Ancient "curse tablet" targeting unlucky pair unearthed by archaeologists in Germany

By Emily Mae Czachor

December 18, 2023 / 8:47 AM PST / CBS News

Archaeologists probing a construction site in northern Germany recently unearthed a cryptic artifact that they believe dates back to the 15th century: a medieval "curse tablet," with an inscription seemingly directed at two specific people.

The tablet was made from a small slab of lead, which was rolled up and "inconspicuous" when archaeologists discovered it beneath a latrine at the site in Rostock, a coastal city where construction for a town hall building was underway, the city said in a translated news release.



The medieval slab of lead is inscribed with faint Gothic lettering.

ARCHEOLOGY IN MECKLENBURG-WESTERN POMERANIA

When researchers unrolled the piece of metal, they found a handwritten message in Gothic script that was hard to see with the naked eye. They ultimately deciphered the lettering as a clear curse, targeting a woman named Taleke and a man named Hinrik with its bad omen. According to archaeologists, the script read, "sathanas taleke belzebuk hinrik berith," which they interpreted as a call summoning Satan and the demonic spirit Berith against the unlucky pair, for one reason or another.

More:
https://www.cbsnews.com/sacramento/news/ancient-curse-tablet-targeting-woman-man-archaeologists-germany-rostock/