CURSES AND DOLLS. Plato ’ s Laws 932 e-933b There are two distinct types of poisoning cases: ...

CURSES AND DOLLS

Plato’s Laws 932 e-933b

Plato’s Laws 932 e-933b

There are two distinct types of poisoning cases:

Those in which injury is done to bodies by bodies according to the nature’s law (things that can be empirically proven).

Those in which injuries are done by incantations and spells:

There are two distinct types of poisoning cases:

Those in which injury is done to bodies by bodies according to the nature’s law (things that can be empirically proven).

Those in which injuries are done by incantations and spells:

People believe that they can injure others and be injured by means of “sorceries (magganeiais) and incantations (epodais) and spells (katadesesi)”

People believe that they can injure others and be injured by means of “sorceries (magganeiais) and incantations (epodais) and spells (katadesesi)”

Plato recommends capital punishment…

Plato recommends capital punishment…

“And if it be held that a man is acting like an injurer by the use of spells, incantations, or any such mode of poisoning, if he be a prophet or diviner, he shall be put to death; but if he be ignorant of the prophetic art, he shall be dealt with in the same way as a layman convicted of poisoning, that is to say, the court shall assess in his case also what shall seem to them right for him to suffer or pay.”

“And if it be held that a man is acting like an injurer by the use of spells, incantations, or any such mode of poisoning, if he be a prophet or diviner, he shall be put to death; but if he be ignorant of the prophetic art, he shall be dealt with in the same way as a layman convicted of poisoning, that is to say, the court shall assess in his case also what shall seem to them right for him to suffer or pay.”

Plato:

• Damage inflicted by– incantations – magical rituals– binding spells

• Should be punished by death

Types of Spells:

– Seeking to assure

• victory in courts• success in love• victory at competition

Types of Spells:

– Seeking revenge against

• thieves and slanderers • economic competitors• unfaithful lovers

Modes of casting spells

– Papyri tend to be very specific in the formulation of binding spells:

• “I bind NN so that he be unable to do XX and YY and ZZZ; I bind his …(e.g. mind, actions, and words).”

Categories of formulae

– Binding formulae: “I bind NN etc.”

– Formulae of prayer invoking gods and demons “Restrain NN.”

– Wish formulae “may NN be unsuccessful!”

– Similarities: “As this corps is lifeless, so may NN be lifeless and stiff.”

EXAMPLES

1. I bind down Theagenes …

1. I bind down Theagenes …

Part 1: A series of binding spells targeting the victim’s ability to testify at court name tongue, soul, words, feet, etc.

Part 2:Emphatic summary: I bind them, I nail them, I bury them

[Greek, 4th BCE]

Part 1: A series of binding spells targeting the victim’s ability to testify at court name tongue, soul, words, feet, etc.

Part 2:Emphatic summary: I bind them, I nail them, I bury them

[Greek, 4th BCE]

1. Classification:1. Classification:

A judicial spell, binding formula

A judicial spell, binding formula

Nanas dedicates Emphanes and Rhodo….

Nanas dedicates Emphanes and Rhodo…. to Demeter and Kore and to the gods around Demeter and Kore,

because they received a deposit from Diocles, but did not return it…

Let this be beneficial and salutary for me, and harmful for them who did not return the deposit, even if they are opposed to it.”

[ca. 2nd BCE]

to Demeter and Kore and to the gods around Demeter and Kore,

because they received a deposit from Diocles, but did not return it…

Let this be beneficial and salutary for me, and harmful for them who did not return the deposit, even if they are opposed to it.”

[ca. 2nd BCE]

Spell against thieves, etc.; Wish formula

Spell against thieves, etc.; Wish formula

QuickTime™ and aTIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor

are needed to see this picture.

O Pasianax, when you read these letters…O Pasianax, when you read these letters…

O Neophanes will never bring trial against Aristander,

but O Pasianax, the same way that you lie here inert, the same way Neophanes will fall into inertia and nothingness.

[1st BCE, lead tablet] Spell based on similarities

O Neophanes will never bring trial against Aristander,

but O Pasianax, the same way that you lie here inert, the same way Neophanes will fall into inertia and nothingness.

[1st BCE, lead tablet] Spell based on similarities

Spell against a competitor (?) Curse through similarities

Note the form of a letter addressed to a dead man.

Spell against a competitor (?) Curse through similarities

Note the form of a letter addressed to a dead man.

In the same way that the corpse who is buried here be unable to speak or say a word, that she lie close to him and be unable to speak.

[Lead tablet, Rome, Late Republic]

In the same way that the corpse who is buried here be unable to speak or say a word, that she lie close to him and be unable to speak.

[Lead tablet, Rome, Late Republic]

Erotic spell; Curse based on similarities

Erotic spell; Curse based on similarities

RITESRITES

Figurine from Kerameikos found with a judicial spell:

small lead statue of a man with prominent genitals,

arms are tied in the back name engraved placed in a container, most probably closed with nails.

Figurine from Kerameikos found with a judicial spell:

small lead statue of a man with prominent genitals,

arms are tied in the back name engraved placed in a container, most probably closed with nails.

Text:Text:

“All of them I bind, I make them disappear, I bury them, I nail them down.

“All of them I bind, I make them disappear, I bury them, I nail them down.

• The formula “I bind, I make disappear, I bury, I nail,” reflects the ritual scenario followed

SYMBOLIC SYMPATHEIA

• The figurines buried with their essence, ousia,

• = things that have been in contact with the victims (hair, fabric).

SYMBOLIC SYMPATHEIA

• The binding =• unrealistic representation of the spell,

• not an attempt to harm the victim

SYMBOLIC SYMPATHEIA

• The binding must be, then, considered as unrealistic representation of the spell, not as an attempt to harm the victim

RecipeRecipe

From the great Papyrus Book in Paris (4) of the early fourth century C.E.

Make a figurine representing the victim hands tied Kneeling head marked with ousia body parts inscribed with magical words & pierced.


Make a figurine representing the victim hands tied Kneeling head marked with ousia body parts inscribed with magical words & pierced.

RecipeRecipe


Take a lead plateinscribe the formulaetie it to the figurine recite the ‘hold tight formula.’


Take a lead plateinscribe the formulaetie it to the figurine recite the ‘hold tight formula.’

Recipe continuedRecipe continued

Dedicate the plate and the figurine to the gods of the Underworld

Dedicate the plate and the figurine to the gods of the Underworld

Recipe continuedRecipe continued

Recite a long formula calling upon the all demons to: Find the woman you love wherever she is;

Drag her “by her hair, entrails and genitals;”

Bind her to the conjurer for the rest of her life.

Recite a long formula calling upon the all demons to: Find the woman you love wherever she is;

Drag her “by her hair, entrails and genitals;”

Bind her to the conjurer for the rest of her life.

– Emphatic summary

• “Fetch her, tie her, make her love me, and desire me…

• because I conjure you.”

• These tiny figures are often called kolossoi

• Restrain harmful deities and ghosts

• Keep protective deities

• Control objects of desire

• Protect boundaries

CURSES AND DOLLS. Plato ’ s Laws 932 e-933b There are two distinct types of poisoning cases: ...

Documents

Transcript of CURSES AND DOLLS. Plato ’ s Laws 932 e-933b There are two distinct types of poisoning cases: ...