Dr Stuart McKie
LightNews LightNews
bigfridge224.bsky.social
Dr Stuart McKie
@bigfridge224.bsky.social
1.4K followers 430 following 350 posts
Researching Roman magic and trying not to accidentally summon demons. Forever DM, Dad and Catholic.
Posts Replies Media Videos
bigfridge224.bsky.social
90. Bath, UK. 2nd/3rd century. Sacred spring.
To the goddess Sulis . . . whether slave or free, <if> whoever he shall be, you are not to permit him eyes or health unless blindness and childlessness so long as he shall live, unless [he return?] these to the temple.
August 13, 2025 at 2:24 PM
bigfridge224.bsky.social
89. Bath, UK. 2nd/3rd century. Sacred Spring.
. . . I Arminia, complain to you, Sulis, [that] you consume Verecundinus (son of) Terentius, who has [stolen . . .] two silver coins from me. You are not to permit [him] to sit or lie [or . . . or] to walk [or] (to have) sleep [or] health, [since] you are to consume (him) as soon as possible; and again . . . [not] to reach . . .
August 13, 2025 at 2:24 PM
bigfridge224.bsky.social
88. Bath, UK. 3rd century. Sacred spring.
Exsuperius gives an iron pan(?). (The person) who . . . innocence for him . . . of (?) Sulis, whether man [or woman], whether slave or free . . . this . . . and . . . have stolen his . . ., whether man or woman, is to have given satisfaction with their blood. You are to reclaim(?) this [if] anyone has stolen the vessel from me.
August 13, 2025 at 2:21 PM
bigfridge224.bsky.social
87. Bath, UK. 3rd/4th century. Sacred spring.
Uricalus, Docilosa his wife, Docilis his son and Docilina, Decentinus his brother, Alogiosa: the names of those who have sworn <who have sworn> at the spring of the goddess Sulis on the 12th of April. Whosoever has perjured himself there, you are to make him pay for it to the goddess Sulis in his own blood.
August 13, 2025 at 2:20 PM
bigfridge224.bsky.social
86. Bath, UK. 4th century. Sacred spring.
Whether pagan or Christian, whosoever, whether man or woman, whether boy or girl, whether slave or free, has stolen from me, Annianus (son of) Matutina (?), six silver coins from my purse, you, lady goddess, are to exact [them] from him. If through some deceit he has given me . . . do not give thus to him, but reckon as(?) the blood of him who has invoked this upon me. Postuminus, Pisso, Locinna, Alauna, Materna, Gunsula, Candidina, Euticius, Peregrinus, Latinus, Senicianus, Avitianus, Victor, Scotius, Aessicunia, Paltucca, Calliopis, Celerianus.
August 13, 2025 at 2:19 PM
bigfridge224.bsky.social
85. Bath, UK. 3rd/4th century. Sacred spring.
I curse (him) who has stolen, who has robbed Deomiorix from his house. Whoever (stole his) property, the god is to find him. Let him buy it back with (his) blood and his own life.
August 13, 2025 at 2:17 PM
bigfridge224.bsky.social
184. Bath, UK. 3rd/4th century. Sacred spring.
The name of the thief, whether slave or free, whether boy or girl . . .
August 13, 2025 at 2:16 PM
bigfridge224.bsky.social
83. Caerleon, UK. 1st/2nd century. Amphitheatre.
Lady Nemesis, I give to you a cloak and pair of shoes. Let him who stole them not redeem (himself?) except with his life, his blood.
August 13, 2025 at 2:14 PM
bigfridge224.bsky.social
82. London, 2nd/3rd century. Amphitheatre.
I give to the goddess Diana (my) headgear and band less one-third. If anyone has done this, whether boy or girl, whether slave or free, I give him, and through me let him be unable to live.
August 13, 2025 at 2:12 PM
bigfridge224.bsky.social
81. Clothall, date unknown. Grave.

I wrote a blog post about this one a long time ago! mckies.wordpress.com/2014/11/03/c...
Tacita, hereby accursed, is labelled old like putrid gore.
August 13, 2025 at 2:11 PM
bigfridge224.bsky.social
80. Wanborough, UK. 2nd century, context unknown.
. . . I pray to you, I beg . . . I beg to deliver to your judgement (the man who) stole from me, that you do not permit him to drink nor eat nor wake nor sleep nor walk and that you do not allow any part (of him) to live or of the family from which he springs . . . nor nourishment . . . they may speak very violently . . . they know for certain . . . if . . .
August 13, 2025 at 2:09 PM
bigfridge224.bsky.social
79. Pagan's Hill, UK. 3rd century, near a temple.
[To the god Mercury?] . . . in three thousand denarii, of which (I give) you half portion on condition that you exact it from Vassicillus the son of [. . .]cominus and from his wife, since the coin which they have stolen from my house. You are not to permit them health nor to drink nor to eat nor to sleep [nor] to have healthy [children] unless they bring this [my] property to your temple. With repeated [prayers] I ask you that this [coin?] may come to be recovered [from the very] names of my [enemies].
August 13, 2025 at 2:07 PM
bigfridge224.bsky.social
78. Broomhill, UK. Date and context unknown.
(whoever) has stolen (it), taken (it), whether slave or free, do not forgive him his evildoing until you punish him within nine days, whether civilian or soldier, (whoever) has taken (it).
August 13, 2025 at 2:06 PM
bigfridge224.bsky.social
77. Krefeld-Gellep, DE. 1st century CE. Names written right-left.
Just as this writing is perverse, so will the gods despise them: Theudocsius, Lupicinus, Iustinianus, Leontius, Terentianus, Aelario, Hermoginis, Mastidius. Just as this is perverse, so shall they not be able to(?) . . . Nothing should be added to this.
August 13, 2025 at 2:04 PM
bigfridge224.bsky.social
76. Cologne, DE. 1st century. Grave. Written retrograde.
Vaeraca, thus it is with your case: you act perversely, even as this writing is perverse. Whatsoever you wish for us shall come down on your head.
August 13, 2025 at 2:03 PM
bigfridge224.bsky.social
75. Bad Kreuznach, DE. 1st/2nd century. Grave.
I bring Fructus Gracilis and Aureus the adiutorium to the infernals. Thus may he not be able to respond to questioning.
August 13, 2025 at 2:00 PM
bigfridge224.bsky.social
74. Bad Kreuznach, DE. 2nd century. Grave.
The names of the enemies (are given) to . . . the infernals. The names of the enemies to the infernals: Optatus son of Silo, Faustus Ornatus, Terentius Attisso, Atticinus son of Ammo, Latinus son of Valerius, Adiutor son of Iulius, Tertius son of Domitius, Masuetus son of Senodatius, Montanus the timber merchant, Aninius Victor, Quartio son of Severus, Sinto son of Valens, Lutumarus the butcher, Similis son of Crescens, Lucanius son of Silo, Communis son of Mercator, Publius the dyer, Aemilius Silvanus, Cossus son of Matuinus.
August 13, 2025 at 1:59 PM
bigfridge224.bsky.social
73. Bad Kreuznach, DE. 2nd century. Grave.
Sinto Valentis or any other enemies. Sinto Valentinus the enemy. Just as this lead will fall, so shall fall Sinto and Martialis of Sinto and the assistant of Sinto and whoever is against Rubrius my brother and me Quartio, if anyone will have opposed (us), I give Sinto and the assistant of Sinto to the infernals. Just as nowhere against us . . . of an answer, when enemies speak. In the same way that he does not choose a parent, he does not choose the infernals.
August 13, 2025 at 1:58 PM
bigfridge224.bsky.social
72. Bad Kreuznach, DE. 2nd century. Grave.
These names were handed over to the ghosts of the underworld. I vow these to the Manes: Lucius Celius, Gaius Haeb… and if I have any other enemies. Kill these names.
August 13, 2025 at 1:57 PM
bigfridge224.bsky.social
71. Bad Kreuznach, DE. 2nd century CE. Grave.
The names have been given, delivered, entrusted to the infernals, so that they seize them by force. Silonia, Surus, Caenus, Secundus. That which (or ‘he who’?) has been vowed urges you. I love him.
August 13, 2025 at 1:54 PM
bigfridge224.bsky.social
70. Bad Kreuznach, DE. 2nd century CE. Grave.
The enemies and enemies of Caranitanus: Abilius Iuvenis, Sabinus the clerk of the court, Arria Dardisa, Optatus son of Silo, Privatus son of Severus, Cossus son of Maesus, Marcus the coppersmith, Atta the wife of Marcus, Camula the wife of Gamatus Ambitus, Valerius son of Cirus, Atticinus son of Ammo, Terentius Attiso, Iulia (wife of) Attiso, Narcissus son of Caliphons, Calipuntis and Pudentus and Pudens . . . Albus Vicinus . . . thus should the eternal shades abandon you to sickness . . . the infernal gods are . . .
August 12, 2025 at 11:13 AM
bigfridge224.bsky.social
69. Frankfurt, DE. 2nd century CE. Grave.
(I give?) the enemies of Sextus, thus in this way they may not be able to go against Sextus nor do anything, thus in this way they should be useless and mute just as those, who in . . . . . . to speak. Valentinus and Fronto and Ripanus and Le . . . and Iuventinus . . . and Lucius and . . . Fronto . . . the enemies . . . be useless and mute like this talkative bird(?)
August 12, 2025 at 11:11 AM
bigfridge224.bsky.social
68. Frankfurt, DE. 2nd century CE. Grave.
I ask the spirits of the dead and the infernal gods that Marius Fronto, enemy of Sextus, be untrustworthy and not be able to speak against Sextus, thus Fronto is made mute when he will approach the consular legate, thus he is mute and not able to speak or to do anything, just as nothing has been bound to those below.
August 12, 2025 at 11:10 AM
bigfridge224.bsky.social
67. Rottweil, DE. 1st/2nd century CE. Context unknown. Written retrograde, some letters upside down.
Whoever has stolen the brooch of Gnata, or whoever is an accomplice. As the gods make that (man?) or that (woman?) wrong like this (word) is wrong, and whoever has stolen that thing.
August 12, 2025 at 11:09 AM
bigfridge224.bsky.social
66. Mainz, DE. 1st/2nd century CE. Temple of Magna Mater and Isis.
May this befall Prima Aemilia, (the lover?) of Narcissus: whatever she will attempt, whatever she will do, let it all go wrong. Insanely she should rise, and insanely go about her business. Whatever shall rise, so shall all (her things?) rise wrongly. May this befall Prima, (the lover?) of Narcissus: just as this letter will never flourish, so shall she never flourish.
August 12, 2025 at 11:07 AM