A magical formula cast to restrain a spirit or person’s actions. Much of ancient Greek magic was based upon the concept of binding; taking control of a victim’s mind or body by bending them to the will of the spell caster. Even celestial objects such as the moon could be bound via a ritual known as drawing down the moon (1).
Curses were a type of binding magic which took the form of public warnings or private curses written on papyri and deposited underground which often began with the formula “I bind” and listing all parts of the victim’s body (1). Binding rituals sometimes involved the use of clay or metal figurines, representing the person being bound or cursed, with the spellcaster often tying or breaking the limbs of the figurine or piercing its body with nails and placing the figurine in a miniature lead coffin inscribed with the victim’s name and curse, then burying it in a place of magical power such as a crossroads (1). Binding the will of the gods involved a branch of magic called theurgy.
- Blackett-Ord, R. & Fischel, A. editors. 2020. A History of Magic Witchcraft & the Occult.