Here’s one from L’espresso which goes beyond brief mention and hopefully we’ll read about this one in the English press (because we should! I was unaware of all this for some reason) … back in 1999 at Monti Parioli archaeologists found a pile of artifacts in a fountain dedicated to Anna Perenna dating from the second century A.D. (possibly earlier). What’s especially interesting for our purposes is that they found 22 defixiones, 14 other sheets of lead, and a pile of containers with anthopomorphic wax figures in them, obviously for black/sympathetic magic purposes. A pile of coins was also found. What the article seems to be primarily doing is advertising a conference focussing on all that … but it sure sounds interesting!
Turns out there’s some good stuff on the web too, e.g.,:
- Attilio Mastrocinque, Late Antique Lamps with Defixiones (pdf … looks at a number of items from the fountain)
rogueclassicism 
Anna Perenna (…) 22 defixiones. Feb. 3rd 2009.
I read your blog regarding this subject and when I saw the following figure in the accompanying E’spresso article, pg. 2, entitled: “…Disegno della defixio con i serpenti e la
maledizione contro l’arbitro Sura…”; I realized this and other images of this discovery was on display at the past exhibit in Rome:
– Roma Mostra – Memorie dal sottosuolo. Ritrovamenti archeologici (1980-2006) / Rome – Exhibit: Memories from the Underground. Archaeological Finds (1980-2006). Dec. 2nd 2006 to Apr. 9 2007.
I have color images online relating to this discover from the exhibit:
Roma – Memorie dal sottosuolo. Ritrovamenti Archeologici (1980 / 2006). [Summary Listing of the Exhibit Catalogue Articles, Italian News Reports, with the Image Collection © Prof.ssa Sara Gavanovich, Rome (March 2007)]. =
http://www.flickr.com/photos/imperial_fora_of_rome/sets/72157600155920253/with/476759164/
Foto 1). =
![Mostra: Roma - Memorie dal sottosuolo. Ritrovamenti Archeologici (1980 / 2006). [Image # 053 © Sara Gavanovich, Rome. March 2007].](https://live.staticflickr.com/189/481761855_9f7d436c29_z.jpg)
![Mostra: Roma - Memorie dal sottosuolo. Ritrovamenti Archeologici (1980 / 2006). [Image # 054 © Sara Gavanovich, Rome. March 2007].](https://live.staticflickr.com/167/481744113_7ffff44477_z.jpg)
![Mostra: Roma - Memorie dal sottosuolo. Ritrovamenti Archeologici (1980 / 2006). [Image # 055 © Sara Gavanovich, Rome. March 2007].](https://live.staticflickr.com/198/481744057_34ede73bb9_z.jpg)
![Mostra: Roma - Memorie dal sottosuolo. Ritrovamenti Archeologici (1980 / 2006). [Image # 056 © Sara Gavanovich, Rome. March 2007].](https://live.staticflickr.com/227/481733414_a58be45469_z.jpg)
Foto 2). =
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