Rites and Magic in Antiquity

Greco-Roman magic has left behind various testimonies through archaeology.

The main element is defixion tablets, that is, bewitchment tablets. Imported by Greek colonists, these defixio practices then spread with the expansion of the Roman Empire. The Mediterranean regions and southern Gaul in general have a large number of these magical tablets. They were used over a long period, from the 6th century BC to the 6th century AD, but the majority are dated to around the end of the 1st century AD.