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Mysterious Returns Reinforce Belief in a Curse That Affects Those Who Take Objects from the Historical Ruins of the Ancient Roman City
The ancient Roman city of Pompeii is known worldwide for its tragic history and impressive ruins. Buried by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 A.D., the city remained hidden for centuries until it was rediscovered in the 18th century. Since then, it has become a famous tourist destination, attracting visitors curious about its frescoes, structures, and even petrified bodies.
However, beyond its archaeological wealth, Pompeii also carries a dark side. A supposed curse surrounds the site, according to tourists who report feeling regret after taking objects from the ruins as souvenirs.
Theft of the Past
Nicole, a Canadian, visited Pompeii in 2005. Young, in her early twenties, she decided to take some fragments of the site as a keepsake.
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Among the items were pieces of mosaic, a part of pottery, and fragments of an amphora. She mentioned that she wanted to have “a piece of history that no one else could have.”
Fifteen years later, in 2020, Nicole decided to return the objects. Along with the package, she sent a letter explaining that her life had changed drastically since then.
According to her, she faced two battles against breast cancer, the most recent resulting in a double mastectomy. Additionally, her family went through serious financial difficulties.
Nicole wrote that she felt cursed by the items she had taken from Pompeii. “They bring bad luck,” she stated. Regretful, she asked for forgiveness and said she didn’t want to pass this burden onto her children. “We are good people, and I don’t want to pass this curse onto my family or children,” she wrote.
Another Letter in the Package
The package sent by Nicole to the travel agent in Pompeii also included another letter. This time, it was signed by a Canadian couple who also took stones from the site in 2005. They reported deep remorse for having removed artifacts from a city marked by so much suffering.
“We took without thinking of the pain and suffering that these poor souls experienced during the eruption of Vesuvius and their terrible deaths. We are very sorry, please forgive us for making this terrible choice. May their souls rest in peace,” they wrote.
Recurring Returns
Cases like that of Nicole and the Canadian couple are not isolated. According to the portal All That’s Interesting, over the years, several tourists have returned objects taken from Pompeii.
Many accompany the packages with letters recounting illnesses, losses, and misfortunes that they attribute to the so-called “curse of Pompeii.”
Even without scientific proof, the increasing number of returns has drawn attention from local authorities. Therefore, the archaeological park of Pompeii created a small museum to display these returned objects along with the stories of the tourists.
Curse of Pompeii: A Silent Warning
The fame of the curse has become an unofficial warning. Many visitors today think twice before trying to take something from the ruins. The returned letters and objects keep arriving, serving as a reminder that, even centuries later, Pompeii still holds a powerful symbolic force.
With information from Aventuras na História.
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