Every blessing ignored becomes a curse.

Paulo Coelho

Since time immemorial, curses have existed in the form of pleas to supernatural and divine forces. This is something that is there since the beginning of the mankind. It is pretty much widespread in many of the societies to get into such practices, where people wish for evil, for their enemies or the ones who they don’t like and abhor. Curse casting has been a profession as it involves prayers, rituals, and language. Here are 11 mysteries ancient curses that will leave you surprised:

1 – The Curse Of Tamerlane

Tamerlane's tomb uncovered by Russian archeologists

On June 20, 1941, the tomb of Tamerlane, the 14th-century Persian conqueror, was opened, and the mausoleum was filled with the sharp choking odor of resin, camphor, rose, and frankincense. The tombstone had been carefully protected and had clear warnings against disturbing the warlord within. Despite the protests of the locals who feared repercussions, the Russian excavators, under the rule of Joseph Stalin, uncovered this ancient discovery anyway. Many people say, by doing this, they also uncovered one nasty curse that may have caused the Nazi invasion of the Soviet Union and one of the bloodiest ensuing battles of in all of WWII.

2 – Pella Curse Tablet

A tablet (katadesmos) from Pella, Cemetery of Agora, now at the Museum of Pella.

Also known as binding tablets, archaeologists have uncovered 1,600 Greek curse tablets, one of which, is the Pella tablet, unearthed from the ancient Macedonian capital of Pella and supposedly created between 375 and 350 BC. Apparently it was written by Dagina, calling upon the divine powers to help her beloved, Dionysophon, is on the precipice of marriage to another woman.

3 – The Curse Of King Casimir

King Casimir IV Jagiellon was married to Elisabeth of Habsburg; of their many children four became kings

4 of the 12 researchers were dead, just days after opening  the tomb of King Casimir IV Jagiellon in 1973, similarly, over the few years, more people succumbed to death of cancer and fatal diseases on opening it. Apparently, when Casimir died in 1492, his corpse decomposed rapidly and was sealed hastily, giving rise to a deadly fungus ‘Aspergillus flavus‘ that attacked everything in its vicinity when it was opened.

4 – Jacques De Molay’s Malediction

Jacques de Molay's Burning at the Stake

By the 12th century AD, the Knights Templar had become one of the most powerful organizations in Europe, they found the lost treasure of King Solomon. King Philip IV of France began borrowing from the Templars and never returned them back, and he Pope Clement V stripped de Molay of his duties, tortured, imprisoned and burned him alive. De Molay cursed Clement and Philip would be dead within a year and Philip’s line would be erased. Apparently, the same happened.

5 – The Curse Of St. Anne’s Well

St. Anne's Well, Brislington, Bristol. ©Pete Yeates (Image Source)

The mother of the Virigin Mary, Anne is often associated with healing wells. Anne supposedly bathed in the well, which the archaeologists uncovered near Liverpool that was tended by a priory of 12 monks. A dispute arose for access of the well between the father of the priory Delwaney and his landowning neighbour, Hugh Darcy. Delwaney cursed Darcy and fell over dead right after. Darcy’s son died within 3 months and a year later, he was found at the bottom of the well with his head crushed in.

6 – Commercial Rivalry Curses

In 2003, archaeologists unearthed the cremated remains of an ancient Athenian woman along with five lead curse tablets directed towards Tavern owners, one of which was blank and the others had inscriptions indicating it to be a commercial rivalry. Greek tradition held that curse tablets should be deposited underground, which is why, there is a possibility that her death provided the spell caster an opportunity to convey the curse to the underworld.

7 – Broken Assyrian Stele

Assyrian Stele - British Museum

In 1897, during excavations of the ancient city of Dur-Katlimmu, archaeologists discovered a basalt stele containing an Assyrian curse, dating back to 800 BC and depicting King Adad-Nirari III surrounded by sacred symbols apparently asking god Salmanu to watch over Adad-Ninari, his priesthood, and the Assyrian people. The artefact was found in two pieces, The British Museum houses the top, while the bottom was put up for auction.

8 – The City That Jesus Cursed

Chorazin, Israel (Image Source)

Chorazin was one of three cities that Jesus cursed according to the Gospels of Luke and Matthew, as the inhabitants witnessed his miracles but failed to accept him or mend their wicked ways. But this alone couldn’t have been the reason. According to Jewish tradition, the Antichrist would rise from this cursed city, however no evidence were found of the city to have existed in Jesus’ time.

9 – The Wrath Of The Fairies

Oberon, Titania and Puck with Fairies Dancing circa 1786 William Blake 1757-1827

Dated to AD 800, the fairyfort is an Iron Age ring fort that the Irish attributed to magical inhabitants like fairies and leprechauns, and they also warn the US pharmaceutical company that if it builds a factory over a “fairyfort” a curse will befall. But West Pharmaceutical Services are building their facility over there, ignoring all the legends and apparently no locals are helping them.

10 – The Croesus Treasure’s Trail Of Misery

In a tomb in Western Turkey, villagers discovered treasure of 363 silver and gold objects that were dubbed the “Croesus Treasure”, soon misfortune struck and made people to believe that the treasure was cursed. New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art purchased the treasure, but Turkish government took steps and got it back after 6 years of legal battle.

11 – The Curse Of The Sarcophagus

Sarcophagus of Ahiram, King of Biblos (Phoenicia) in XIII-X c. BC. Kept in Beirut National Museum. Sarcophagus made in around 1000 BC.

During excavations of the ancient Phoenician city of Byblos, in 1923, the archaeologists unearthed the cursed sarcophagus of King Ahiram, which is the only evidence of this mysterious king. Dating back to 1000 BC, scholars claimed to find inscriptions that provides a curse to protect it from grave robbers, but it did not work. These inscriptions are believed to be the oldest known fully developed Phoenician alphabets.