My late wife, may she rest in peace, was convinced that someone very close to us had cast a curse on me. She kept it a secret from me for most of our years together, but finally, about four years before her passing, she let me know what she thought and why she had taken that position. Needless to say, it was very difficult for me to accept. But I could sense that she was coming from a place of love and devotion so I took her premonitions seriously.
Over several months. I read as much as I could about the concept of curses from a sociological and historical perspective. I also looked into it from a psycholinguistic point of view, given that I have some training and background in that field. Curses and cursing have been a part of human culture and belief systems across various societies and epochs, serving as a fascinating lens to understand both the psychological and sociological aspects of human behavior.
Historically, a curse has been understood as a supernatural tool for causing harm or misfortune to others. These curses could be invoked through rituals, spells, or simply by the utterance of certain words. They are deeply rooted in the belief systems of many ancient cultures, from the Egyptians and Greeks to African and Native American tribes. The concept of a curse was often tied to the belief in mystical forces and deities who could be appealed to or appeased.
Being of Iranian and Armenian heritage, I know quite a bit about how curses have been regarded and used in those cultures. Historically, Iran, with its rich tapestry of cultural influences from the Persian Empire to Zoroastrianism, has seen curses used in various forms. In ancient Persia, cursing was often intertwined with religious and magical practices. The priests, known as Magi, were believed to possess the power to curse those who defied the moral and societal norms as dictated by Zoroastrian teachings. These curses were not mere words but were considered potent tools that could invoke divine wrath or misfortune.
Farsi, the Persian language, famed for its poetic elegance, has historically integrated cursing in a manner that is both expressive and nuanced. Classical Farsi literature, including works of renowned poets like Hafez and Rumi, occasionally alludes to curses or imprecations1, albeit in a stylistic and metaphorical context. These were not direct curses but rather poetic expressions of disdain or displeasure, often reflecting societal and moral commentaries.
Like Farsi, in the Armenian language, curses often take the form of poetic expressions, imbued with deep emotion and cultural significance. These expressions are not always meant to invoke harm but are sometimes used to convey the intensity of a feeling or situation. For instance, an Armenian might use a curse expression more as a form of emphatic speech rather than wishing actual misfortune upon someone.
The Armenian Church has historically played a significant role in shaping the cultural attitudes towards curses. The Church's teachings often discouraged the practice of cursing, promoting forgiveness and reconciliation instead. This religious influence is evident in the way curses are perceived and used in modern Armenian society.
Moreover, the concept of the “evil eye” (known as "Achqis Tak" in Armenian) is prevalent. This concept involves the belief that envy or ill-will can bring about misfortune. To counteract this, Armenians, like many other cultures, have developed a range of amulets and rituals.
Gallery of Curses
Throughout history, several well-known curses have captured the imagination of people worldwide, often associated with ancient artifacts, tombs, or figures. These stories, whether rooted in fact or folklore, reflect deep-seated human beliefs in the supernatural and the consequences of disturbing sacred or revered sites or objects. Here are a few notable examples:
**The Curse of the Pharaohs**: Perhaps the most famous, this curse is said to afflict those who disturb the mummified bodies or tombs of ancient Egyptian Pharaohs. The most famous case is the alleged curse on Howard Carter and others who entered the tomb of Tutankhamun. Deaths of several members of the excavation team were attributed to this curse, although scientific explanations have also been provided.
**The Curse of the Hope Diamond**: This large, blue diamond has a history of allegedly bringing misfortune and tragedy to its owners. The legend began with its removal from India and its passage through various hands, including French and British royalty, before finally resting in the Smithsonian Institution.
**The Curse of Otzi the Iceman**: Otzi is a well-preserved natural mummy of a man from about 3300 BC, discovered in the Alps on the border between Austria and Italy. There have been claims that people involved with the mummy have died under mysterious circumstances, leading to talk of a curse.
**King Tutankhamun's Tomb**: Apart from the general curse of the Pharaohs, King Tutankhamun's tomb has its own specific legend. It was rumored that a curse would fall upon anyone who disturbed the young king's final resting place. The deaths of several members of the team that uncovered the tomb in the 1920s, including that of the expedition's financial backer Lord Carnarvon, fueled these rumors.
**The Curse of the House of Atreus2**: Originating from Greek mythology and featured in various Greek tragedies, this curse was on the royal house of Atreus. The curse began with Tantalus, extended to his son Pelops, and then to Atreus and Thyestes, leading to a cycle of brutal familial murders and betrayals across generations.
**The Curse of Timur's Tomb**: Timur, also known as Tamerlane, was a 14th-century Turko-Mongol conqueror. His tomb was allegedly inscribed with a curse that read, "When I rise from the dead, the world shall tremble." It is said that when Soviet archaeologist Mikhail Gerasimov opened his tomb in 1941, the Nazi invasion of the Soviet Union began shortly thereafter, leading to speculations about the curse's veracity.
Ancient curses, often inscribed on tablets, tombs, or artifacts, played a significant role in the belief systems of various cultures. These curses were intended to protect possessions, tombs, or to seek revenge or justice. In Greek, curse tablets were known as Katadesmoi. These tablets were used in ancient Greece to curse or bind others, often in matters of love, business, or competition. They would be inscribed with the name of the target and a request to the gods or spirits to act on the user's behalf.
These stories, while often lacking in empirical evidence, have captured the imagination of people around the world and continue to be a subject of fascination in popular culture. While intriguing, they often lack empirical evidence and are usually better classified as myths or legends rather than historical facts. They do, however, offer an interesting perspective on the human tendency to find patterns and meanings, often supernatural, in coincidences or unexplained events.
From a psychological standpoint, the effect of a curse on a person is less about any inherent power of the curse itself and more about the belief in the curse and its psychological impact. This phenomenon can be understood through several key psychological principles that follow.
The most significant factor in how a curse works is the belief system of the person who feels they are cursed. If a person truly believes in the power of curses, this belief can shape their perceptions and expectations. For example, if someone believes they are cursed to have bad luck, they may be more likely to notice and remember unfortunate events, reinforcing their belief in the curse.
Confirmation bias is the tendency to search for, interpret, favor, and recall information in a way that confirms one's preexisting beliefs or hypotheses. In the context of a curse, a person is likely to attribute negative events or outcomes to the curse, ignoring other possible explanations. There is also the concept of the self-fulfilling prophecy. This occurs when a person's belief about their future causes them to act in ways that bring about the expected outcome. For instance, if someone believes they are cursed in love, their anxiety and behavior in relationships may inadvertently sabotage their romantic interactions.
The nocebo effect is similar to the placebo effect, but instead of expecting positive outcomes, a person expects negative outcomes, which then occur as a result of the expectation. For example, if a person believes that a curse has been placed on them causing ill health, they might actually experience symptoms, not because of the curse, but because of their belief in it.
Sometimes, the stress and anxiety caused by the belief in a curse can lead to actual physical symptoms. The mind's influence over the body in this way can be profound, leading to a range of symptoms from headaches to more severe health issues, all stemming from psychological sources.
So what was the curse and who placed it on me? Well, that person is still alive so I will hang on to my wife's secret until the right time comes to reveal it. I'd love to know what you think though. Do you feel like you have been cursed?
Spoken curse
Also an opera. https://www.metopera.org/discover/education/educator-guides/elektra/house-of-atreus/