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Curses · Tomb and family curses

The Curse of Tamerlane

When
June 1941 date from records made at the time
Where
Gur-e-Amir Mausoleum, Samarkand, Uzbekistan
Verdict
Legend

Soviet scientists opened Timur's tomb in Samarkand – and moments later Germany invaded the USSR. So began the legend of the conqueror's curse.

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39.65°, 66.97° · dimmed: other phenomena within 1,500 km

What happened

In June 1941 a Soviet expedition led by the anthropologist Mikhail Gerasimov opened the tomb of Timur (Tamerlane), the 14th-century conqueror, in the Gur-e-Amir mausoleum in Samarkand. According to accounts, local elders warned the researchers that disturbing the ruler's rest would bring disaster, and the tombstone was said to bear the words: “When I rise from the dead, the world shall tremble.” It was also said that a second inscription found inside threatened that whoever opened the grave would unleash an invader more terrible than Timur himself. The tomb was opened on the night of 20–21 June, and on 22 June 1941 Hitler's armies attacked the Soviet Union. Gerasimov studied the skeleton – confirming that Timur was tall and lame – and reconstructed his face. According to the legend the remains were reburied with full Islamic rites in December 1942, when the German army at Stalingrad was already encircled.

Witnesses

Mikhail Gerasimov and members of the expedition, including cameraman Malik Kayumov, who in later years told of the elders' warnings.

Explanations and hypotheses

Germany's attack on the USSR (Operation Barbarossa) had been planned for many months and had nothing to do with events in Samarkand – the coincidence of dates is just that. Sources do not even agree on the day the tomb was opened (19, 20 or 21 June are all given). People close to Gerasimov said the story of a second, threatening inscription was made up, and the tales of how news of the curse reached Stalin come from much later recollections. One thing is certain: the examination confirmed the lameness described in the chronicles.

Legend A story handed down through generations – it can be neither confirmed nor disproved.

Sources

  1. Atlas Obscura – Facial Reconstruction, Nazis, and Siberia: The story of Mikhail Gerasimov (2011)
  2. Advantour – The Curse of Tamerlan: legend or fact?

More: Wikipedia (pl) Wikipedia (en)