Temple-Based Curses: Connecting Ritual Practices

Temple-based curses, also known as cursed tablets, were inscribed thin sheets of metal used to influence people or animals through supernatural means. These curses were often found in temples related to mother goddesses, such as the Temple of Demeter in Corinth and Canidos. A temple in Roman mines, Germany, dedicated to the goddess Magna Mater, is a significant example. The curses were written on the tablets, folded or rolled up, and then deposited in fire pits. The act of melting the tablets in the fire was believed to activate the curse, bringing about the desired outcome. The connection between temple rituals and cursing practices suggests that people saw these curses as a form of communication with the deity, similar to prayer.