A ceramic jar containing the bones of a slaughtered chicken was likely used to cast an ancient curse aimed at killing 55 people in Athens.
Archaeologists discovered the ceramic jar along with a coin beneath the floor of an ancient craftsman’s shop in the square of Athens. Inside the jar were a chicken’s head and feet, as reported by Jessica Lamont, a professor at Yale University, in the journal Hesperia. During this period, around 300 BC, the person performing the curse also drove a large iron nail through the jar.
Ceramic jar at the foot of a building in the square of Athens. (Photo: Athenian Agora).
The entire exterior of the jar is covered with inscriptions. The jar bears 55 names, with only a few dozen remaining in the form of scattered letters or faint traces, according to Lamont. The iron nail and chicken bones likely played a role in executing the curse. Iron nails often accompany ancient curses, intended to immobilize and prevent the cursed individual from moving.
The chicken was no older than 7 months when it died. The creator of the curse may have wanted to transfer the chicken’s inability to defend itself onto the individuals named inscribed on the jar. The presence of the head and feet of the chicken suggests that the person behind the curse intended for the victims to lose the ability to use similar body parts.
The ceramic jar was placed near several burnt pyres containing animal remains, which would have enhanced the potency of the curse. The handwriting on the jar indicates that at least two individuals wrote the names of the victims, suggesting they were well-versed in how to effectively carry out a curse. The location of the jar beneath the craftsman’s building indicates that the curse may have originated from a workplace dispute.
Another possibility is that the curse relates to a conflict in Athens around 2,300 years ago. Following the death of Alexander the Great in 323 BC, his empire collapsed, leading to power struggles among generals and officials. Historical records indicate that several factions sought to gain control of Athens during that time.
The ceramic jar was excavated in 2006. Lamont recently analyzed and deciphered the jar. The excavation was conducted under the direction of Marcie Handler, a doctoral candidate at the University of Cincinnati.
