CLCS 38500 Lecture Notes - Lecture 16: Curse Tablet, Horkos, Hecate
Document Summary
Pharmakon: 2 scapegoats chosen to be killed or cast out of the community to remove sin. Lamella: roman curse tablet: preparation / consecration of lamella invocation (agents / messengers) * a ros (untimely dead: designation of victim. *enumeration of parts list of desired results: promise / threat, self-identification as god or daimon, deposition of lamella, graveyard; grave of recently deceased child, underground watercourse, curses start to look a lot like legal language. Two types: eros: sexual desire (negative connotation) Philtrokatadesmos: binding love charm: piercing of parts of woman figurine binds those parts to the caster. Kharis: affection/beauty/favor/sex charm: charmer is the target (make more beautiful or attractive) Incantation over bound images, tortured animals, burning materials. Burns, tortures, maddens, impels victim to leave home and come to practitioner. Courtship outsider to destroy loyalty to natal family or spouse. Man, prostitute young women and men, usually in natal home. Incantation over amulets, knotted cords, rings, potions, ointments.
