Photo Gallery: Antioch Artifacts

Back to Photo Gallery | Back to Article |

View Larger |

Previous | Next

A curse tablet engraved on lead, from the late fifth or early sixth century AD. This was found rolled up in a drain along the central barrier and turning post of the Antioch hippodrome.

Curse tablets and binding spells were quite popular in ancient Antioch, especially at the chariot races (as this one). The hippodrome at Antioch, connected to the imperial palace (as shown in this mosaic), was one of the largest and most important in the East. To impress their emperor, charioteers would try to make their rivals' chariots overturn directly opposite the imperial box, and a curse tablet was one of the methods for accomplishing this.

This curse tablet opens with a long invocation of divine epithets and magical names; it is addressed to Hecate and other deities of the Underworld. Then the curse itself: "Bind, lay waste, and overturn the horses of the Blue [faction]." This is followed by 36 Greek names of horses. Usually curses aimed at circus competitors target the charioteers as well as the horses; this is an exception to the rule.

By the end of the fourth century, chariot racing had been transformed from a contest of horses and drivers to one of magicians. All this was a risky business, as magic was against Roman law and severely punished. The Blue and Green factions, mentioned in this curse, were imperially sponsored organizations that took over the staging of public entertainment in the East in the fifth century AD; less curse tablets were found after this time than before.

See the amulet photo and description for measures taken to protect oneself against curses.

Princeton University Art Museum, inv. 3603-I57.