DEFISSIONE. - From de-figere "to fix beneath" (in Gr. κατάδεσμος from καταδεῖν "to bind beneath") is the magical action intended to cause harm to another by means of an execratory formula directed to infernal and malevolent powers. This formula is written on a small lead tablet, rolled up and held fast with a nail or other binding, and placed in a hole in the ground, in a tomb, or in a thermal spring—places believed to be in communication with the underworld.
There are Latin, Greek, Oscan, and Etruscan examples, numbering over 500, and they are sometimes written in a language unknown to the writer because, as mysterious, they are considered to be of greater efficacy; at other times they contain a jumble of letters or phrases that make no sense and are adopted for the same reason. The name, nickname, and maternal lineage (mater semper certa) of the person one wishes to harm are specified, as well as the evil to which one wishes to condemn them (H. Dessau, Inscr. lat. sel., 8748). Sometimes the tablet is intended to obtain a hitherto unrequited love (ibid., 8756) or to prevent another person's requited love (ibid., 8757). There are also defixiones against the racehorses of the opposing faction, individually named, so that they may not move, may not feel the bit, may turn badly, fall, and lose the race (ibid., 8754).
The defixio tablets, all of popular origin, are also of linguistic interest for the peculiarities they present in both language and orthography.