By Matthew Clark
Timur, known to history as Tamerlan, was born in 1336 near Samarkand (Uzbekistan). He died on February 19, 1405, near Otrar, Kazakhstan. He was a Turko-Mongol ruler known for his conquests, cruelty, as well as cultural achievements. Timur frequently destroyed whole cities, which included slaughtering their residents, if he thought it was in his interest to do so. In this regard he matched the actions of Genghis Khan, a man who Timur tried to imitate as closely as possible.
After Timur's death many legends about the cruel warrior circulated through the Eurasian steppes. One of those legends involved the tyrants tomb.
Leave the great commander's grave alone was the advice offered far and wide. Disturb his resting place and great evil would be unleashed upon the world. One 17th century book in Arabic claimed,"Who disturbs Tamerlan's tomb will release a great spirit of war. And such a bloody and terrible slaughter will commence that the world has not seen in all eternity."
Furthermore a prophecy was supposedly written inside Timurs coffin,"Whomever opens my tomb shall unleash an invader more terrible than I."
Soviet archeologist Mikhail Mikhaylovich Gerasimov indicated no such sense of foreboding when he ordered the opening of Tamerlan's tomb on June 20, 1941. He ignored the warning of an assembled group of local Muslim leaders who nervously asked him to desist in his efforts. When, upon unsealing the tyrants coffin no prophecy was found, the Soviet archeologist might have felt a sense of vindication.
Two days after the invasion of the warriors gravesite another invasion occurred. On June 22, 1941 armies from Nazi Germany launched "Operation Barbarossa," a mighty military aggression against the Soviet Union. Cruelty upon cruelty was inflicted against the Soviet (mainly Russian) people by the ruthless German soldiers. Meanwhile Soviet archeologists, seemingly detached from the sufferings of their fellow citizens, studiously examined Tamerlans' final resting place! Finally the Soviet political leader Josef Stalin ordered that Timur be returned to his tomb, and that that tomb be sealed! A month later the 'Battle of Stalingrad' commenced. Soviet success in that campaign would lead to the expulsion of the barbaric German leader.
These events gives cause to some captivating speculations. Josef Stalin was the globes highest ranking atheist. Did his orders belie a belief in the afterlife? Was the curse of Tamerlan's Tomb genuine? The answer to these questions is best left to you the reader. Think carefully. What is your decision?
References;
Advantour-Myths and Legends
Russia Beyond-History Beyond-February 2, 2023, Alexandre Guzeva
Britannica- Timur-written and fact checked by the editors of Encyclopedia Britannica-updated September 10, 2024
https;//www.britannica.comTimur
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