Fluch und Gebet: Magische Manipulation versus religioses Flehen?: Religionsgeschichtliche und hermeneutische Betrachtungen uber antike Fluchtafeln

This study touches on the vexed issue concerning the relationship of magic and religion, a problem that, despite all claims to the contrary, stubbornly resists losing interest and import. A close reading of ancient Geek and Latin curses written on lead tablets reveals a never fully explored demarcation in terms of legitimacy and illegitimacy between two types. Binding curses (defixiones), on the one hand, were meant to ‛bind’‒ that is render powerless‒ opponents or rivals. Buried in graves, p…