After 15 years of alleged bad luck, a Canadian couple this week returned five artifacts they stole from the archaeological site of Pompeii, the Roman city devastated by a volcanic eruption.
In 2005, this tourist couple traveled to the Pompeii Archaeological Park, from where they stole two white mosaics, two pieces of an amphora vase, and a piece of wall pottery.
In a letter sent to a travel agency, and shared with park staff, the couple explained the
series of misfortunes
they have suffered since then.
"I took a piece of history captured in a time with so much negative energy," wrote the woman, who identified herself as Nicole, "people died in such a horrible way and I took pottery related to that kind of destruction."
Since the theft of the "cursed" artifacts, the woman suffered
two episodes of breast cancer
and a double mastectomy.
In addition, his family has faced severe financial difficulties.
In her letter, the woman assured that she has asked God for forgiveness and that she regrets her actions.
The couple gave a stolen mosaic to a family friend of whom, they said, they do not know if she will also return it to the park.
"We are good people and I don't want to pass this
curse on
to my family," Nicole added.
A tourist visits the House of Giulia Felice in the archaeological site of Pompeii.AP
The theft and return of allegedly cursed pieces from the archaeological site
is common
, Massimo Osanna, temporary park director, told USA Today.
“For several years, the Archaeological Park of Pompeii has received letters from visitors who, on the occasion of their visit, have taken small objects (we are talking about mosaics, small fragments, stones, pieces of plaster) of little value, but part of a unique archaeological heritage, and that after years they decided to return, claiming to have derived only bad luck from that act, "the park said in a statement.
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The same package contained the letter from another Canadian couple, who returned some stones stolen from the site.
In their confessional letter, they asked the park for forgiveness and made a prayer for the eternal rest of the people who died in the place.
"We take them without thinking about the pain and suffering these poor souls experienced during the eruption of Vesuvius and their terrible death," the letter reads.
Theft is so common that park officials
display returned artifacts
and confession letters from tourists
in the museum
.
According to the officials, the letters are interesting to the public from an anthropological perspective.
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