Who doesn’t love a good curse? Well, except those who fall victim to it, of course.
I for one, have always been fascinated with curses, cursed objects and artefacts you probably shouldn’t touch, so I thought, why not pick a few of my favourites to share with you!
By now, we know all about the cursed Dybbuk Box and the haunted Annabelle Doll, so I’ve tried to include a few obscure oddities you may not have heard of.
With that said, let’s explore some creepy cursed objects.
1. The Cursed Phone Number: 0888-888-888
“What’s so scary about a phone number?” I hear you ask. Well according to some, those who’s mobile phone’s have operated under this numbers convenient series of numbers have met an untimely end. The number is owned by the Bulgarian phone company, Mobiltel Telecom, now known as A1, and was bestowed upon the company’s CEO, Vladimir Grashnov. Unfortunately, Mr Grashnov died of cancer in 2001, at the age of 48.
As the notoriety of this number came to light, those of a conspiratorial mindset claim that Mr Grashnov’s cancer was a result of radioactive poisoning on behalf of a business rival. The subsequent owner was alleged Bilgarian mafia boss, Konstantin Dimitrov who fell victim to an assassination. The next owner, an allegedly shady business man was also murdered.
Whether or not this run of bad luck can be attributed to curse or coincidence – the number’s owners were unusually high risk individuals, after all – Mobitel/A1 have allegedly suspended the number.
2. The Woman From Lemb Statue
Allegedly discovered in Lemb, Cypris in 1878, the statue that became known as The Women From Lemb is thought to be a representation of an unidentified Goddess or a fertility idol. The name of the discovering archeologist has also been lost to time, but those who have since owned the statue have supposedly fallen victim to her curse. It is said to have passed between Lord Elphont, Ivor Menucci and Lord Thompson-Noel – with each man succumbing to an untimely death- along with their entire families – whilst the statue was in there possession.
Eventually, the statue was donated to the Royal Scottish Museum in Edinburgh, in an attempt to avoid any subsequent deaths. This was not to be, however, when the museum’s curator – apparently the only one to handle the statue – died within the year
3. The Hope Diamond
This beautiful gem is perhaps one of the most famous cursed items in history. Its tale certainly terrified me in my youth and sparked my morbid curiosity in cursed artefacts.
The 45.52 carat diamond was extracted in Guntur, India and is famed for its deep blue hue, and its legacy of famous owners. Legend states that the diamond once sat as an eye in a statue of the Goddess Sita, with its theft being the origin of the curse itself. Unfortunately – or perhaps, fortunately – this story is likely untrue and invented in the 20th century as a way to garner publicity and interest in its upcoming sale.
Regardless, the diamond has supposedly brought terror upon its owners, leaving them destitute or dead, with perhaps the most famous being Louis XVI of France and Marie Antoinette – who both met their end at the blade of the guillotine.
Today, the diamond is owned by the Smithsonian Institution, wich has broken its alleged curse and brought, as one curator says, “nothing but good luck”.
4. Ötzi, The Iceman
Natural mummification is a hell of a thing, as one Copper Age European would tell you. The individual in question has become known as Ötzi, named after the Ötztal Alps, where he was found in 1991.
Since then, the deaths of seven people who were connected to his initial discovery, have met untimely ends, ranging from blood diseases to avalanches.
Ötzi, born around 3275 BC, is believed to have been murdered which may be the origin for his alleged curse, but he is far from the only mummy to be linked with one. His famous cousin Tutankhamun, is said to have also cursed those who disturbed his eternal sleep.
5. The Ring Of Silvianus
You may not have heard of this one, but you’ve certainly heard of the story it inspired.
In 1785, the ring was unearthed in a field near the village of Silchester, and passed through a handful of owners before settling in a country house near Basingstoke, known as The Vyne.
The ring, possibly meant to be worn over a glove, features 10 facets, and a square bezel engraved with the Goddess Venus, and sat quite happily in Hampshire as nothing more than a nice piece of ancient jewellery.
That was to change in 1929 however, when archaeologist, Sir Mortimer Wheeler, discovered a Roman-era curse tablet in Lydney, Gloucestershire – 80 miles away from Silchester, and practically in my own back yard.
The tablet was found in a temple to the God, Nodens, a Celtic healing Deity, and read:
For the god Nodens. Silvianus has lost a ring and has donated one half [its worth] to Nodens. Among those named Senicianus permit no good health until it is returned to the temple of Nodens.
Unfortunately, the fate of the alleged thief, Senicianus, is lost to time, however, Silvianus’s lost ring and his subsequent curse found a place in literary history, when Wheeler discussed them with his old friend, J.R.R Tolkien.
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