Icy curse

Blondin · 22nd February 2005, 12:58 PM

From this story: Alpine Iceman Reveals Stone Age Secrets

This quote (emphasis mine):

Quote:

Science has also been unable to explain a series of sinister accidents since the iceman was discovered.

Forensic medic Rainer Henn, one of the first to touch the mummy, died in a car crash on his way to a lecture about Oetzi. A mountain guide who helped with the find plunged to his death, and a journalist who filmed the excavation died from cancer.

Last October, Helmut Simon fell to his death in the Alps after a sudden onset of bad weather near the spot where he had discovered Oetzi.

Walter Leitner was close to the scene the night Simon died.

At the time, he was explaining his iceman theory to a team of U.S. American journalists when they too were suddenly engulfed by the storm and had to be rescued by helicopter.

"At that moment I thought of my survival rather than the curse; of my family; my daughter's birthday the next day, and how I would maybe not be there," Leitner said.

"The next day, when I arrived at the institute, people were saying, 'Have you heard, Helmut Simon went missing in the mountains', and that's when I started feeling a bit queasy."

The archeologist explained Simon had been profoundly moved by his discovery, seeing it as a religious signal to convert to Christianity.

"But why should the mummy punish him for that?" Leitner added. "It doesn't make sense."

So let's see... over a period of 14 years 4 people died (two of them while mountain climbing). Not a very efficient curse if you ask me.

No doubt when Mrs Simon finally passes away (by whatever means) we'll see a "Curse of Oetzi Strikes Again" headline.

Goshawk · 22nd February 2005, 04:11 PM

Quote:

... Simon had been profoundly moved by his discovery, seeing it as a religious signal to convert to Christianity.

...hanh??

CurtC · 22nd February 2005, 08:40 PM

And the two who died on the mountain were in an area known to be dangerous - after all, it kill Otzi himself.

Zep · 22nd February 2005, 09:54 PM

I'm just waiting for this to be linked to (a) the Tutankhamen curse, and (b) something homeopathic... It couldn't get any sillier, that's for sure.

El_Spectre · 23rd February 2005, 01:01 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by CurtC
And the two who died on the mountain were in an area known to be dangerous - after all, it kill Otzi himself.

Heh, you gotta wonder about the thought process that day... "hmm, dead guy. Looks frozen. Hey, it's cold... Um, when are we heading back to base camp?"

RamblingOnwards · 23rd February 2005, 02:40 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Zep
I'm just waiting for this to be linked to (a) the Tutankhamen curse,

I seem to recall reading that if you took all the people who should have been affected by the Tutankhamen thing, their average life span was actually better than expected. It's the Tutankhamen blessing!

steenkh · 23rd February 2005, 04:28 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by CurtC
And the two who died on the mountain were in an area known to be dangerous - after all, it kill Otzi himself.

Actually, no! A closer examination has revealed an arrowhead in his body, and it is now considered that he was killed. It also explains why he only carried broken arrows; the others he had probably shot at his killers!

patnray · 23rd February 2005, 11:39 AM

The archeologist explained Simon had been profoundly moved by his discovery, seeing it as a religious signal to convert to Christianity.

"But why should the mummy punish him for that?" Leitner added. "It doesn't make sense."

Maybe the mummy wasn't christian?

Reminds me of the hoopla surrounding "The Passion of Christ" when it was claimed that the fact the lead actor was struck by lightning twice during filming was a sign of god's approval. It was the first time I ever heard it claimed that being struck by lightning was a sign of god's APPROVAL...

Skeptic Ginger · 23rd February 2005, 12:56 PM

That was one of the more disgusting excuses for news I've read in a while. I looked for "new" discoveries from Iceman studies. Didn't see much. Sounds like the reporter didn't either so he put that drivel in there.

CurtC · 23rd February 2005, 01:36 PM

Well, at least no one is still claiming that Otzi was homosexual:

http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a3_229.html

22nd February 2005, 12:58 PM	#1
Blondin Muse Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Northern Ontario Posts: 909	Icy curse From this story: Alpine Iceman Reveals Stone Age Secrets This quote (emphasis mine): Quote: Science has also been unable to explain a series of sinister accidents since the iceman was discovered. Forensic medic Rainer Henn, one of the first to touch the mummy, died in a car crash on his way to a lecture about Oetzi. A mountain guide who helped with the find plunged to his death, and a journalist who filmed the excavation died from cancer. Last October, Helmut Simon fell to his death in the Alps after a sudden onset of bad weather near the spot where he had discovered Oetzi. Walter Leitner was close to the scene the night Simon died. At the time, he was explaining his iceman theory to a team of U.S. American journalists when they too were suddenly engulfed by the storm and had to be rescued by helicopter. "At that moment I thought of my survival rather than the curse; of my family; my daughter's birthday the next day, and how I would maybe not be there," Leitner said. "The next day, when I arrived at the institute, people were saying, 'Have you heard, Helmut Simon went missing in the mountains', and that's when I started feeling a bit queasy." The archeologist explained Simon had been profoundly moved by his discovery, seeing it as a religious signal to convert to Christianity. "But why should the mummy punish him for that?" Leitner added. "It doesn't make sense." So let's see... over a period of 14 years 4 people died (two of them while mountain climbing). Not a very efficient curse if you ask me. No doubt when Mrs Simon finally passes away (by whatever means) we'll see a "Curse of Oetzi Strikes Again" headline.

22nd February 2005, 09:54 PM	#4
Zep Banned Join Date: Sep 2002 Posts: 26,985	I'm just waiting for this to be linked to (a) the Tutankhamen curse, and (b) something homeopathic... It couldn't get any sillier, that's for sure.
Zep Banned Join Date: Sep 2002 Posts: 26,985

23rd February 2005, 01:01 AM	#5
El_Spectre Lizard Scum Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Arizona Bay Posts: 1,206	Quote: Originally posted by CurtC And the two who died on the mountain were in an area known to be dangerous - after all, it kill Otzi himself. Heh, you gotta wonder about the thought process that day... "hmm, dead guy. Looks frozen. Hey, it's cold... Um, when are we heading back to base camp?"
	__________________ Faith: Belief without evidence in what is told by one who speaks without knowledge, of things without parallel. - Ambrose Bierce Question your argument if you must mock your opponent to make it... Step 1 in helping spread the skeptical way of thinking: Don't be a jerk.

23rd February 2005, 02:40 AM	#6
RamblingOnwards Critical Thinker Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 417	Quote: Originally posted by Zep I'm just waiting for this to be linked to (a) the Tutankhamen curse, I seem to recall reading that if you took all the people who should have been affected by the Tutankhamen thing, their average life span was actually better than expected. It's the Tutankhamen blessing!
	__________________ "You may read everything you believe, but I do not. Personally, I go by experiences, this does not make me delusional, more along the lines of a critical thinker." - Janice

23rd February 2005, 04:28 AM	#7
steenkh Illuminator Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Denmark Posts: 3,509	Quote: Originally posted by CurtC And the two who died on the mountain were in an area known to be dangerous - after all, it kill Otzi himself. Actually, no! A closer examination has revealed an arrowhead in his body, and it is now considered that he was killed. It also explains why he only carried broken arrows; the others he had probably shot at his killers!
	__________________ Steen -- Jack of all trades - master of none!

22nd February 2005, 04:11 PM	#2
Goshawk Graduate Poster Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Decatur, Illinois, USA Posts: 1,453	Quote: ... Simon had been profoundly moved by his discovery, seeing it as a religious signal to convert to Christianity. ...hanh??

22nd February 2005, 08:40 PM	#3
CurtC Illuminator Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Dallas, TX Posts: 4,761	And the two who died on the mountain were in an area known to be dangerous - after all, it kill Otzi himself.

23rd February 2005, 11:39 AM	#8
patnray Graduate Poster Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 1,008	The archeologist explained Simon had been profoundly moved by his discovery, seeing it as a religious signal to convert to Christianity. "But why should the mummy punish him for that?" Leitner added. "It doesn't make sense." Maybe the mummy wasn't christian? Reminds me of the hoopla surrounding "The Passion of Christ" when it was claimed that the fact the lead actor was struck by lightning twice during filming was a sign of god's approval. It was the first time I ever heard it claimed that being struck by lightning was a sign of god's APPROVAL...

23rd February 2005, 12:56 PM	#9
Skeptic Ginger formerly skeptigirl Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Shifting through paradigms Posts: 40,798	That was one of the more disgusting excuses for news I've read in a while. I looked for "new" discoveries from Iceman studies. Didn't see much. Sounds like the reporter didn't either so he put that drivel in there.

23rd February 2005, 01:36 PM	#10
CurtC Illuminator Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Dallas, TX Posts: 4,761	Well, at least no one is still claiming that Otzi was homosexual: http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a3_229.html