In Photos: Ancient Curse Discovered in City of David

News
By published

Curse Tablet

a 1,700-year-old curse tablet unearthed in a mansion by Israel Antiquities Authority archaeologists

(Image credit: Photo courtesy Robert Walter Daniel)

Kyrilla and six gods

a 1,700-year-old curse tablet unearthed in a mansion by Israel Antiquities Authority archaeologists

(Image credit: Photo courtesy Robert Walter Daniel, cropped by Owen Jarus)

The text in the curse tablet is written in Greek, a language often used in the eastern half of the Roman Empire. In the text Kyrilla invokes six gods in her curse, the start of the text reading (in translation): "come to me, you who are in the earth, chthonic daemon, you who rule and bind…"

Magical powers

a 1,700-year-old curse tablet unearthed in a mansion by Israel Antiquities Authority archaeologists

(Image credit: Photo courtesy Robert Walter Daniel, cropped by Owen Jarus)

The text also includes magical signs that are seen here at the top of this image. Additionally magical words were used to enhance the curse's power.

Curse tablet letters

a 1,700-year-old curse tablet unearthed in a mansion by Israel Antiquities Authority archaeologists

(Image credit: Photo courtesy Robert Walter Daniel)

A drawing showing the lettering of the curse tablet, which was discovered in a Roman mansion in the City of David in Jerusalem.

Cupid with torch

In their excavations the archaeologists found artifacts that reveal the wealth the inhabitants of the mansion enjoyed, including this gem depicting Cupid holding a torch.

(Image credit: Photo courtesy Israel Antiquities Authority)

In their excavations the archaeologists found artifacts that reveal the wealth the inhabitants of the mansion enjoyed, including this gem depicting Cupid holding a torch.

City of David

The City of David, where the mansion is located, is an area of Jerusalem that contains at least 6,000 years of human occupation. This image shows ruins from the area dating from different periods of time.

(Image credit: Photo by Deror Avi CC Attribution Share-Alike 3.0 Unported)

The City of David, where the mansion is located, is an area of Jerusalem that contains at least 6,000 years of human occupation. This image shows ruins from the area dating from different periods of time.

Givati Parking Lot

excavation site in the givati parking lot in Jerusalem in the City of David.

(Image credit: Photo by Deror Avi CC Attribution Share-Alike 1.0 Generic)

The Givati Parking Lot is the site of an immense excavation that has resulted in finds from the Middle Age to ancient times. Dating to the third to fourth centuries A.D., the Roman mansion, where the curse tablet was excavated, was only one of them. This image shows excavations at the various ruins found in the parking lot.

Owen Jarus
Owen Jarus
Live Science Contributor

Owen Jarus is a regular contributor to Live Science who writes about archaeology and humans' past. He has also written for The Independent (UK), The Canadian Press (CP) and The Associated Press (AP), among others. Owen has a bachelor of arts degree from the University of Toronto and a journalism degree from Ryerson University.