Whether it’s an ancient amulet to protect a newborn baby, a love spell to lock down a romantic relationship, a potion that someone might pick up today from their neighborhood apothecary, or even a spray of Chanel perfume to make yourself irresistIble, humans have used – and continue to use – magic to get what they want. These spells and their use in the ancient world are the focus of Cursed! an entrancing exhibition at the Toledo Museum of Art that offers a deep dive into the use of magic in ancient cultures in Mesopotamia, Egypt, Greece and Rome.
“Magic is in all societies, it’s a very basic human desire, to want to have some control over your world,” said show curator Dr Jeffrey Spier, a former senior curator with the J Paul Getty Museum. “There’s always been a desire to use some hidden power to get what you need.”
