Emperor Septimius Severus’s birthday,
highlighting the tension between emerging Christian beliefs and entrenched
pagan practices.
In a letter, Emperor Hadrian accused Christians, Samaritans, and Jewish
leaders of being involved in astrology, soothsaying, and anointing—practices
often associated with magic. Christians consistently rejected these
accusations, emphasizing their abhorrence of magical arts. This stance is
echoed by the second-century church leader Irenaeus, who stated that while
Christians did indeed cast out devils, they did so not through "wicked
curious arts" like incantations or angelic invocations, but by directing
prayers to the Lord and invoking the name of Jesus Christ.
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?
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Thank you for posting. I never thought about animal sacrifices being used for evil practices.
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