Curse tablet with rare Greek inscription found in the Netherlands

An unusual lead curse tablet has been discovered in Heerlen, the Netherlands. It measures 9.3 x 4.8cm (3.7 x 1.8 inches) and dates to the second century A.D. Most of the curse tablets found in this part of the Roman Empire were written in Latin, but this inscription is in Greek written in the Egyptian style.

Curse tablets, called defixiones in Latin and katadesmoi in Greek, invoked the aid of underworld deities to “bind” an enemy or rival in business, court, sports or love. The curse would then be hidden in a place deemed to have the best access to the chythonic gods. The Heerlen tablet was discovered in a pit under the town hall square. The inscription was deciphered at the Institute for Papyrology of Heidelberg University using RTI (reflectance transformation imaging) technology, and its text is unusual both in language and in its targets.

What is particularly noteworthy about the tablet is the invocation of various deities and demons in the Egyptian style, composed in ancient Greek, since most curse tablets found in Northern Europe are written in Latin. In addition, the Heerlen curse tablet contains a group of three magical symbols, known as “Characteres”. According to Dr Ast, these were likely used to convey the desired message to the supernatural powers. They are followed by the names of two men and two women, who are referred to as fellow slaves. “The tablet served either as a curse against these four slaves or as a curse in their name against an unnamed person,” according to the Heidelberg papyrologist.

The composition of the group of people on the tablet is also unusual, according to the researcher, because it includes two men with Latin names and two women with Greek names. “It cannot be ruled out that one of the two women was the author of the inscription and had brought the supposed ability to communicate with divine powers through such curses with her from Roman Egypt,” says Dr Julia Lougovaya, Research Associate at the Institute for Papyrology.

When the study of the tablet is complete, the artifact will go on display at the Heerlen Museum.

* This article was originally published here