The precious gemstone known as the Delhi Purple Sapphire is considered to have an “evil spirit” attached to it.
 |
| Delhi Purple Sapphire |
This gem is considered by
most to be unremarkable in appearance. It is set in an unattractive silver ring, and it has never been regarded as rare or valuable.
But the note that came with it, and the chilling tale it tells--captured the young curator’s attention.
But the note that came with it, and the chilling tale it tells--captured the young curator’s attention.
It is believed the Delhi Purple
Sapphire was looted from the Temple of
Indra in India, during a violent Indian Mutiny, that occurred in 1857.
This temple honors the Hindu
god of war and weather, and it is believed that when the gem was stolen this
ancient idol placed a curse upon the stone.
 |
| Temple of Indra |
After this mutiny, a Colonel
W. Ferris, a Bengal Cavalryman, brought the sapphire home to England with him.
He quickly regretted this, for
soon after his return, his family was plagued by both health and financial woes.
The family blamed the Purple
Sapphire for a series of bad financial investments that Mr. Ferris and his son made.
These investments led to their financial ruin.
The Ferris’ family firmly
believed in the curse by the time, a friend who had possession of the
stone, committed suicide with no apparent reason.
 |
| Edward Heron-Allen |
Edward Heron-Allen, an author,
was the next Englishman to own the Purple Sapphire. He came into possession of
it in 1890.
He was a close personal
friend of Oscar Wilde, and after a series of misfortunes befell him he told
Wilde, he felt “an evil spirit” must be attached to the stone.
Heron-Allen --despite being a
well-respected and educated man in several fields including science--told Wilde
that he believed his trouble began with his possession of the sapphire.
He at one point gave the
sapphire away twice, to friends, but both times they returned it to him stating
that it had brought them “bad luck.”
Heron even attempted to get
rid of the stone by throwing it into the Regent’s Canal. But a local jeweler
returned it to him three months later, announcing to Heron-Allen’s chagrin, that a
dredger had found it, and he had immediately recognized it as belonging to him.
This incident convinced the author that the stone must have a powerful curse on it.
After 14 years in possession
of this gemstone, Heron-Allen’s daughter was born. He sealed the stone in a box
and sent it to his bankers with strict instructions.
He told them to keep it locked
away until his death.
 |
| National History Museum London |
He stipulated that under no
circumstances, should his daughter ever touch or possess the sapphire.
In 1943, after Heron-Allen’s
death, this museum did receive the box. They put it aside not opening it--per
the author’s instructions.
It wasn’t until long after
the box arrived that the young curator mentioned above finally read the typewritten note. It ended with these words:
“Whoever shall then open, shall first read out this warning, and then do
as he pleases with the jewel. My advice for him or her is to cast it into the
sea.”
Unfortunately, it appears
this curse continues. A member of the museum, John Whittaker was tasked, in
2004, to take the Purple Sapphire to the Heron-Allen society for an event.
During his journey, Whittaker
and his wife were trapped in their car--engulfed in a violent thunderstorm.
They felt they were lucky to get out without injury.
Whittaker was tasked a second
time to transport the sapphire but he became bedridden with a severe illness.
For a third time, Whittaker
was tasked to transport the gem--this time severe pain overtook him, and he
later passed a kidney stone.
No comments:
Post a Comment