Papyri Graecae Magicae D.T. 237

Note: This spell is an example of a curse tablet inscription that tapers off and forms a triangle, as this translation from J. Gager (1992) reveals.

I invoke you, spirit of one untimely dead, whoever you are, by the mighty

names SALBATHBAL AUTHGEROTABAL BASUTHATEO ALEO SAMMABETHOR.

Bind the horses whose names and

images/likeness on this implement I entrust to you; of

the Red [team]: Silvanus, Servator, Lues, Zephyrus, Blandus,

Imbraius, Dives, Mariscus, Rapidus, Oriens, Arbustus; of the

Blues: Imminens, Dignus, Linon, Paezon, Chrysaspis, Argutus,

Diresor, Frugiferus, Euphrates, Sanctus, Aethiops,

Praeclarus. Bind their running, their power, their

soul, their onrush, their speed. Take away their victory,

entangle their feet, hinder them, hobble them, so that

tomorrow morning in the hippodrome they are not able to run

or walk about, or win, or go out of the starting gates,

or advance either on the racecourse or track,

but may they fall with their drivers, Euprepes, son of

Telesphoros, and Gentius and Felix and

Dionusios “the biter” and Lamuros. For AMUEKARPTIR

ERCHONSOI RAZAABUA DRUENEPHISI NOINISTHERGA

BEPHURORBETH command you. Bind the horses whose

names and images I have entrusted to you on this

implement; of the Reds: Silvanus,

Servator, Lues, Zephyrus, Blandus, Imbraius,

Dives, Mariscus, Rapidus, Oriens, Arbustus;

and of the Blues: Imminens, Dignus,

Linon, Paezon, Chrysaspis, Argutus,

Derisor, Frugiferus, Euphrates, Sanctus,

Aethiops, Praeclarus. Bind their running,

their power, their soul, their onrush,

their speed. Take away their victory,

entangle their feet, hinder them,

hobble them, so that tomorrow

morning in the hippodrome they

are not able to run or walk

about, or win, or go out

of the starting gates, or

advance either on the racecourse,

or circle around the turning point;

but may they fall with their

drivers, Euprepes, son of

Telesphoros, and Gentius and

Felix, and Dionysius “the

biter” and Lamuros. Bind

their hands, take away

their victory, their exit,

their sight, so that they

are unable to see their

rival charioteers, but

rather snatch them up

from their chariots

and twist them to

the ground so that

they alone fall,

dragged along

all over the

hippodrome,

especially

at the turning

points, with

damage to

their body,

with the

horses

whom

they

drive.

Now,

quickly.