Dr Stuart McKie

Ancient History Magazine 57 In ancient Rome, as throughout the ancient world, people's lives were structured around religious rituals and festivals, they prayed to the gods for guidance, and it was believed the gods even interce...

I wrote about Roman curse tablets in Ancient History Magazine - available now! www.karwansaraypublishers.com/en-gb/produc...

I've restarted Hades. For some reason endlessly and fruitlessly trying to climb out of hell felt like a good activity for Right Now.

Amazing news! Congratulations Ellie

All phones in this household got the alert so it's not a West Country thing!

Oh man I love basically everything about this film. The casting, music and costumes are all fantastic.

Little Caligula booties!

Here's your annual reminder: whether you received A-level results today, years ago, or never, there's space for you at the @openuniversity.bsky.social!

We're 300 followers away from 70,000. 300 more would be really nice. But you know what would be even better? 300 plus 30,000.

Bluesky: help a museum out

To the goddess Sulis . . . whether slave or free, <if> whoever he shall be, you are not to permit him eyes or health unless blindness and childlessness so long as he shall live, unless [he return?] these to the temple.

90. Bath, UK. 2nd/3rd century. Sacred spring.

. . . I Arminia, complain to you, Sulis, [that] you consume Verecundinus (son of) Terentius, who has [stolen . . .] two silver coins from me. You are not to permit [him] to sit or lie [or . . . or] to walk [or] (to have) sleep [or] health, [since] you are to consume (him) as soon as possible; and again . . . [not] to reach . . .

89. Bath, UK. 2nd/3rd century. Sacred Spring.

Exsuperius gives an iron pan(?). (The person) who . . . innocence for him . . . of (?) Sulis, whether man [or woman], whether slave or free . . . this . . . and . . . have stolen his . . ., whether man or woman, is to have given satisfaction with their blood. You are to reclaim(?) this [if] anyone has stolen the vessel from me.

88. Bath, UK. 3rd century. Sacred spring.

Uricalus, Docilosa his wife, Docilis his son and Docilina, Decentinus his brother, Alogiosa: the names of those who have sworn <who have sworn> at the spring of the goddess Sulis on the 12th of April. Whosoever has perjured himself there, you are to make him pay for it to the goddess Sulis in his own blood.

87. Bath, UK. 3rd/4th century. Sacred spring.

Whether pagan or Christian, whosoever, whether man or woman, whether boy or girl, whether slave or free, has stolen from me, Annianus (son of) Matutina (?), six silver coins from my purse, you, lady goddess, are to exact [them] from him. If through some deceit he has given me . . . do not give thus to him, but reckon as(?) the blood of him who has invoked this upon me. Postuminus, Pisso, Locinna, Alauna, Materna, Gunsula, Candidina, Euticius, Peregrinus, Latinus, Senicianus, Avitianus, Victor, Scotius, Aessicunia, Paltucca, Calliopis, Celerianus.

86. Bath, UK. 4th century. Sacred spring.

I curse (him) who has stolen, who has robbed Deomiorix from his house. Whoever (stole his) property, the god is to find him. Let him buy it back with (his) blood and his own life.

85. Bath, UK. 3rd/4th century. Sacred spring.

The name of the thief, whether slave or free, whether boy or girl . . .

184. Bath, UK. 3rd/4th century. Sacred spring.

Lady Nemesis, I give to you a cloak and pair of shoes. Let him who stole them not redeem (himself?) except with his life, his blood.

83. Caerleon, UK. 1st/2nd century. Amphitheatre.

I give to the goddess Diana (my) headgear and band less one-third. If anyone has done this, whether boy or girl, whether slave or free, I give him, and through me let him be unable to live.

82. London, 2nd/3rd century. Amphitheatre.

Tacita, hereby accursed, is labelled old like putrid gore.

81. Clothall, date unknown. Grave.

I wrote a blog post about this one a long time ago! mckies.wordpress.com/2014/11/03/c...

. . . I pray to you, I beg . . . I beg to deliver to your judgement (the man who) stole from me, that you do not permit him to drink nor eat nor wake nor sleep nor walk and that you do not allow any part (of him) to live or of the family from which he springs . . . nor nourishment . . . they may speak very violently . . . they know for certain . . . if . . .

80. Wanborough, UK. 2nd century, context unknown.

[To the god Mercury?] . . . in three thousand denarii, of which (I give) you half portion on condition that you exact it from Vassicillus the son of [. . .]cominus and from his wife, since the coin which they have stolen from my house. You are not to permit them health nor to drink nor to eat nor to sleep [nor] to have healthy [children] unless they bring this [my] property to your temple. With repeated [prayers] I ask you that this [coin?] may come to be recovered [from the very] names of my [enemies].

79. Pagan's Hill, UK. 3rd century, near a temple.

(whoever) has stolen (it), taken (it), whether slave or free, do not forgive him his evildoing until you punish him within nine days, whether civilian or soldier, (whoever) has taken (it).

78. Broomhill, UK. Date and context unknown.

Just as this writing is perverse, so will the gods despise them: Theudocsius, Lupicinus, Iustinianus, Leontius, Terentianus, Aelario, Hermoginis, Mastidius. Just as this is perverse, so shall they not be able to(?) . . . Nothing should be added to this.

77. Krefeld-Gellep, DE. 1st century CE. Names written right-left.

Vaeraca, thus it is with your case: you act perversely, even as this writing is perverse. Whatsoever you wish for us shall come down on your head.

76. Cologne, DE. 1st century. Grave. Written retrograde.

I bring Fructus Gracilis and Aureus the adiutorium to the infernals. Thus may he not be able to respond to questioning.

75. Bad Kreuznach, DE. 1st/2nd century. Grave.

The names of the enemies (are given) to . . . the infernals. The names of the enemies to the infernals: Optatus son of Silo, Faustus Ornatus, Terentius Attisso, Atticinus son of Ammo, Latinus son of Valerius, Adiutor son of Iulius, Tertius son of Domitius, Masuetus son of Senodatius, Montanus the timber merchant, Aninius Victor, Quartio son of Severus, Sinto son of Valens, Lutumarus the butcher, Similis son of Crescens, Lucanius son of Silo, Communis son of Mercator, Publius the dyer, Aemilius Silvanus, Cossus son of Matuinus.

74. Bad Kreuznach, DE. 2nd century. Grave.

Sinto Valentis or any other enemies. Sinto Valentinus the enemy. Just as this lead will fall, so shall fall Sinto and Martialis of Sinto and the assistant of Sinto and whoever is against Rubrius my brother and me Quartio, if anyone will have opposed (us), I give Sinto and the assistant of Sinto to the infernals. Just as nowhere against us . . . of an answer, when enemies speak. In the same way that he does not choose a parent, he does not choose the infernals.

73. Bad Kreuznach, DE. 2nd century. Grave.

These names were handed over to the ghosts of the underworld. I vow these to the Manes: Lucius Celius, Gaius Haeb… and if I have any other enemies. Kill these names.

72. Bad Kreuznach, DE. 2nd century. Grave.

The names have been given, delivered, entrusted to the infernals, so that they seize them by force. Silonia, Surus, Caenus, Secundus. That which (or ‘he who’?) has been vowed urges you. I love him.

71. Bad Kreuznach, DE. 2nd century CE. Grave.

A useful reminder to permanent academic staff. Many of you may have temporary staff joining your departments soon. It's nice to at least pretend to think they are people - why not learn their names and their field of interest, to develop this basic level of polite collegiality?

The enemies and enemies of Caranitanus: Abilius Iuvenis, Sabinus the clerk of the court, Arria Dardisa, Optatus son of Silo, Privatus son of Severus, Cossus son of Maesus, Marcus the coppersmith, Atta the wife of Marcus, Camula the wife of Gamatus Ambitus, Valerius son of Cirus, Atticinus son of Ammo, Terentius Attiso, Iulia (wife of) Attiso, Narcissus son of Caliphons, Calipuntis and Pudentus and Pudens . . . Albus Vicinus . . . thus should the eternal shades abandon you to sickness . . . the infernal gods are . . .

70. Bad Kreuznach, DE. 2nd century CE. Grave.