Gaius Decius, often referred to as Gaius Decius Mundus or Gaius Decianus, was a historical figure associated with the city of Camulodunum (modern-day Colchester) during the time of Roman Britain. He is most famously known for an incident involving a curse tablet found in the ruins of the city.
The curse tablet, commonly known as the "Curse Tablet of Gaius Julius Vindex," contains a curse written by Gaius Decius Mundus against a man named Gaius Julius Vindex. The curse was inscribed on a lead tablet and placed in a well, presumably as an attempt to invoke supernatural forces to harm or punish the target of the curse.
The curse tablet is notable because it provides a glimpse into the personal and superstitious aspects of life in Roman Britain. It's written in Latin and includes the names of various deities and spirits that were believed to have the power to carry out the curses. The specific reasons behind the curse and the identities of the people involved remain somewhat mysterious, but it's believed that Gaius Decius Mundus might have been a Romanized local individual who used the curse tablet as a way to address a personal grievance.
The discovery of this curse tablet and others like it offers valuable historical insights into the beliefs, practices, and social dynamics of the people living in Camulodunum during the Roman period.
