Curse tablets were popular in the Graeco-Roman world from the second half of the 6th Century B.C. to the late Roman Imperial period. They were often written on lead tablets which were then folded and placed in places associated with the underworld or with water which would flow underground, such as sanctuaries of malevolent spirits, tombs (preferably of people who had died violently), wells, springs, rivers or marshland. The most common curses were prompted by participators in trials, victims of thievery, jealous lovers and rival sportsmen. These curses, which usually come from anonymous people for obvious reasons, could be directed against one or more people or a specific part of the body. In a trial, for example, the curse would be directed towards the tongues of the witnesses or the prosecutor. The above tablet is probably one of these judiciary curses