Constantina Katsari is a professor of ancient history at the University of Leicestershire. As you might guess, she's Greek, and that's her specialty. Over on her blog, she reports today the discovery of the oldest known curse inscribed on a drinking cup.
I've previously written about ancient Greek magic and curse tablets. The Greeks believed in magic, though a very different kind to the sort we think of these days. Mostly they wrote curse tablets.
Constantina reports the cup that's been discovered dates to 730-690BC, which puts it an astounding 250 years before the time of Nicolaos and Diotima, and the cup says I am (the cup) of Akesandros and (whoever steals me) will lose his eyes (or money).
I've previously written about ancient Greek magic and curse tablets. The Greeks believed in magic, though a very different kind to the sort we think of these days. Mostly they wrote curse tablets.
Constantina reports the cup that's been discovered dates to 730-690BC, which puts it an astounding 250 years before the time of Nicolaos and Diotima, and the cup says I am (the cup) of Akesandros and (whoever steals me) will lose his eyes (or money).