Stuff You Should Know Short Stuff: Curse Tablets
Sep 28, 2022
Discover the fascinating history of curse tablets from ancient Rome and Greece, crafted for everything from vengeance to protection. Explore their rise in popularity and the intriguing materials used. Hear wild anecdotes about rivalries fueled by curses, whether in love, politics, or sports. The parallels to today's social media woes, especially Twitter, bring a humorous twist to these ancient grievances. Dive into the moral implications of wielding curses with a blend of humor and historical insight!
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Pompeii Curse
- A curse tablet from Pompeii shows a man cursing someone who sued him.
- He wished the man wouldn't reach the afterlife, doomed to wander for eternity.
Curse Tablet Basics
- Curse tablets, or defixiones, were common in ancient Greece and Rome.
- They were inscribed on various materials, often lead, and their popularity fluctuated.
Common Curse Targets
- People cursed rivals in various areas, including politics, business, and romance.
- Some even cursed rival chariot teams, showing the timeless nature of such behavior.