9 Timeless Ancient Curses To Use Against Your Enemies
- Photo:
- Hendrik Hondius I/Los Angeles County Museum of Art
- Wikimedia Commons
- Public domain
1May Your Innards, Limbs, And Marrow Be Torn Up And Burned
The Curse: Dispater, divine Proserpina, Ogre’s Dogs, infernal Burners, Destroyers of bones, Larvae, Furies, Maniae, nocturnal Birds, Harpies, Ortygiae, Virga, Chimaera, Geryon, Sirens, Circe, Giants, Sphinx: to you [he] prays and implores, to you [he] begs, powers of the gods of the Underworld, who have been mentioned above, that you, Dispater, knock down that Caecilia Prima – or any other name she has – and that you assail her with bad pains and take her away with you... suck the blood from her veins, tear up the body and living breath of that Caecilia Prima... devour the liver of that Caecilia Prima, her lungs, her heart with its veins, her innards, her limbs, her marrow, may you tear them to pieces, may you pull out the eyes of that Caecilia Prima and... may you set fire to the eyes of that Caecilia Prima, to her stomach, heart, lungs, to her fat and to all other body parts of that Caecilia Prima, may you set on fire, burn to ashes, so that she cannot live or be healthy...
Context And Applicability: This lengthy curse to Proserpina, a goddess of the Underworld, and to a host of other deities, was found in Rome. It clearly directs a hefty amount of rage at Caecilia Prima. Dated to the late 1st century AD, the curse was likely written by a man and targets a former love interest. It repeats cursing her heart and lungs, requesting more than once that everything be destroyed by fire. Without a doubt, a curse to be used cautiously.
A 'curse you' for the ages?- Photo:
- Photo:
- William Blake
- Wikimedia Commons
- Public domain
2Nothing But Worms, Cancer, And Maggots To Whoever Stole My Stuff
The Curse: The human who stole Verio’s cloak or his things, who deprived him of his property, may he be bereft of his mind and memory, be it a woman or those who deprived Verio of his property, may the worms, cancer, and maggots penetrate his hands, head, feet, as well as his limbs and marrows.
Context And Applicability: Calling out a human specifically - just in case - for the theft of Verio's possessions was serious enough to prompt a request for extreme physical harm. The curse tablet, found in Germany, is especially harsh. It can be used pretty much whenever "Give me back my stuff!" doesn't get the job done.
A 'curse you' for the ages?- Photo:
- Photo:
- Circle of Joseph Anton Koch
- Wikimedia Commons
- Public domain
3I Curse Your 'Sacred Organ' Along With Everything Else
The Curse: I give over to you the head of Plotius... his breast, liver, heart, and lungs, so that he may not be able to discover the source of his pain; his intestines, stomach, navel, and sides, so that he may not be able to sleep; his shoulder blades, so that he may not be able to sleep soundly; his “sacred organ,” so that he may not be able to urinate; his rump, anus, thighs, knees, shanks, shins, feet, ankles, heels, toes, and toenails, so that he may not be able to stand by his own strength. No matter what he may have written, great or small, just as he has written a proper spell and commissioned it (against me), so I hand over and consign Plotius to you, so that you may take care of him by the month of February. Let him perish miserably. Let him leave life miserably. Let him be destroyed miserably. Take care of him so that he may not see another month.
Context: The target of this curse, Plotius, was a slave of Avonia - and someone whose insides and outsides were listed off as needing destruction. Written to Proserpina Salvia, goddess of the Underworld, the curse runs head to toe in its articulation of body parts, and identifies the ideal outcomes of each torment. It also seems to be in response to a curse levied at the author, indicating a romantic relationship gone very, very wrong.
A 'curse you' for the ages?- Photo:
- Photo:
- Follower of Hieronymus Bosch
- Wikimedia Commons
- Public domain
4I Commend Every Part Of You To Decay - And Hell
The Curse: I beg you, holy angels/daemons. Just like this soul is enclosed inside, imprisoned, and sees no light and has no recreation, so may the soul, mind, and body of Collecticius, whom Agnella bore, be equally enclosed, may it burn and fall into decay. Lead Collecticius, whom Agnella bore, away all the way to hell.
Context And Applicability: As a curse from the 4th or 5th century CE, this somewhat nonspecific curse could be part of some love triangle or another rivalry. It was found in Rome, thought to have been placed in a grave, and really leaves nothing to chance in terms of everything about the target to go to Hell.
A 'curse you' for the ages?- Photo:
- Photo:
- Lovis Corinth
- Wikimedia Commons
- Public domain
5Return My Gloves, Or Lose Your Mind - And Your Eyes, Too
The Curse: Docimedis has lost two gloves. He asks that whoever took them lose their minds and eyes.
Context And Applicability: Theft was not a minor offense in Roman Bath, and Docimedis went to Sulis Minerva to request retribution after his gloves were stolen. While the identity of Docimedis is unknown, the curse tablet seeks serious vengeance.
Basically, it's a message to thieves of beloved items, big and small: BEWARE!
A 'curse you' for the ages?- Photo:
- Photo:
6I Curse You To Be Called Putrid Gore
The Curse: Tacita, hereby accursed, is labeled old like putrid gore.
Context And Applicability: Whoever Tacita was really made someone angry, prompting that individual to leave a curse tablet in a cemetery in modern-day Baldock in Hertfordshire. The tablet, written some time between 100 and 500 AD, was found in 1930. As a general curse, labeling someone "putrid gore" may have a lot of creative uses.
A 'curse you' for the ages?- Photo:
- Alexander von Wagner
- Wikimedia Commons
- Public domain
7I Don't Care Who Or What Gets Tormented, Just Make My Enemy Go Away
The Curse: I implore you, spirit, whoever you are, and I command you to torment and kill the horses of the green and white teams from this hour on, from this day on, and to kill Clarus, Felix, Primulus, and Romanus, the charioteers...
Context And Applicability: This 3rd century curse from Hadrumetum in North Africa goes after all aspects of an opponent in a chariot race.
The curse works next time you wager on any type of race, naturally, but can be used against a rival of any kind. Additionally, the next time a loud car passes by, someone hoots and hollers at you, or something comparable takes place, this curse can be called out with reckless abandon.
A 'curse you' for the ages?- Photo:
- Photo:
- Paul Cézanne
- Wikimedia Commons
- Public domain
8To Whoever Took Her From Me, May You Go Dissolve
The Curse: May he who carried off Vilbia from me become as liquid as water. (May) she who obscenely devoured her (become) dumb....
Context And Applicability: Discovered in Bath, England, in 1880, this curse is a scathing invocation of the gods to destroy whoever convinced Vilbia to withdraw her affections. It's not clear exactly who Vilbia was, but the implication is she was a love interest of some kind. When a bad breakup happens, this curse is an option.
A 'curse you' for the ages?- Photo:
- Photo:
- Anonymous
- Wikimedia Commons
- Public domain
9May A Bear Escape Your Grasp - Soon
The Curse: Entangle the nets of Vincenzus Zarizo, may he be unable to chain bears, may he lose with every bear, may he be unable to kill a bear on Wednesday, in any hour, now, now, quickly, quickly, make it happen!
Context And Applicability: Written in Greek and Latin, the curse tablet about Vincenzus Zarizo doesn't specify his offense, but makes it very clear that something bad needs to happen to the bear-hunter.
The tablet, found in Northern Africa, is aimed at a 2nd century gladiator and may use "bears" as a symbolic word - or could just be someone who had placed a bet on an upcoming gladiatorial match and really needed to win.
Whether you need your favorite team to win or you have it out for someone who finds him or herself in a dangerous situation, an actual or metaphorical bear might come in handy.
A 'curse you' for the ages?- Photo:
