Ancient Roman curse tablet found in the Netherlands contains rare Egyptian magic written in Greek

Researchers at Heidelberg University have deciphered the inscription on a Roman-era curse tablet found in the Netherlands, revealing an unusual mix of Egyptian magical traditions and Greek writing in the far north of the Roman Empire.

Dutch archaeologists uncovered the small lead tablet during excavations beneath Heerlen’s town square. The town stands on the site of Coriovallum, a Roman military settlement in the province of Lower Germania. Dating to the second century CE, the artifact differs from most curse tablets found in northern Europe because the text is written in ancient Greek rather than Latin.

People across the Roman world used curse tablets, known as defixiones or katadesmoi, for a variety of purposes. They scratched spells onto thin sheets of lead and buried them in places linked to supernatural forces. Some hoped to gain an advantage in court cases. Others targeted rivals in sports, business, or personal relationships.

The Heerlen tablet measures 9.3 by 4.8 centimeters. Time had worn down much of the inscription, making the text difficult to read. To recover the writing, researchers used reflectance transformation imaging, a technique that combines photographs taken under different lighting conditions. The method revealed tiny surface details hidden on the lead sheet.

The analysis identified three separate groups of characters. One section contains invocations to several deities and supernatural beings associated with Egyptian magical practices. Such texts rarely appear in this region. Most known curse tablets from northern Europe use Latin and follow local Roman traditions.

Researchers also identified three magical symbols known as characteres. Ancient practitioners believed these signs carried messages to divine or supernatural powers. Below the symbols appear the names of four enslaved people, two men with Latin names and two women with Greek names.

The tablet’s purpose remains uncertain. Researchers suggest the inscription either targeted these four individuals with a curse or was written on their behalf against an unnamed person.

The combination of names has drawn attention. Two members of the group carried Latin names, while the women had Greek names. According to the research team, one of the women might have come from Roman Egypt and brought knowledge of Egyptian magical practices with her.

Magic held an important place in Egyptian society. Some rituals focused on protection and healing and formed part of accepted religious life. Other practices served private interests and were carried out away from public view.

During the first centuries CE, ideas, beliefs, and religious traditions traveled widely across the Roman Empire. Egyptian, Near Eastern, Jewish, and early Christian influences often mixed as people moved between regions. The Heerlen tablet offers a rare example of those cultural connections in everyday life.

The artifact is expected to go on display at the Heerlen Museum. Researchers plan to publish the full inscription, giving scholars an opportunity to study one of the most unusual Roman curse tablets found in northern Europe.

More information: Heidelberg University