Greek curse tablets and the possibilities of social network analysis
The polytheistic religion of the Greeks and Romans has
been studied a lot in secondary literature. The Greek and Roman (although
lesser in quantity) curse tablets are a topic not yet researched a lot. The so
called defixiones are
little pieces of lead with inscriptions on them to curse enemies. They were in
use from the fifth century B.C. till the sixth (or to some even eighth) century
A.D. The position of these defixiones or katadesmoi (the
official Greek name) in the polis religion has been a much debated subject, but
there are not many scholarly works that connect these curse tablets with social
network analysis, something that has been on the rise in
the archaeological studies. So, on this webpage I made a little
network analysis of curse tablets found in a well in the Athenian agora.
According to Jordan around twelve of these were written by the same person.
These specific curse tablets are dated to third century A.D. I made a little
network analysis of the twelve tablets that were written by the same person and
that were found in that well.
Tablets from the well in the Athean Agora
Conclusion
It is interesting to see that only twelve quite small curse tablets can contain a lot of information about the people involved. Especially in smaller communities an inscriber of tablets would know a great deal about the inhabitants. And because it is so interesting to create networks out of curse tablets it is so strange that almost no scholar has did anything network related with curse tablets. I am aware that it is unique to find twelve curse tablets that are from the same inscriber and are found on the same place, but that should not stop scholars from trying.
Most of the time scholars are writing about the Greek religion or polis religion and magic or unconventional religious practices are a minor topic. It also seems that the topic of magic is currently not a popular topic at all in the archaeological studies. The most influential works are at least twenty years old. That is maybe also an explanation that here are no network analyses of any curse tablets, because social network analysis has been on the rise since only recently. So, when curse tablets and or magical practices were a popular topic, social network analysis was not, and vice versa. So I hope that my tiny network analysis shows the possibilities of social network analysis in the field of curse tablets. With a far bigger sample of tablets the networks will be even more interesting.
C.G.J.
Most of the time scholars are writing about the Greek religion or polis religion and magic or unconventional religious practices are a minor topic. It also seems that the topic of magic is currently not a popular topic at all in the archaeological studies. The most influential works are at least twenty years old. That is maybe also an explanation that here are no network analyses of any curse tablets, because social network analysis has been on the rise since only recently. So, when curse tablets and or magical practices were a popular topic, social network analysis was not, and vice versa. So I hope that my tiny network analysis shows the possibilities of social network analysis in the field of curse tablets. With a far bigger sample of tablets the networks will be even more interesting.
C.G.J.
Literary references and further readings
- Brughmans, Tom. “Connecting the dots : towards archaeological network analysis.” Journal of Archaeology 29, no. 3 (2010), 277-303.
- Collar, Anna. “Network Theory and Religious Innovation.” Mediterranean Historical Review 22, no. 1 (2007), 149-162.
- Eidinow, Esther. “Networks and Narratives: A Model for Ancient Greek Religion.” Kernos: Revue Internationale Et Pluridisciplinaire de Religion Grecque Antique 24 (2011), 9-38.
- Eidinow, Esther. Oracles, curses and risk among the Ancient Greeks. New York: Oxford University Press, 2007
- Faraone, Christopher A. “The agonistic context of early Greek binding spells.” in Magika Hiera: ancient Greek magic & religion, edited door. Christopher A Faraone & Dirk Obbink, 3-32. New York: Oxford University Press, 1991
- Gager, John G., ed. Curse tablets and binidng spells from the Ancient world. New York: Oxford University Press, 1992
- Jordan, D.R. “A survey of Greek defixiones not included in the special corpora.” Greek, Roman & Byzantine Studies 26, no. 2 (1985), 151-197.
- Jordan, D.R. “Defixiones from a well near the southwest corner of the Athenian agora,” Hesperia 54, no. 3 (1985), 205-255.
- Collar, Anna. “Network Theory and Religious Innovation.” Mediterranean Historical Review 22, no. 1 (2007), 149-162.
- Eidinow, Esther. “Networks and Narratives: A Model for Ancient Greek Religion.” Kernos: Revue Internationale Et Pluridisciplinaire de Religion Grecque Antique 24 (2011), 9-38.
- Eidinow, Esther. Oracles, curses and risk among the Ancient Greeks. New York: Oxford University Press, 2007
- Faraone, Christopher A. “The agonistic context of early Greek binding spells.” in Magika Hiera: ancient Greek magic & religion, edited door. Christopher A Faraone & Dirk Obbink, 3-32. New York: Oxford University Press, 1991
- Gager, John G., ed. Curse tablets and binidng spells from the Ancient world. New York: Oxford University Press, 1992
- Jordan, D.R. “A survey of Greek defixiones not included in the special corpora.” Greek, Roman & Byzantine Studies 26, no. 2 (1985), 151-197.
- Jordan, D.R. “Defixiones from a well near the southwest corner of the Athenian agora,” Hesperia 54, no. 3 (1985), 205-255.