Execration Texts

Execration texts are ancient Egyptian inscriptions that express curses or condemnations against enemies, wrongdoers, or those who oppose the state or its gods. These texts typically include the naming of individuals or groups, often accompanied by ritualistic acts intended to invoke divine punishment. They were inscribed on pottery, figurines, or other materials, buried in the ground, or destroyed to symbolize the obliteration of the targeted individuals. Execration texts reflect the beliefs in the power of words and the spiritual significance of naming in ancient Egyptian culture, highlighting themes of justice, protection, and social order.