Magic and the Law in Ancient Rome (Part 2 of 3)

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.

File:Alfredo Tominz – The chariot race in the Circus Maximus.jpg|Alfredo_Tominz_-_The_chariot_race_in_the_Circus_Maximus CC

These curses were inscribed on tablets, known as defixiones, and could be directed at rivals in various domains—sports, love, business, and even legal disputes. The tablets typically invoked the help of spirits or deities, urging them to inflict harm or misfortune on the target. A vivid example of this practice is found in a curse tablet that calls upon a spirit to "torment and kill the horses of the green and white teams" and their charioteers, Clarus, Felix, Primulus, and Romanus, reflecting the fierce competition and high stakes of chariot racing in Roman society.

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.

Roman bath in Bath England.

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.

Defixio tabella with a curse in Greek. Lead, 4th century CE. Rome Baths of Diocletian, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

The belief in and practice of magic were not limited to the general populace; even politicians, philosophers, and emperors engaged in these mystical arts. Pliny the Elder, a respected naturalist and writer of the first century AD/CE, observed that magic had become deeply intertwined with medicine, religion, and astrology. He noted its powerful influence, stating that "The senses of men being thus enthralled by three-fold bond, the art of magic has attained an influence so mighty, that at the present day even, it holds sway throughout a great part of the world, and rules the kings of kings in the East."

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.

A bronze reproduction of the so-called “Liver of Piacenza”, an animal liver engraved with the Etruscan names of the deities connected to each part of the organ. Lokilech, CC BY-SA 3.0 <http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/>, via Wikimedia Commons

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.

Healing of the lame man Acts 3 :1-8. Internet Archive Book Images, No restrictions, via Wikimedia Commons

Christianity acknowledged the presence of evil spirits and the malevolent influences that existed in the world but firmly distinguished its practices from those of magic. This is illustrated in the Gospel of Luke (10:8-9,17), where Jesus instructs His disciples to heal the sick and proclaim the coming of the Kingdom of God, with the disciples later rejoicing that "even the demons are subject to us in Your name." This passage highlights the Christian belief in the power of Jesus' name to overcome evil, further distancing their faith from the magical practices of the 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/

Her Amazon book page https://amzn.to/4cs2bok

visit Liisa at her website www.LiisaEyerly.com

Author Facebook page at Liisa Eyerly Author page

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

Author Facebook page at Liisa Eyerly Author page

 

The Brothers Houdini

   A Little Magic

Everyone has heard of Harry Houdini, the renowned escape artist and magician, but what about his brother Dash?

     The boys were midway among the seven children of a Hungarian rabbi. The family immigrated to the United States in 1878 when Harry was four and Theodore (“Theo” or “Dash”) was two. 

Brothers Harry (Weiss) Houdini (left), and Theodore (Weiss) Hardeen

 
     When he was born in Hungary, Dash’s parents named him Frencz Dezso Weisz, and Harry’s name was Erik Weisz. After they came to the America, their names were slightly altered, and Harry ended up Erich Weiss. “Harry” evolved from the nickname “Ehrie.” Dash became known as Theodore Weiss. His parents called him “Deshi” (from his middle name, Dezso), and later “Dash.”
 
 

     The family lived for several years in Appleton, Wisconsin, where Rabbi Weiss became an American citizen in 1882. He took Erich with him to New York in 1887, and the rest of the family soon joined them there.
 

Harry and Dash

      The six boys of the family were athletic. Harry was a champion cross country runner. He began performing early, making his debut at age nine on the trapeze, billing himself as “Erich, the Prince of the Air.” When he became a professional magician, he chose the last name Houdini, calling himself after a French magician he admired, Jean Robert-Houdin, whose autobiography he read in 1890.

     Dash performed with his older brother. The two young magicians were known as “The Brothers Houdini.” They performed wherever they could, at Coney Island, in dime museums and circus sideshows, among other venues. The initial focus was on card tricks, but Harry began to experiment with escape tricks. Beginning with handcuffs, he went on to escape from water-filled, locked milk cans, nailed packing crates, and whatever the audience could contrive to challenge him.
 
     The straightjacket trick was originally performed by Harry being bound in the jacket, then going behind curtains and popping out a bit later freed from the apparatus. It was Dash who discovered that the audience reacted better if they performed their escapes without the concealing curtains. The people liked to watch their struggles, so they did away with the curtain while wriggling out of the straightjacket.
 

This photo of Houdini was originally captioned "Stone walls and chains do not make a prison — for Houdini."

     Sometimes they would both perform escape acts at the same time in different parts of a city. For instance, they would hang upside down, suspended by their ankles, in straightjackets and escape while crowds watched them. A film showing Harry’s straightjacket escape is in the Library of Congress. The escape took him two minutes and thirty-seven seconds.

Poster for Dash's act

     Dash was never as well known as Harry, and when Harry married Bess Rahner in 1894, she replaced Dash as Harry’s onstage assistant. Supposedly Dash courted Bess first, but Harry won her heart. The married couple’s billing was “The Houdinis.”
 
     On his own, Dash continued to perform, now using the name “Theodore Hardeen,” or simply, “Hardeen.” He did bill himself as “brother of Houdini.”
 

Dash's autobiographical booklet

     After Harry’s death of appendicitis in 1926, Dash inherited most of his brother’s props and other effects. He returned to performing and continued to work as a magician into the 1940s. He performed the old milk can escape, in which he was handcuffed and sealed inside a larger than normal milk can full of water. He also did the locked crate escape he and Harry had done in the early days, where he was chained and placed in a locked wooden chest, and many other tricks and escapes.

While Harry’s will said his things should be destroyed on Theodore’s death, his brother sold much of the collection during the 1940s to another magician and admirer of Houdini, Sidney Hollis Radner. Some of these items were exhibited in museums, and most were later auctioned off. Houdini bequeathed much of his archives on magic and spiritualism to the Library of Congress. Other archives and memorabilia were willed to Houdini’s friend, magician John Mulholland. This collection was bought in 1991 by illusionist David Copperfield.
 

Poster with alleged excerpt from Houdini's will.

Dash performed on the vaudeville circuit after Harry’s death and performed for the troops during World War II, as Harry had done in World War I. In 1936, Dash starred in Medium Well Done, a short film for Warner Brothers, in which he played a detective on the case of a bogus medium. Harry had made several films, including The Master Mystery, The Grim Game, Terror Island, and The Man from Beyond.
 
Theodore “Dash” Hardeen Stopped performing in 1945, at the age of 69. He planned to write a book about his brother, but he went into the hospital for surgery and died unexpectedly from complications while recovering. The Brothers Houdini live on in the memories of all those who love magic.

 

 

Book giveaway

 

Susan’s new novella, The Reliable Cowboy, will release in August. To celebrate, she is now giving away a copy of one of her earlier westerns. The winner can choose a paperback or an e-book of Protecting Amy, Almost Arizona, or The Sheriff’s Surrender.

 
Susan Page Davis is the author of more than fifty published novels. She’s always interested in the unusual happenings of the past. She’s a two-time winner of the Inspirational Readers’ Choice Award, and also a winner of the Carol Award and the Will Rogers Medallion, and a finalist in the WILLA Awards and the More Than Magic Contest. Visit her website at: www.susanpagedavis.com .