Archive for October, 2009
How to curse Pontius Pilate, and other procurators of Caesarea
by meggie on Oct.31, 2009, under Academics and News
The magazine Archaeology has recently posted a report that numerous curse tablets have been found at the site of the Roman governor’s residence in Caesarea Maritima in Judaea. Archaeologists suggest that these were meant to influence the games at the hippodrome or “decisions in the governor’s tribunal”.
One cannot but remember that one of the most famous officials in Roman Judaea, Pontius Pilate – the procurator who the Bible points to as the man who condemned Christ to death – was in power during the first century AD/CE (these tablets were dated to approximately that time period). On a day like today (Halloween), it is fanciful but not entirely unfounded to consider that some of these curse tablets could have been directed at an official loathed as Pilote was in the Bible, who disregarded the opinion of his people (let’s forget their needs – the governor was there for Rome, not for the Judaeans who had rebelled more than once, and lost), and was either oblivious or indifferent to the anger and frustration that could bubble as a result of his decisions.
On Halloween, curse tablets can be powerful examples of the Roman belief that the gods would smite on your behalf, if only you presented your petition in the right format.
Rome’s Metro line C – The Continuing Story
by meggie on Oct.26, 2009, under Academics and News, Archaeology
It was a wonderful day in archaeology when Rome’s Metro line C construction project was approved. It seems that every 30 metres or so, workers uncover something new and wonderful under the streets of the Eternal City and have to pause construction while every available archaeologist flocks to the site to get it recorded before the line continues on.
Most recently, the Athenaeum of the Emperor Hadrian (AD/CE 117-138) – constructed after one of many visits to the Greek East – has been discovered and is under the watchful eye of archaeologists while construction workers look on.
Previously, temples, tombs, and the remnants of buildings following the Great Fire in AD/CE 65 have also been identified.
What else will come to light while Rome tries to expand its underground transit system? Only time will tell.
