Scribing Through Your Pocket

an capall

an capall

Senior Jockey
Joined
May 2, 2003
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(Pretentiousness alert)

I'm after getting addicted to reading and listening to podcasts about Roman History during the lock down year. Found a passage last night that reminded me of quite a few of you here on the forum.

There was a thing called a 'curse plate' where if somebody did you a wrong you'd have a plate/tablet inscribed with a curse and then dedicated to one of the many Gods in the hope your offending party would be cursed. (Think Desert Orchid/Richard Johnson or Slim/everybody else).

Anyway, somebody had bet heavily on the red team in a chariot racing tournament, but blew his stack and wasn't very happy with the performance of a charioteer called Cardelus. The curse plate was inscribed with the following..

I invoke you (God) so that you may help me and restrain and hold in check Cardelus and bring him to a bed of punishment, to be punished with an evil death, to come to an evil condition, him who his mother Fulgentia bore...


Even his Mother got a mention! First ever evidence of 'talking through your pocket' in history?
 
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Fascinating but, just for clarity, I would never (and have never despite what they might believe) wished ill on any jockey or indeed any forumite, even the ones I have on ignore.

A 'curse plate' would be anathema to my personality.

More likely a plate saying:

"Dear God, what did I ever do to offend these people that they rain down incessant insult and curse upon a lamb among lions?"

I can just imagine Messala's curse plate against Judah Ben-Hur, though :)

I imagine it would translate rather loosely as "Fvck that big bastert!"
 
Goes without saying, Orchidus Maximus.

Although can I draw your attention to the punishment for patracide? You'd be sewn into a sack with a wild dog, cockrel, a snake and a monkey and then thrown into the Tiber for nature to take it's course.

Now, where's Harry?
 
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an capall said:
Although can I draw your attention to the punishment for patracide? You'd be sewn into a sack with a wild dog, cockrel, a snake and a monkey and then thrown into the Tiber for nature to take it's course.
Click to expand...

I know some people who would pay good money for an experience like that.
 
an capall said:
(Pretentiousness alert)

I'm after getting addicted to reading and listening to podcasts about Roman History during the lock down year. Found a passage last night that reminded me of quite a few of you here on the forum.

There was a thing called a 'curse plate' where if somebody did you a wrong you'd have a plate/tablet inscribed with a curse and then dedicated to one of the many Gods in the hope your offending party would be cursed. (Think Desert Orchid/Richard Johnson or Slim/everybody else).

Anyway, somebody had bet heavily on the red team in a chariot racing tournament, but blew his stack and wasn't very happy with the performance of a charioteer called Cardelus. The curse plate was inscribed with the following..

I invoke you (God) so that you may help me and restrain and hold in check Cardelus and bring him to a bed of punishment, to be punished with an evil death, to come to an evil condition, him who his mother Fulgentia bore...


Even his Mother got a mention! First ever evidence of 'talking through your pocket' in history?
Click to expand...

This might be the best post I've ever read on here. Surely you need to write an article on this?
 
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