Curse Tablets and Binding Spells from the Ancient World John G. Gager,
Publisher: Oxford University Press
ISBN: 0195134826
Edition: Paperback; 1999-08-01
Summary:
In the ancient Greco-Roman world, it was common practice to curse or
bind an enemy or rival by writing an incantation on a tablet and
dedicating it to a god or spirit. These curses or binding spells,
commonly called defixiones were intended to bring other people under
the power and control of those who commissioned them. More than a
thousand such texts, written between the 5th Century B.C.E. and the
5th Century C.E., have been discovered from North Africa to England,
and from Syria to Spain. Extending into every aspect of ancient
life--athletic and theatrical competitions, judicial proceedings,
love affairs, business rivalries, and the recovery of stolen
property--they shed light on a new dimension of classical study
previously inaccessible. Here, for the first time, these texts have
been translated into English with a substantial translator's
introduction revealing the cultural, social, and historical context
for the texts. This book will interest historians, classicists,
scholars of religion, and those concerned with ancient magic.
Click on a subject to see other books listed with the same
subject or to drill down into components of the subject -- such as
geographical locations, dates and so on.
We query many merchants so that you can instantly
compare prices and
availability. You can even check historic prices and subscribe
for notifications. For a manual check, clicking on a link will open a
new window with a search for this book on the merchant's site of your
choice.
