A Blinding Curse from the Fountain of Anna Perenna in Rome

An elaborately produced lead tablet from the waters of the fountain of Anna Perenna is a unique curse that aims at blinding - rather than binding - an arbiter named Sura (SAR inv. 475567). It was engraved in two stages: first a matrix of lines, figures, designs and magical symbols was laid out caref...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Faraone, Christopher A. 1955- (Author)
Format: Electronic Article
Language:English
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Fernleihe:Fernleihe für die Fachinformationsdienste
Published: Morcelliana 2010
In: Studi e materiali di storia delle religioni
Year: 2010, Volume: 76, Issue: 1, Pages: 65-76
Further subjects:B Goddess religion
B Anna Perenna (Roman deity)
B Rome
B Mythology
B Roman goddesses
Parallel Edition:Non-electronic
Description
Summary:An elaborately produced lead tablet from the waters of the fountain of Anna Perenna is a unique curse that aims at blinding - rather than binding - an arbiter named Sura (SAR inv. 475567). It was engraved in two stages: first a matrix of lines, figures, designs and magical symbols was laid out carefully in a symmetrical pattern on the roughly square tablet, and then at some later point in time the Latin text of the curse was added with little care and in some places squeezed with difficulty between the designs. I offer a close reading of the design and text of the tablet and argue that: the original matrix was designed to be part of a thief-catching ritual, in which the tablet was to be struck on both "eyes" in order to cause the thief's eyes to swell. It would appear, however, that a magician-scribe took this matrix and adapted it as a medium for a curse against Sura's eyes, perhaps because he wanted to prevent him from doing his job as a surveyor . (English)
ISSN:2611-8742
Contains:Enthalten in: Studi e materiali di storia delle religioni