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Cursed! Tour with the Curator

Date: Friday, June 26, 2026, Time: 3:30–4:30 p.m., Location: Glass Pavilion, Gallery 5

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PROGRAM: Cursed! Tour with the Curator
Member Adult

$10.00

Non Member Adult

$10.00

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Program Details

Cursed! Tour with the Curator

Friday, June 26 | 3:30–4:30 p.m. | Glass Pavilion, Gallery 5

Free for members, $10 for non-members

 

The spells are fading, but there is still time.

Before Cursed! The Power of Magic in the Ancient World closes on July 3, join curator Dr. Jeffrey Spier for a special guided tour through a world shaped by charms, curses, and protective rituals. Explore love spells, curse tablets, and magical objects dating from 2000 BCE to 300 CE and discover how people across the ancient Mediterranean and Near East sought to influence fate, ward off danger, and navigate the unseen forces around them.

As the exhibition's closing date approaches, this rare opportunity offers a final chance to experience these remarkable objects through the eyes of the curator who brought them together. Step into a realm where magic was woven into everyday life and uncover the beliefs that captivated ancient imaginations before the exhibition vanishes on Friday, July 3.

Dr. Jeffrey Spier is a scholar of ancient art and material culture, with expertise spanning Greek and Roman art, ancient gems and jewelry, early Christian and Byzantine art, and the history of collecting. He earned his doctorate at Merton College, Oxford, and previously taught classical archaeology at University College London and the University of Arizona. From 2014 until his retirement in early 2024, he served as Senior Curator of Antiquities at the J. Paul Getty Museum, where he organized and curated numerous major exhibitions and publications. His books include Ancient Gems and Finger Rings, Picturing the Bible, and Late Byzantine Rings. Spier’s work brings the ancient world to life through objects, images, and the enduring power of belief and ritual.

Guests are invited to meet at the entrance to the exhibition and check in 5-10 minutes before the tour begins.

Registration for this tour is required. 

Cursed! The Power of Magic in the Ancient World is a ticketed exhibition, tickets can be ordered during the registration of this event. Exhibition tickets are free for members and $10 for non-members. Learn more about membership here. Members will receive their discount on tickets at checkout based on membership level. Members will receive their discount on tickets at checkout based on membership level.

 
If you need accommodations, assistance, or appropriate modifications to fully participate in this event, please let us know by contacting Access Initiatives at [email protected]. Please note that while we endeavor to provide everyone with a positive visitor experience, last-minute requests may not be accommodated; we ask for requests to be made, at minimum, three days prior to the event. Thank you.
 
If you've registered but can no longer attend, kindly notify the museum as soon as possible so we can accommodate others. You can contact us by phone at 419.255.8000 or by email at  [email protected].
 
Cursed! The Power of Magic in the Ancient World is made possible through the generous support of Presenting Sponsors Susan and Tom Palmer, Season Sponsor Taylor Automotive Family, and Silver Sponsors Edward W. and Barnwell E. Lane III, the Toledo Museum of Art Ambassadors, and the Ohio Arts Council, which receives support from the State of Ohio and the National Endowment for the Arts.