SU UNA MALEDIZIONE OSCA: TEONIMO O MATRONIMICO?

Abstract

The “formula†osca. Maternal filiation or identification of the son? The formula matronimica in an oscan defixio (the so-called “curse of Vibiaâ€: Vetter 6) it is not, as Lejeune sustained, an insult addressed to the subject of the curse (“child of demoniessa†or something similar), but it is the indication of the real filiation. The matronimico in the curses is a use present in a very huge area, from the Mediterranean to the Ancient India. The purpose is the right identification of the execrated person.