Arae: The Curse Poetry of Antiquity (Arca,Classical and Medieval Texts,Papers and Monographs 26)

A fundamental study of curses from a literary point of view. First the author differentiates the various types of curses found in ancient poetry; this is followed by a chronological examination of the curses, from archaic abd classical Greece to Hellenistic and Roman times. The rich Hellenistic material is treated in particular detail, by placing it in its literary context and in relation to defixiones.