Written by the TreasureGuide for the Treasure Beaches Report.
Archaeologists in Germany have discovered a rolled-up piece of lead that they think could be a medieval "curse tablet" that invokes "Beelzebub," or Satan.
Upon first glance, the researchers thought the "inconspicuous piece of metal" was simply scrap, since it was found at the bottom of a latrine at a construction site in Rostock, a city in northern Germany, according to a translated statement.
However, once they unfurled it, archaeologists realized that the 15th-century artifact contained a cryptic message etched in Gothic minuscule that was barely visible to the naked eye. It read, "sathanas taleke belzebuk hinrik berith." Researchers deciphered the text as a curse that was directed toward a woman named Taleke and a man named Hinrik (Heinrich) and summoned Beelzebub (another name for Satan) and Berith (a demonic spirit)....
Here is the link for more about that.
In ancient Greece and Rome, lead curses, known as defixiones, were prevalent, continuing into the Christian era. These inscriptions invoked divine or demonic powers for various purposes, including causing harm to rivals, settling disputes, or securing love.
The curse, typically etched on soft lead sheets, would be rolled or folded and placed in locations deemed gateways to chthonic powers, such as graves, wells, or temples, making them challenging for the cursed individuals to discover.
While the tradition of lead curse tablets diminished in the early 7th century, the discovery in medieval Rostock suggests a revival of this ancient practice. The tablet emerged during the preliminary excavation for the town hall's expansion, initially appearing as a random piece of rolled-up metal...
And here is that link.
---
I know that a couple reales and an escudo were recently found. Maybe I'll be able to show those some day. Numerous modern gold items were also found the past few days.
And more good news... the long-awaited book on Spanish Colonial artifacts by Laura Strolia is nearly complete now.
---
 |
| Surf Chart from SurfGuru.com |
We had some north winds today.
Not much change in the surf height this week.
Good hunting,
TreasureGuide