Curse Inscriptions

Connected Sites: 8

Definition

WHS with in situ "curse inscriptions".

A historic "Curse Inscription" is an in-situ, permanent inscription on a monument, tomb, or structure whose purpose is to deter unauthorized use, damage, or violation by threatening a severe punitive consequence. The connection has been limited to those threatening supernatural penalties (i.e invoked by a deity) though there are examples where civil penalties are also threatened.The tradition developed in a number of late Bronze and Iron Age civilisations trying to protect their monuments, tombs and family land rights by invoking curses against anyone harming them in the future. It was extended to failing to carry out appropriate religious activities. The inscriptions could be carved into the tomb or rock or painted onto walls. They could also, as in the case of the Bablonian Kudurrru boundary stones, be carved on something moveable. The Romans adopted the concept via the widespread leaden "Curse Tablets" placed in tombs. There are many sites where such movable objects have been found but taken to museums, but they have been excluded with the "in situ" requirement. A quote from the inscription is required.

Contributor

Proposed by Solivagant

Map

Connected Sites

  • Necropolis of Bet She'arim
    Inscribed: 2015
    2.86
    62
    4

    Painted directly onto the wall of a catacomb in the Necropolis in Hebrew/Aramaic text - "Yaakov Ha'Ger vows to curse anybody who would open this grave."
  • Xanthos-Letoon
    Inscribed: 1988
    2.69
    86
    7

    Inscription on the Lycian rock-cut tomb TL 75,"...If one places anyone else [therein] on top, then thi[s] qla will strike him – and Malija – and the oaths of the minti."
  • Hegra
    Hegra
    Saudi Arabia
    Inscribed: 2008
    3.89
    56
    9

    "This is the burial-niche which Wushuh daughter of Bagrat made for herself within the rock-tomb belonging to her and her daughters. Whoever opens it for himself or removes her from this burial-niche forever shall be liable to our lord Haretat, King of the Nabataeans, lover of his people, in the sum of a thousand Haretitle sela’s. And may Dushara, the god of our lord, and all the gods curse whoever removes this Wushuh from this burial-niche for ever."
  • Pyramids (Memphis)
    Inscribed: 1979
    4.51
    323
    12

    Mastaba of Idu: "As for every man who shall enter this tomb, without purifying himself as the purification of a god, one shall make for him a painful punishment."
  • Pompei
    Pompei
    Italy
    Inscribed: 1997
    4.39
    463
    8

    A painted warning found on the masonry structure near the Tomb of Aesquillia Polla (or a contiguous funerary enclosure in that area, sometimes simply referred to as Sepulchre VI in some excavation reports) - "SI QUIS HIC MINXERIT AUT CACAVERIT HABET DEOS SUPRASCRIPTA(S) IRRITATOS" ("If anyone pees or shits here, may he have the wrath of the gods written above".). And "Cacator cave malum. aut si contempseris habeas. Iove iratum" = "Shitter, beware of the curse. If you scorn this curse, you will have an angry Jupiter". Found along an unnamed side street (vicolo) between Insula III.4 and III.5.
  • Petra
    Petra
    Jordan
    Inscribed: 1985
    4.62
    296
    21

    "May Dushara, the god of our lord, and all the gods curse whoever reads this inscription and does not bless the owner of the tomb. And may the gods curse whoever changes the name of the tomb or alters its character, or removes the bodies buried in it, or buries in it another corpse, or sells it, or mortgages it, or leases it, or performs any transaction upon it." (The Turkmaniyah Tomb) and "Anyone who places a body here, or removes one, or attempts to damage the tomb, may he receive the curse of the gods. He shall also pay a fine of four thousand Attic drachmas to the royal treasury" (Tomb of Sextus Florentinus)
  • Inscribed: 2006
    2.66
    29
    2

    "If you conceal this declaration and do not tell the people, may the Wise Lord become your slayer and may your progeny not come into being."
  • Archaeological Site of Delphi
    Inscribed: 1987
    3.95
    281
    12

    The Manumission of Arsinoa, slave of Xenon carved onto the Great Polygonal Wall, section 50 - "...If anyone should seize Arsinoa with a view to enslaving her, let both the seller Xenon and the guarantor Eudokos provide the deed of sale to the god under guarantee. If they should not provide the deed of sale to the god under guarantee, let them be liable according to the law of the city. And similarly let anyone who happens to be present have the power to seize Arsinoa (from them), since she is free, and let them not be accountable or subject to any charge or fine."