Cursing Enemies: Individuals could use curse tablets to inflict harm or misfortune upon their enemies. The tablets often included the name of the intended victim, along with specific wishes for sickness, death, bad luck, or other calamities.
Seeking Justice: Curse tablets were sometimes employed to seek justice when conventional legal means failed. People who felt wronged or victimized would write the name of the offender on the tablet and request divine intervention for punishment.
Protecting Property: Farmers and landowners utilized curse tablets to safeguard their livestock, crops, and land from theft, natural disasters, or damage caused by others.
Winning Competitions: Athletes, gladiators, and charioteers might use curse tablets to gain an advantage in contests or races. They would inscribe the names of their competitors on the tablets and cast spells to hinder their performances.
Love and Affection: Curse tablets were even used in matters of love, with individuals seeking to attract a desired partner or bind someone already in a relationship.
Healing: While more uncommon, curse tablets could also be employed for healing purposes, invoking divine assistance in curing an illness or disease.
When creating a curse tablet, the writer would scratch or engrave the desired text onto the lead sheet. In some cases, nails or pins were pierced through the tablet to increase its potency. The completed tablet was then folded, rolled up, or tied, often with thread or cords of various colors, and buried in places believed to possess magical significance, such as crossroads, tombs, or sacred wells.
Curse tablets provide valuable insights into the personal beliefs, fears, and desires of individuals living in ancient Roman society. While they may seem crude or superstitious to modern sensibilities, these artifacts highlight the rich tapestry of Roman religious practices and shed light on aspects of everyday life that might otherwise be lost to history.