This morning, I came across a story about the Delhi Purple Sapphire, which will soon be on display at London's Natural History Museum. One of a handful of famous gems that are reputed to be cursed, the stone spent decades tucked away at the back of a dusty cabinet, accompanied by a note from its last owner, which read, “This stone is trebly accursed and is stained with the blood, and the dishonour of everyone who has ever owned it."
Like other "bloodstained" jewels, such as the Hope Diamond and the Black Orlov, the Delhi Purple Sapphire was brought to Europe from India. (In fact, a remarkable percentage of cursed gems are said to have been pried from the eyes of Indian idols.) Once it left its native land, the stone began to take its revenge on anyone who touched it.
One by one, the owners of the Delhi Purple Sapphire lost their fortunes, their health, and finally their lives. (A singer who wore the sapphire only once managed to keep her life--but lost her voice.) Eventually, the stone was donated to the museum, enclosed in seven locked boxes and surrounded by good-luck charms. A typewritten warning advised anyone who opened the boxes to cast the rock into the sea.
The Hope Diamond and the Black Orlov share similar dark histories. Those who've owned the Black Orlov (including two princesses) have displayed an unfortunate tendency to fling themselves from high places. The list of lives rumored to have been ruined by the Hope Diamond is even longer, and includes Marie Antoinette herself, who wore the diamond while she still had a head around which to wear it.
Read more about the Delhi Purple Sapphire here.
(Below: The infamous Hope Diamond.)
37 comments:
That's pretty horrific! I'd like to see it though...
Marie Antionette wore that? THat's amazing. Hey, you know how in EMPRESS there was Marie Antionette's room? I didn't exactly get that concept. What do you mean HER ROOM?
It meant everything but the four walls (which remain at the palace of Versailles outside Paris). So all the furnishings, wall decorations, etc.
I LOVE the Hope Diamond. I've seen it a couple of times. I'm going to check the Delhi Purple Sapphire.
I have read about a 'bloodstained' jewel- and I believe it was black. I'm going to go check those other two out.
Awesome memory, udon'tneed2knowmyname!
Wow! thats amazing but really sad. i'd be too scared to even look at it even if it was behind glass!
"a remarkable percentage of cursed gems are said to have been pried from the eyes of Indian idols."
Yes, but what percentage of people actually believe that? Not me, at very least.
Oh, and Ananka? Where can you buy The Empress's Tomb? I haven't gotten my hands on a copy yet (the horror!) and I can't find it at Border's or Barnes & Noble or various other stores and places, including the library.
i get it now, ananka. thanx. by the way, do you know if she, per chance, had it on when she was beheadded? That would be weird! poor marie, i just found out that she was falsely accused of saying that terrible quote. Can you believe that? That would really stink. what a sad life she had, she made some mistakes, but wasn't she only like, 17?
international mastermind, i think we have a lot in common. it just means so much to get a compliment from you! *shiff* i just know we'd be great friends...
Patsee: Yeah, I don't believe it, either. But they were all stolen in one form or another from India. As for ET, you should be able to get it from any of those stores. (It's a little disturbing that you haven't been able to find it!) But there's always Amazon.
UDN2KMN: I think she was 14 when she was married. (Believe it or not.) But she was quite a bit older when she died. (Though by no means elderly.) She was an interesting person. Not quite the villain that people have made her out to be.
dang! 3 years off! hey, same concept. but you're right, she was no more a villain than u or me.... wait that isn't saying much, sometimes we seem to be somewhat villainy. jk
qma is probably turning in her grave as we speak!
o yeah, i forgot, why is there that new html site? isn't this one good enough?! ha ha.
*Screams* Oh my gosh! What kind of bookstore or library doesn't carry the Empress's Tomb?
are you JOKING? that bookstore must be terminated- IMMEDIATELY! we'll take 'em down spring. one nincanpoop at a time.
speaking of the empress in the bkstores, yesterday I was in Barnes and Noble, and in the teen bk section I really felt like crying. I whole entire shelf practically dedicated to gossip girl and some other mush, then down in the corner behind a display I find one lone copy of the Empress. Totally demoralizing.
great post, diamonds are a girls best friend (altough chocolate is certainlly putting up a fight for the right)
Amazon. Okay. I'll keep that in mind.
theatre, i know exactly what you mean! Gossip Girl is taking over the world! It's just mindless trash! i can't believe it, no wonder their aren't many irregulars or members of The Curious around. I'd like to read one just to see how stupid they are. no wonder some girls are so nasty, i mean when all ur exposed to is THAT, what do you expect?
You would have to kill me to put on that cursed ring! No kidding.
QMA is kinda like Oona, betrayed.
Hay, getting over the bug yet??
The Hope Diamond is NOT too hopefull!
Do not nock gossip girl you'd be suprised how many usefull things there are! Lip gloss efects any secret outfit.
P.S. you could, maybe, order THE EMPRESS"S TOMB at Borders Book Store, or wait for it at the library.
I don't know much about the gossip girl books but I'm guessing they are like the clique books and they aren't stupid they show how even the mean popular girls have problems and are just like the avgerage person and I like them you should try i think you will like what you read -Nina-
Personally I think the Clique and Gossip Girl (I've read some of the Clique) effect those with poor will-power and those who are incredibly insecure negatively.
I have a "friend" who read some of them... lets just say she idols Massie :)...
I hope the reason there was only 1 copy of EMPRESS was because all the others had been bought on October 2nd.
*sigh* It's just wishful thinking I guess.
hey maybe i'll try them(gossip Girl) i mean i'm not looking for role models, but it can't hurt to explore, can it?
I wouldn't worry too much about the Empress. She's doing just fine. She just doesn't have a TV show dedicated to her yet.
Ugghhh...
I have read numerous novel mush like that, for laughs. On my darkest days, they make me thankful that I am above that.
People that depend on Clique and Gossip Girl are just insecure with thmselves. I sound like a shrink.
The Empress will rule the world!!!
LONG LIVE KIKI STRIKE AND HER MERRY BAND OF IRREGULARS!!!!MAY WE NEVER FALL SUBJECT TO THE POP-CULTURE BRAINWASH THAT HAS TAKEN OVER AMERICA!!!!!!!!
Well maybe she will have a TV show... you should try to get one - after more books are out!!!
Hay A.N. if you see this(hope you do)write someting too ;)
Go I.M.! You are so right!
Ejr most poeple die AFTER they wear the diamond. Whatever you like!
Wild has refused to say any thing to me.
yeah whatever, i have more important things to worry about other that gossip girl( like that science test this week that is giving me an olcer!) glad we started a multi-opionated discussion here, it prove we are intelligent people. most other girls would be like: ... Like yeah, i mean GOSSIP GIRL, i'm so happy its a show now. Like totally, i understand, if only i could get the remote to work... hey, do any of you know what a bookstore is? Or an empress for that matter..."
lol:)
EJR: Thanks! Yes, I'm feeling much better. Who's AN?
woooooo, 32 comments slow down peeps can bearlly keep up--little brother just discovered RUNESAPE so no computer :(
oooh...... scawy........
BUT COOL!!!!!!!!
He just discovered Runescape? It's the coolest game ever!
anoumous, icannot agree with you gossip girl is so mean, im sorry but it just, it just makes me want to cry. the girls problems are usually not being skinny enough or hot enough or boy trouble, who needs that, in real life or on fiction? "Friends for never" "all i want is everything" "you know you love me"(like the person doesn't have a choice) "Only in your dreams" Noboy does it better" (and just what does that mean?) and my 'favorite nothing can keep us togetther, i will accept your opinion anounymous, but i cannot agree with you sorry but, it's true
I've been to Washington D.C. and seen the Hope Diamond. It was pretty cool.
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