9 Timeless Ancient Curses To Use Against Your Enemies

The Curse: Dispater, divine Proserpina, Ogre’s Dogs, infernal Burners, Destroyers of bones, Larvae, Furies, Maniae, nocturnal Birds, Harpies, Ortygiae, Virga, Chimaera, Geryon, Sirens, Circe, Giants, Sphinx: to you [he] prays and implores, to you [he] begs, powers of the gods of the Underworld, who have been mentioned above, that you, Dispater, knock down that Caecilia Prima - or any other name she has - and that you assail her with bad pains and take her away with you... suck the blood from her veins, tear up the body and living breath of that Caecilia Prima... devour the liver of that Caecilia Prima, her lungs, her heart with its veins, her innards, her limbs, her marrow, may you tear them to pieces, may you pull out the eyes of that Caecilia Prima and... may you set fire to the eyes of that Caecilia Prima, to her stomach, heart, lungs, to her fat and to all other body parts of that Caecilia Prima, may you set on fire, burn to ashes, so that she cannot live or be healthy...

Context And Applicability: This lengthy curse to Proserpina, a goddess of the Underworld, and to a host of other deities, was found in Rome. It clearly directs a hefty amount of rage at Caecilia Prima. Dated to the late 1st century CE, the curse was "probably motivated by
rivalry in love." It repeats cursing her heart and lungs, requesting more than once that everything be destroyed by fire. Without a doubt, a curse to be used cautiously. 

The Curse: The human who stole Verio’s cloak or his things, who deprived him of his property, may he be bereft of his mind and memory, be it a woman or those who deprived Verio of his property, may the worms, cancer, and maggots penetrate his hands, head, feet, as well as his limbs and marrows.

Context And Applicability: Calling out a human specifically - just in case - for the theft of Verio's possessions was serious enough to prompt a request for extreme physical harm. The curse tablet, found in Germany, is especially harsh. It can be used pretty much whenever "Give me back my stuff!" doesn't get the job done. 

The Curse: I give over to you the head of Plotius... his breast, liver, heart, and lungs, so that he may not be able to discover the source of his pain; his intestines, stomach, navel, and sides, so that he may not be able to sleep; his shoulder blades, so that he may not be able to sleep soundly; his “sacred organ,” so that he may not be able to urinate; his rump, anus, thighs, knees, shanks, shins, feet, ankles, heels, toes, and toenails, so that he may not be able to stand by his own strength. No matter what he may have written, great or small, just as he has written a proper spell and commissioned it (against me), so I hand over and consign Plotius to you, so that you may take care of him by the month of February. Let him perish miserably. Let him leave life miserably. Let him be destroyed miserably. Take care of him so that he may not see another month.

Context: The target of this curse, Plotius, was a slave of Avonia - and someone whose insides and outsides were listed off as needing destruction. Written to Proserpina Salvia, goddess of the Underworld, the curse runs head to toe in its articulation of body parts, and identifies the ideal outcomes of each torment. It also seems to be in response to a curse levied at the author, indicating a romantic relationship gone very, very wrong. 

The Curse: Docimedis has lost two gloves. He asks that whoever took them lose their minds and eyes.

Context And Applicability: Theft was not a minor offense in Roman Bath, and Docimedis went to Sulis Minerva to request retribution after his gloves were stolen. While the identity of Docimedis is unknown, the curse tablet seeks serious vengeance.

Basically, it's a message to thieves of beloved items, big and small: BEWARE!

The Curse: I beg you, holy angels/daemons. Just like this soul is enclosed inside, imprisoned, and sees no light and has no recreation, so may the soul, mind, and body of Collecticius, whom Agnella bore, be equally enclosed, may it burn and fall into decay. Lead Collecticius, whom Agnella bore, away all the way to hell.

Context And Applicability: As a curse from the 4th or 5th century CE, this somewhat nonspecific curse could be part of some love triangle or another rivalry. It was found in Rome, thought to have been placed in a grave, and really leaves nothing to chance in terms of everything about the target to go to Hell. 

The Curse: I adjure you, daemon, whoever you are, and I command you to torment and kill the horses of the green and white [teams] from this hour on, from this day on, and to kill Clarus, Felix, Primulus, and Romanus, the charioteers...

Context And Applicability: This 3rd century curse from Hadrumetum in North Africa goes after all aspects of an opponent in a chariot race. 

The curse works next time you wager on any type of race, naturally, but can be used against a rival of any kind. Additionally, the next time a loud car passes by, someone hoots and hollers at you, or something comparable takes place, this curse can be called out with reckless abandon.