A.D.) on a site excavated by Chichester District Archaeological Unit ahead of housing development (FIG. 4). 25 The figurine is about 43 mm in height. Except for some limited modern damage to the chest it appears to retain its original form and all four limbs and head are present. However, the end of the right leg, the forearms and hands are missing. The left leg is longer than the right and bent under the body at the knee (FIG. 5a). The forehead is prominent and details of the hair and eyes can be seen, but there is no mouth. There are no indications as to the gender of the figurine, but details on the face could suggest a beard. Its crude appearance suggests that it was roughly made, but a tool with a very thin tip was used to create the detail on the face and the head (FIG. 5c). A broader tool was perhaps used to separate the buttocks (FIG. 5b).

This paper deals with magic figurines from the Western provinces of the Roman Empire based on an inventory of twelve figurines and their archaeological context. It underlines the place of the figurines in the ritual of defixio and demonstrates that complex curse rituals such as those described in the Greek Magical Papyri (GMP) were not performed only in the Mediterranean basin. It also notes that these magic Western figurines are often found in important places (such as cities and large villas) and in late contexts.

No abstract