Aquincumi Múzeum

Curse tablets, like the three lead tablets from Aquincum exhibited now for the first time, were essential tools of destructive magic. These could be used to communicate with the gods and the forces of the underworld and to ask their help to exact satisfaction for injuries and wrongs, or to crush the will of another person. All segments of Roman society – from the imperial family to slaves – could make use of dark magic, if they felt they had no other options left.

The curse texts were written usually by sorcerers steeped in secret knowledge, likely following the instructions of magical handbooks. The tablets were often hidden near temples or other places – e.g. cemeteries or lakes – thought to have a connection with the afterlife. Making and commissioning curses was considered to be a serious crime, punishable even by death according to Roman law.

There were also numerous magical protections against natural or supernatural threats in the Roman period. The exhibition also presents these in detail, including jewellery made from gold, bronze, bones, stone and amber as well as small capsules for holding amulets into which metal sheets or pieces of papyri with magical signs and mysterious formulae were placed.