-
A Curse Tablet Found Under a Dutch Town Square Carries a Greek Spell in Egyptian Style
A small lead tablet found beneath Heerlen’s town hall square was meant to do harm. Nearly 1,800 years later, its scratched Greek words are revealing how Egyptian-style magic reached Rome’s northern frontier. Researchers at Heidelberg University have deciphered the inscription on the Roman-period curse tablet, discovered in the Dutch municipality of Heerlen. In antiquity, the…
-
1,500-Year-Old Greek Mosaic Discovered Beneath Urfa Castle Reveals Names of Early Byzantine Clergy
In the shadow of Urfa Castle, overlooking the sacred pools of Balıklıgöl in southeastern Türkiye, archaeologists have uncovered a 1,500-year-old mosaic floor bearing a Greek inscription and intricate ornamental designs. The find, dating to the late 5th century CE, sheds new light on the religious landscape of ancient Edessa—one of the earliest centers of Christianity…