Canadian thief returns `cursed' artifacts to Pompeii

ROME • A Canadian tourist returned artifacts stolen from the ancient city of Pompeii 15 years ago, saying they were “cursed.”

The package, with an accompanying letter of contrition, was delivered to a travel agent in the city.

It contained two mosaic pieces, two parts of an amphora and a piece of ceramic.

The letter, written in English, said the relics were stolen in 2005, during a visit to the archeological site in southern Italy.

“Take them back, please, they bring bad luck,” wrote the woman, identified only as Nicole.

The woman said that after taking the artifacts to Canada, her life was struck by tragedy. She blamed the historic treasures for two bouts of cancer and her family’s financial difficulties.

“I took some of these pieces when I visited Pompeii in 2005. I was young and stupid, and I wanted to have a piece of history,” she wrote, according to reports in Italy.

Pompeii is one of Italy’s most visited ancient sites. It has long suffered from incidents of theft and vandalism. A sudden eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD buried the Roman town, which was largely preserved under ash.

“I stole a piece of history that had lots of negative energy inside,” she said. “People there died in horrible ways. Bad luck played with me and my family.”

The woman said she was 36, had twice had breast cancer resulting in a double mastectomy and was asking for “God’s forgiveness.”

“We’re good people... I just want to shake this curse off me and my family,” she added.

The package contained another letter from a couple, also from Canada and unidentified, who wanted to return some stones they took from the site in 2005.

“We took them without thinking of the pain and suffering these poor souls experienced during the eruption of Vesuvius and their terrible death. We are so sorry, please forgive us for making this terrible choice. May their souls rest in peace,” they wrote, according to The Guardian.

The owner of the Italian travel agency handed over the artifacts to the police.

HANDOUT Artifacts returned by a woman who had taken them during a trip to Pompeii in 2015.