The The Use of Lists in Curse Practice. Focusing on Greek Defixiones on Terracotta
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Abstract
The aim of this paper is to present an overview of the use of lists in Greek defixiones, a term used in epigraphy to indicate curses of a private nature, usually inscribed on lead tablets, that consist in invoking deities to cause harm to one or more enemies. Many of these documents include lists of personal names to be cursed whether in the nominative or accusative, often without any further information. This practice proves to be long-lasting, from the 6th century BC to the 1st century BC, which is attested to by numerous documents found throughout the Greek world. This paper aims to discuss the variegated framework of these documents by means of an updated collection. Attention is also paid to the material used for these texts, which were not only inscribed on lead but also on terracotta.