The following translation and analysis was kindly
provided by R.S.O Tomlin, Wolfson College,
Oxford.
This magical tablet is of rectangular form with
rounded corners, cut from sheet lead. Slight
corrugation and differential corrosion on the
back suggest that it may once have been rolled
or folded, but the surface has not been stressed
or cracked. It is largely complete and most of the
missing text can be restored. Overall this is very
well-preserved and there are few difficulties. It
consists of 33 lines of minute but well-formed
Greek letters which can be dated to the fourth
century AD.
The inscribed text is an elaborate binding spell
repeated with variations four times, with
intervening sequences of magical words. It is
directed against three named athletes,
Antiokhos, Hierax and Kastor, evidently runners,
whose feet, sinews, and other attributes are
‘bound’ so as to ensure their failure ‘in the
stadium.’
Translation:
‘-magical words Abrasax- Hold back the feet
and sinews and the impetus of Antiokhos whom
Tabekh bore, and of Hierax whom Tamin bore,
and of Kastor also called Dioskoros whom
Tekosis bore. Hold back their feet and sinews
and impetus and strength, that they be not able
to proceed in the stadium, that not even one of
the aforesaid be crowned, I ask. – magical
words- Bind, bind back, hold back their purpose
and their strength, their sinews, their feet, their
legs, and the three hundred and sixty-five limbs
of their bodies, that they be not able to proceed
in the stadium in the hour of necessity of the
crown.-magical words- Hold back the spirit, the
purpose, the sinews of the aforesaid Antiokhos
and Hierax and Kastor, that they do not take a
crown in the stadium, but bind them entirely,
that they be not able to proceed in the stadium
in the hour of necessity of the crown, as the
great god may direct. – magical words Abrasax-
Bind, bind around, bind back, hold back the
running, the spirit, the legs, the sinews, the feet
of Antiokhos whom Tabekh bore, and of Hierax
whom Tamin bore, and of Kastor also called
Dioskoros whom Tekosis bore. – magical words-
Bind, bind back, bind together, hold back
Antiokhos and Hierax and Kastor also called
Dioskoros. Bind their feet, sinews, legs, spirit,
excellence, the three hundred and fifty-five
limbs of their bodies and souls, that they be not
able to proceed in the stadium, but remain like
stones, unmoving, un-running. By force, by
force, by force. Bind, bind the aforesaid, as I
asked, by force.’
Published: R.S.O. Tomlin, ‘‘Remain Like Stones,
Unmoving, Un-Running’: Another Greek Spell
Against Competitors in a Foot-Race,’ in
Zeitschrift Für Papyrologie und Epigraphik, Vol.
160, 2007.