Buzz
For centuries, humanity has been enthralled by the allure of magic and mythology. The idea of discovering something extraordinary—be it extraterrestrial lineage or unexpected outcomes of scientific experiments—fuels our imagination. Many also cling to the belief that mundane objects can hold mystical powers, capable of curing ailments, punishing wrongdoers, or even reviving the deceased.
Throughout history, tales of objects with supernatural powers have persisted. Often, the charm of these narratives keeps people convinced, even when there is little to no evidence to support their claims.
10. Drake’s Drum
Sir Francis Drake, known for his exploits as an explorer, adventurer, slaver, and pirate, succumbed to dysentery in 1596 near Panama's coast. His body was laid to rest at sea.
His belongings were transported to Buckland Abbey, his childhood residence. Among these items was a small leather snare drum, typically used to signal attacks. While the drum itself held no special meaning to Drake, it came with a legend: when England faces danger, the drum is said to beat on its own as a warning. Additionally, if someone beats the drum to summon him, Francis Drake is believed to rise from his ocean grave to defend his homeland.
There have been multiple accounts of the drum sounding without human intervention. Napoleon reportedly heard it while being brought into a nearby harbor. It is also said to have been heard at the start of World War I and during the Dunkirk evacuation. In 1918, when the German navy surrendered, sailors claimed to hear drumming, despite no drum being present on their ship. Whether this was Drake’s Drum or another mysterious instrument remains unknown.
Efforts to relocate a replica of the drum from Buckland Abbey faced strong resistance, which aligns with the legend stating that England's downfall would follow if the drum were removed. It’s better to err on the side of caution.
9. Busby’s Stoop Chair
Thomas Busby was a notorious figure, known for his excessive drinking and violent behavior. In 1702, he was found guilty of murdering his father-in-law and, following tradition, was hanged and displayed on a gibbet at a crossroads. His body was left to decay on the gibbet, referred to locally as a “stoop.”
A nearby roadside inn soon became known as Busby’s Stoop Inn, rumored to be haunted by Busby’s spirit. Notably, Busby’s ghost seemed to object to anyone sitting in a specific chair. During World War II, pilots stationed nearby considered the chair cursed, and several fatal accidents in the 1970s were linked to those who dared to sit in it.
In 1978, the inn’s landlord, concerned for his patrons and possibly to draw more visitors, donated the chair to a local museum with the stipulation that no one should ever sit in it. Despite numerous offers from curious buyers and thrill-seekers, the museum has upheld this condition. The chair remains on permanent display, hung from the wall.
Thomas Busby’s era of terror seems to have come to an end.
8. The Nanteos Cup
The Nanteos Cup, believed by some to be the Holy Grail, is the remnants of what was once a wooden vessel. Originally housed at Strata Florida Abbey in Wales, the cup is now permanently exhibited at the National Library of Wales.
For centuries, the cup has been thought to possess healing powers. Its deteriorated state likely stems from the practice of lending it to the ill, disabled, and terminally sick. While no fee was charged for borrowing the cup, borrowers had to pledge their most valuable possession as collateral to ensure its safe return.
In 2014, the cup was stolen but was anonymously returned a year later. While it’s unclear if the thieves sought the cup for its mystical attributes, authorities might have considered looking into anyone who experienced an unexplained recovery during that time.
7. The Hand of Glory
The Whitby Museum in Yorkshire, England, houses the preserved remains of a human hand, referred to as a Hand of Glory. This artifact was found in the early 20th century concealed within the wall of an old thatched cottage and is believed to be the last surviving example of its kind.
Legend has it that the Hand of Glory is crafted from the preserved right hand of a hanged criminal, severed while the body was still fresh. Burglars would use it as a candle by coating the fingers in a special wax and lighting them. If a finger failed to ignite, it indicated that someone in the house was awake. The flame could only be extinguished with blood or blue milk—neither of which is easy to come by.
Beyond being an everlasting light source, the hand was also a cost-effective alternative to hiring a lookout, making it a practical tool for thieves.
If you’re interested in crafting your own Hand of Glory and have access to the right arm of a recently executed criminal, you’ll need to wrap the hand in a shroud, drain its blood, and place it in a clay pot with saltpeter, salt, and pepper (presumably for seasoning). Let it sit for two weeks, then dry it in the sun during the “dog-days.” If the weather isn’t cooperating, you can dry it in an oven lined with ferns. The next step, which might prove challenging, involves creating candle wax from the fat of a hanged man, virgin wax (not sourced from an actual virgin), and Lapland sesame oil (from a now-extinct plant).
Alternatively, you could just use a flashlight.
6. John Dee’s Crystal
John Dee served as an advisor to Queen Elizabeth I on astrology and science. A mathematician and self-proclaimed healer, he also claimed to communicate with angels.
Dee communicated with these angels using a unique mirror, which he called his “scrying mirror.” The angels apparently favored him, as in 1582, the angel Uriel (the fourth archangel and the angel of repentance) gifted him a large, purple crystal, according to Dee.
Dee utilized the crystal to foresee future events. (What else would one do with it?) The crystal was later passed to his son, who gave it to his physician, Nicholas Culpeper. Culpeper employed the crystal in his medical practice, claiming it had healing powers. However, he ceased using it after a “demonic spirit” allegedly emerged from the stone.
The Wellcome Trust acquired the crystal in 1937, and it remains part of their collection. Whether they have reaped any benefits from its supposed magical properties is unknown.
5. The Apotropaic Bull’s Heart
In 1892, a chimney sweep was likely startled to find a bull’s heart hanging inside a chimney. His surprise must have deepened upon noticing the heart was pierced with large nails and thorns. Adding to the oddity, a toad, also skewered with thorns, was found beside it.
Both items were believed to possess apotropaic qualities, meaning they could repel evil spirits. The theory was that as the heart dried in the smoke, the person casting the evil spell would similarly wither away. A perfectly logical conclusion.
Many held the belief that chimneys served as entry points for malevolent spirits, leading to the placement of protective talismans within them. The pierced animal heart was thought to punish a witch responsible for killing the homeowner’s livestock. The heart was removed, pierced with “three-headed” iron nails, and hung in the chimney to smoke over a fire made of ash wood, known for its anti-witch properties. The smoked heart was left in place to safeguard the home and farm, while its roasting was believed to inflict endless torment on the witch.
4. The Bell of St. Mura
Legend has it that the Bell of St. Mura was delivered to Earth by angels. Drawn by its resonant ringing, villagers rushed to the scene and witnessed the bell descending from the sky. Once the entire community had gathered, the bell fell silent, and its clapper detached, ascending back to the heavens, leaving the bell behind.
It was believed that such a divine bell was not meant to produce earthly sounds but to serve a sacred purpose. From then on, the bell was used not to create noise but to relieve human suffering, a blessing for all. Drinking from the inverted bell is said to provide an “infallible safeguard” against harm. It has been used to ensure pain-free deliveries for women in labor and to cure the sick.
Today, the Bell of St. Mura is housed in the Wallace Collection in London, though it remains unclear if it still possesses its healing powers.
3. The Munlochy Clootie Well
Munlochy is located on the Black Isle in the northern reaches of Scotland. It is best known for its clootie well, one of several such wells in Scotland. These wells are typically built over natural springs, often accompanied by one or more trees. The Munlochy well is also believed to have once had a chapel nearby.
A clootie refers to a strip of cloth tied to the branches of a tree near the well. The Munlochy well dates back to pre-Christian times when spirits were thought to reside within it. The well is said to be inhabited by the spirit of St. Boniface, and the clooties tied to the tree were meant to honor this spirit.
The clooties were dipped into the well. Those who were ill would often suck water from the cloth strips before tying them to the tree, as the water was believed to have healing properties. Alternatively, they would wash injured areas with the rag. People facing misfortune would visit the clootie well in hopes of improving their luck.
However, these wells are not entirely benevolent. Legend holds that anyone who removes a clootie from the well will inherit the misfortunes the original person sought to escape.
Consider yourself warned!
2. The Delhi Purple Sapphire
The Delhi Purple Sapphire is a fascinating enigma, particularly because, despite its name, it is actually an amethyst originating not from Delhi but from Kanpur, approximately 500 kilometers (300 mi) away. The stone was donated to the Natural History Museum in London in 1944 by Edward Heron-Allen’s daughter, encased in seven boxes.
Upon opening the final box, a note written by Edward Heron-Allen revealed the stone’s dark history, ensuring its fame. The letter, addressed to the reader “in mourning,” claimed the stone was cursed, tainted with the blood and dishonor of all who possessed it. Heron-Allen alleged it was looted from the Temple of the God Indra during the Siege of Kanpur and had caused at least three deaths, financial ruin, and even robbed a famous singer of her voice.
Heron-Allen attempted to discard the stone, but it was returned to him. He kept it locked in a bank vault until his death, leaving strict instructions for it to be donated along with his letter and forbidding his daughter from ever touching it.
He concluded the letter with the statement, “My advice [ . . . ] is to throw it into the sea. I am bound by the Rosicrucian Oath from doing so, or I would have done it years ago.”
Whether the gem is truly cursed remains a matter of debate. No one has dared to wear it since, though it continues to be exhibited at the Natural History Museum.
1. The Witch’s Ladder
In 1911, the widow of a renowned anthropologist donated items discovered in an attic to the Pitt Rivers Museum in Oxford. Among the objects were four brooms and a piece of string, approximately 1.5 meters (5 ft) long, with a loop at one end. Feathers had been inserted into the string along its length.
This was the sole known instance of an authentic witch’s ladder. Believed to have belonged to an elderly woman, suspected of being a witch, the ladder was thought to be used for “stealing” milk from her neighbor’s cows.
Unfortunately, the exact mechanism remains a mystery, and while theories about the ladder’s purpose persist, modern aspiring witches might find a visit to the supermarket far more convenient.
