The Delhi Purple Sapphire, a gemstone steeped in intrigue and superstition, has captivated gem enthusiasts and historians alike with its ominous reputation. Contrary to what its name suggests, the stone is not a sapphire but an amethyst. Its journey from India to the United Kingdom and the ensuing tales of misfortune have solidified its place in the annals of cursed treasures.
Origins and Early History
The Delhi Purple Sapphire originated in India, a land historically rich with precious gemstones. It was purportedly looted from a temple dedicated to the Hindu deity Indra during the Indian Rebellion of 1857, a period marked by widespread uprising against the British East India Company’s rule. The act of removing the stone from its sacred context is believed to have invoked a curse upon those who dared to possess it.
The first recorded owner of the Delhi Purple Sapphire was Colonel W. Ferris, who brought it to England. According to accounts, Ferris and his family experienced a series of financial and health-related misfortunes soon after the acquisition of the gemstone. The curse seemed to have a relentless grip on its holders, with subsequent owners recounting similar tales of woe.
One of the most detailed accounts comes from Edward Heron-Allen, a British writer and polymath, who came into possession of the amethyst in the late 19th century. Heron-Allen, a man of science and reason, was initially skeptical of the curse. However, his skepticism was eroded by a series of inexplicable events and misfortunes. He lent the amethyst to friends, only to have it promptly returned due to the bad luck it brought them. In a desperate bid to rid himself of the cursed stone, Heron-Allen threw it into a canal, but it was returned to him by a dealer who had found it.
Heron-Allen’s distress over the gemstone’s influence grew to such an extent that he eventually sealed it within seven boxes, each lined with protective charms and inscriptions, before bequeathing it to the Natural History Museum in London, with strict instructions that it not be opened until three years after his death. The museum honored his wishes, and the amethyst was finally unveiled in 1944.
Today, the Delhi Purple Sapphire resides in the Natural History Museum’s Vault, where it continues to intrigue visitors. The stone is displayed alongside Heron-Allen’s letters and documents, which narrate the harrowing experiences associated with the gem. Despite its foreboding past, the amethyst’s striking beauty draws the admiration of many.
The legend of the Delhi Purple Sapphire serves as a potent reminder of the mystique surrounding gemstones and the cultural beliefs that they can harbor powerful, sometimes malevolent, energies. While modern science dismisses the notion of curses, the stories of misfortune linked to the Delhi Purple Sapphire persist, perpetuating its legacy as one of the most notorious cursed gemstones in history.
The tale of the Delhi Purple Sapphire is a compelling blend of history, superstition, and the human tendency to attribute misfortune to forces beyond our control. Whether one believes in the curse or views it as a series of coincidences, the story of this enigmatic gemstone continues to captivate and caution, reminding us of the deep-seated narratives that precious stones can inspire. The Delhi Purple Sapphire stands as a testament to the enduring allure of the mysterious and the unknown, forever etched in the lore of cursed treasures.
