Black magic revealed in two ancient curses - implied to Hecate / Hekate

[monsnoleedra]

NOt sure this is the right spot but seems to be the most appropriate.  If incorrect please change to correct category.

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.. The two curses, mainly written in Latin and inscribed on thin lead tablets, would have been created by two different people late in the life of the Roman Empire. Both tablets were rediscovered in 2009 at the Museo Archeologico Civico di Bolonga, in Italy, and were originally acquired by the museum during the late 19th century. Although scholars aren't sure where the tablets originated, after examining and deciphering the curses, they know who victims of the curses were ..

http://www.foxnews.com/scitech/2012/05/22/black-magic-revealed-in-two-ancient-curses/

Images of the curses tablets:

http://www.livescience.com/20482-ancient-curses-hekate-black-magic.html

This entry seems to be the source material for all the links that have carried this story.

http://www.livescience.com/20483-black-magic-ancient-curses.html

[spoOk]

NOt sure this is the right spot but seems to be the most appropriate.  If incorrect please change to correct category.

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http://www.foxnews.com/scitech/2012/05/22/black-magic-revealed-in-two-ancient-curses/

Images of the curses tablets:

http://www.livescience.com/20482-ancient-curses-hekate-black-magic.html

This entry seems to be the source material for all the links that have carried this story.

http://www.livescience.com/20483-black-magic-ancient-curses.html

 
we already know that lead curse tablets existed.
I've never seen images of them though.
I wonder what the deal is with the asterix /star is on her crotch region.
selfcensorship like a fig leaf? or does it mean something or was that just the way women's areas were drawn by the common folk?

[monsnoleedra]

we already know that lead curse tablets existed.
I've never seen images of them though.
I wonder what the deal is with the asterix /star is on her crotch region.
selfcensorship like a fig leaf? or does it mean something or was that just the way women's areas were drawn by the common folk?

Not sure on the asterix / star.

A good book on them that I read is titled Curse Tablets and Binding Spells From the Ancient World by John G. Gager,  Oxford University Press, Copyright 1992  ISBN 0-19-506226-4 and 0-19-513482-6

[Fier]

Images of the curses tablets:

 
Neat!

When I was researching ancient Roman civilization curses seemed to be fairly common. However, I wouldn't call them "black magic" so much as petitioning a deity to smite someone. The curse tablets and curse votives were left at a deity's shrine.

[monsnoleedra]

Neat!

When I was researching ancient Roman civilization curses seemed to be fairly common. However, I wouldn't call them "black magic" so much as petitioning a deity to smite someone. The curse tablets and curse votives were left at a deity's shrine.

I definitely would not call them "black magic" as it is used today.  Defixiones (Katadesmoi - Greek) seemed to be quite common yet the one book I referenced mentions that no known laws existed that made reference to them.   Yet there are references to professionals who would create them for you.  Not sure about the location of thier being left as I've read upon altars but also concealed near the person / business the curse or binding was being directed at.  

None of that even trully touching upon the concept of Voces Mysticae "Mystical Terms or words" that may also be engraved upon them.  Something that is included in later tablets and votive's with figure's and other impressions.  Though earlier tablets were almost only words or phrases with little to no engraving of figures.

[Vale]

t.  

None of that even trully touching upon the concept of Voces Mysticae "Mystical Terms or words" that may also be engraved upon them.  Something that is included in later tablets and votive's with figure's and other impressions.  Though earlier tablets were almost only words or phrases with little to no engraving of figures.

All the ones I've actually seen in the UK have been just text. Never one with pictures on before. Thank you for posting.

[Annie Roonie]

Cool pics! I like the illustrations.