DEFISSIONE. — From *de-figere* “to bind fast” (in Greek *κατάδεσμος*, from *καταδεῖν* “to bind down”) is the magical act that aims to harm another by means of an execratory formula directed at infernal and malefic powers. This formula is written on a thin sheet of lead, rolled up and fastened with a nail or other binding, then placed in a hole in the ground, in a tomb, or in a thermal spring—places deemed to be in communication with the underworld.
There exist Latin, Greek, Oscan, and Etruscan examples, numbering more than five hundred. They are sometimes written in a language unknown to the writer, for, being mysterious, they are held to be more efficacious; at other times they contain a jumble of letters or phrases that make no sense, adopted for the same reason. The victim is identified by name, nickname, and maternal lineage (*mater semper certa*), together with the harm intended (H. Dessau, *Inscr. lat. sel.*, 8748). Sometimes the tablet is used to secure an unrequited love (ibid., 8756) or to prevent a rival’s love from being reciprocated (ibid., 8757). There are also tablets against the racehorses of the opposing faction, each one named individually, so that they may not run straight, feel the bit, turn properly, fall, and lose the race (ibid., 8754).
The lead tablets of defixiones, all of popular origin, are also of linguistic interest for the peculiarities they display in both language and orthography.