Tourists who have stolen mementos from the ruined city of Pompeii are returning them in droves... claiming their lives have been CURSED
- The ruined Roman city was destroyed by Mount Vesuvius in 79AD
- Some believe that it erupted because of a curse from the gods
- The mementos that have been returned may now be put on display
Tourists who have been pocketing relics during their trips to Pompeii have been returning them in their droves because of fears that they are cursed.
Some visitors to the ruined Roman city, which was destroyed when Mount Vesuvius erupted in 79 AD, have stolen pieces of mosaic, parts of murals and other mementos as a way of remembering their trip.
But people who work at the historic attraction have revealed that they are regularly returned in the post because the thief believes their lives have been ruined since they returned home with the item.
Millions of tourists visit Pompeii every year and some light-fingered thieves steal mementos from their trip
According to Italian newspaper Corriere Della Sera, around a hundred parcels contained items from the site have been sent back in recent years.
Massimo Osanna, Pompeii’s archaeological superintendent, told the newspaper that everything from small statues to pieces of amphora - a two-handled pot with a neck - have been sent to him with letters of explanation.
Many of the notes claim that their lives have been ruined since removing the items from the site and reference the Curse of Pompeii - an old tale that says the reason Mount Vesuvius erupted was because the gods ordered the punishment after legionaries destroyed holy buildings.
One of these was written by a Spanish man who returned several items, including a bronze statue, because it had ruined cursed his family.
Tourists have stolen pieces of frescoes, statues and pieces of amphora among other items
Osanna said: 'At a certain point, people started believing in this story again. Even proper thieves have returned things to us.
'They write that the stolen pieces have brought them nothing but trouble, they say they can trace back all their family troubles to their theft at Pompeii."
So many items have now been returned that staff at the attraction are now considering displaying them in an exhibition onsite.
Many of the items have been returned because the thieves believe they contain the 'curse of Pompeii'
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