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_900x900.jpg "Roman Lead Curse Tablet Targeting a Legionary Commander and His Military Unit")
_200x200.jpg "Roman Lead Curse Tablet Targeting a Legionary Commander and His Military Unit")
.jpg "Roman Lead Curse Tablet Targeting a Legionary Commander and His Military Unit")
LOT 0119
Roman Lead Curse Tablet Targeting a Legionary Commander and His Military Unit
LATE 1ST CENTURY A.D.
3 3/8 in. (151 grams total, 87 mm each).
The names of high-ranking officers of a Roman legion engraved in two columns in retrograde script, inter alia the Senatorial Commander of a Roman Legion (legatus legionis), two Tribunes and several Centurions being cursed; with holes to fix it to an object with nails, both being magical practices of antiquity aiming for the malediction of enemies; a unique and important document; it has been proposed to identify the legate with Q. Pomponius Rufus, consul in the year A.D. 95.
ProvenancePrivate collection of the gentleman, J.L. Fernández, Switzerland, before 2000.
From the private academic collection of Professor P.M.A.R.
Accompanied by a copy of the academic paper Rothenhoefer, P., Römische Offiziere auf einer tabella defixionum. Ein außergewöhnliches Dokument magischen Schadenzaubers gegen eine Legionskommandeur und weitere Mitglieder des Offizierskorps, Epigraphica 78, 2016, pp.235-251, where this unique curse tablet is published.
This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.
Rothenhoefer, P., Römische Offiziere auf einer tabella defixionum. Ein außergewöhnliches Dokument magischen Schadenzaubers gegen eine Legionskommandeur und weitere Mitglieder des Offizierskorps, Epigraphica 78, 2016, pp.235-251; Sánchez Natalías, C., Sylloge of Defixiones from the Roman West. A Comprehensive Collection of Curse Tablets from the Fourth Century BCE to the Fifth Century CE, Oxford, 2022, no.149.
CONDITIONTimeLine Auctions follows a vetting process to ensure the authenticity and legality of all items, reinforcing our commitment to integrity and responsible trading. Each antiquity, antique, and coin lot undergoes thorough examination by a vetting committee of at least ten external specialists, professional trade association members, scientists, and archaeologists: Our Vetting Process
AUCTIONS:
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LOT 0119
Roman Lead Curse Tablet Targeting a Legionary Commander and His Military Unit
Sold for (Inc. bp): £1,690
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Roman Mosaic Stone Tesserae Group
1st-4th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £117
A mixed group of tesserae of various colours and sizes, mostly cuboid. 95 grams total, 7-24 mm
From the collection of a late East Anglian teacher and antiquarian who retired to the Isle of Wight in Hampshire, UK; he amassed a large collection of objects between the 1960s-1980s. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.
Roman mosaics were made from small cubes of natural stone and terracotta possibly cut from tile or brick. Each of these small cubes was called a tessera (plural tesserae) from the Latin word for dice. -
Roman Bronze Phallic Pendant
Circa 1st century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £546
Anatomically depicted with tight curls to the lower abdomen. 27.8 grams, 38 mm
Ex London and Home Counties gentleman, R.W., 1970s. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato. -
Roman Green Glass Bead Necklace String
1st-4th century A.D. and laterSold for (Inc. bp): £39
Restrung group of tubular, cylindrical, tabular and other beads. 11.1 grams, 36.2 cm
Ex London, UK, collection, 1990s. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.
