Ancient Sex Curse Found in Cyprus
Friday July 11, 2008
Oh, this is fantastic! An Australian newspaper reports on a tablet, inscribed in Greek, that reads ''May your penis hurt when you make love". Apparently the seventh-century tablet was unearthed in Cyprus by archaeologists excavating the ruins of the kingdom of Amathus. During the time the tablet was created, Christianity had already been established on Cyprus. Experts suspect that the curse's existance indicates the activity of shaman holdouts surviving from the pre-Christian era. Regardless of the source, one has to wonder what the curse's recipient must have done to earn such an unpleasant punishment. Yowch.
It's not really a surprise that the curse was found in Greek, because the ancient Greeks were big on magic. If you get a chance, find yourself a copy of Christopher Faraone's book Magika Hiera: Ancient Greek Magic and Religion. It's scholarly and fascinating, and presents an intriguing image of the Greeks. Although they were clearly people of science and logic, they still managed to maintain a strong belief in magic, which demonstrates how the two can be not only compatible but complementary.
Amathus was founded around 1500 b.c.e., and became a hub of grain trade and copper mining. By the seventh century c.e., it was a Roman city, but was abandoned a few hundred years later.
It's not really a surprise that the curse was found in Greek, because the ancient Greeks were big on magic. If you get a chance, find yourself a copy of Christopher Faraone's book Magika Hiera: Ancient Greek Magic and Religion. It's scholarly and fascinating, and presents an intriguing image of the Greeks. Although they were clearly people of science and logic, they still managed to maintain a strong belief in magic, which demonstrates how the two can be not only compatible but complementary.
Amathus was founded around 1500 b.c.e., and became a hub of grain trade and copper mining. By the seventh century c.e., it was a Roman city, but was abandoned a few hundred years later.
Comments
LOL…oh my.
Well, it would seem as though someone made the wrong person mad!!!LoL. Good point on the Greek ability to merge scientific thought with magickal ability, something we should all learn to do.
I *so* need that book. Since I moved from Florida to NYC a few years back, I’ve been really interested in how Pagans in the relatively big cities of ancient Greece and Rome did things. Thank you for the tip.
Oh, and for the story of the curse, too! That is so excellent!
That book is available on Amazon.com — new is around $40, but they have 35 or so used starting at around $17.
Wow! Talk about a hex! There is a dangerous one in my opinion. Though I do so enjoy communing with some of the Greek Pantheons, I think this sounds a bit more sinister than any magick spell I would need. Sex is a great way to increase certain energies; why would someone punish themselves this way? Ever mind the Rule of 3!
Blessed Be!
ohh god i live in that area Amathus …
she cursed me 6 months ago this girl in the same way but in modern Greek.
It seems that it works because it hurts when I go with a woman in bed, when i read this i got very scared.. any one knows how to reverse the curse? I am not jocking.