The Curse of Ishtar is a captivating archaeological tale that dates back to the early 20th century. It revolves around a famous clay tablet known as the Ishtar Gate, which was discovered in the ancient city of Babylon, Mesopotamia, by a German archaeologist named Robert Koldewey in 1902. The Ishtar Gate was one of the eight gates of the city of Babylon, dedicated to the goddess Ishtar. It was constructed during the reign of King Nebuchadnezzar II around 575 BCE. The gate was made of blue-glazed tiles with intricate designs of bulls and dragons, showcasing the architectural and artistic brilliance of the Babylonians. Legend has it that the Curse of Ishtar was placed upon those who disturbed or removed the gate.

Agatha and the Curse of Ishtar, A Review

As s massive fan of Agatha Christie I was happy to see that 2018’s Agatha and the Truth of Murder was getting a sequel of sorts. Whilst not a direct sequel, nor does it feature any of the original cast, writer Tom Dalton has intended to write a series of “alternative histories” featuring Agatha Christie solving murders in her spare time- with a third film already in the works.

Agatha and the Truth of Ishtar looks at the real life event of Agatha travelling to Israel, imagining that she solves a series of murders whilst there. Attempting to get over her divorce, Agatha (now portrayed by Lyndsey Marshal) decides to travel to Israel to research romance, wanting to switch book genres. Intending to meet up with her archeologist friends Katharine (Katherine Kingsley) and Leonard (Jack Deam) Wooley, Agatha instead finds the dig desserted except for the barely concious Max (Jonah Hauer-King) who was knocked unconcious after discovering the body of his friend in the tunnels of the dig. After rescuing Max, Agatha finally arrives at the Wooley’s and it seems like she’s gotten there just in time for murder!

Arriving at the house Agatha is somewhat suprised to find that Katharine’s beloved pet monkey Ella has been murdererd and hung from the ceiling. Knowing of Agatha’s wtiting ability, Katharine asks Agatha to look into the death. Seeing no harm into looking into the death of a monkey Agatha begins her investigation. With Max’s help Agatha realises that hanging a monkey would be a rather difficult job, so something else must have happened. After some minor disection Agatha and Max realise that Ella was poisoned and with Ella being a monkey she obviously didn’t get the poison all on her own, meaning it was intended for someone else. Realising that there’s an actual murderer in the house, Agatha and Max begin to investigate and realise that the culprit is using the dig to steal priceless treasures and is killing anyone that gets in their way. With a murder to solve Agatha soon puts her skills to use and the writer turned detective realises that she’s still got a trick or two up her sleeve.

It’s funny, right before I watched Agatha and the Curse of Ishtar there was a documentary on Agatha Christie’s life that did mention that she travelled to Israel where she met her future husband Max so it was nice to see “what could have happened”. Regarding the storyline though I have seen a lot of people say it was unrealistic or over sexualised/dramatised but in all honesty I loved it. I mean obviously the real Agatha Christie didn’t go around solving murders but it’s fun to imagine that she could have. Seeing this author that so many people love solve these fictional murders is a nice twist and I think it tributes Agatha’s brilliant mind is such a positive way. Agatha Christie may not have been a real detective but she certianly could have been, and seeing her solve murders was so fun. Everything doesn’t always need to be 100% accurate if people enjoy it, and enjoy it I did.

Like I said in my review of Agatha and the Truth of Murder review, I do love the added comedy elements to these films. In a way it’s like I’m watching an episode of Agatha Raisin or Miss Fisher– with Marshal’s Agatha reminding me strongly of both characters. It may be an Agatha Christie stiry but it’s also a sort of comedic amatuer slueth series as well.

I thought that Marshal played a very funny Agatha and her and Hauer-King had great chemistry and great scenes together. Watching the pair’s initial interactions and solving of the case where Agatha purposely holds back information and Max has no idea who Agatha was funny and like I said it added some fun into the life of Christie.

So far I’m loving this “Agatha and the” alternative history series and I love seeing Agatha Christie of all people solving murders. I definetely enjoyed The Curse of Ishtar even more than The Truth of Murder- I think mostly because Agatha was a much happier Agatha, this time getting over a divorce instead of going through one- and I can’t wait to see what the third installment has to offer.

Curse of ishtar

Legend has it that the Curse of Ishtar was placed upon those who disturbed or removed the gate. According to the curse, anyone who dared to meddle with the gate would suffer misfortune and tragedy. This curse gained notoriety when a series of unfortunate events seemed to befall those associated with the excavation of the Ishtar Gate.

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Agatha and the Curse of Ishtar

Alternative history drama set in the winter of 1928 as young writer Agatha Christie, bruised from her divorce and struggling with fame and success, travels to Baghdad only to be caught in a web of murder and intrigue.

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Koldewey himself faced numerous difficulties during the excavation, including funding issues and disputes with local authorities. However, it was not until later that the curse started to capture the imagination of the public. One of the team members, a museum curator named Walter Andrae, fell ill shortly after the discovery of the gate. He passed away in 1930, fueling speculation that the curse had taken its toll. The curse's reputation grew when members of the team began to meet untimely deaths. Some died in accidents, others from illnesses or mysterious circumstances. These incidents added to the belief that disturbing the ancient gate had invoked the wrath of the goddess Ishtar. The Curse of Ishtar also affected later generations. It's said that those who possessed artifacts from the excavation faced misfortune and tragedy. Some claimed that their lives were plagued by bad luck, financial ruin, or even unexplained deaths. These alleged incidents further fueled the legend of the curse. However, it is essential to approach the Curse of Ishtar with skepticism. Many rational explanations exist for the misfortunes that occurred. The deaths could be attributed to the dangers of archaeological work, the limited medical knowledge of the time, or mere coincidence. Additionally, some argue that the curse was a fabrication to generate publicity and attract tourists. Regardless of the curse's authenticity, the story of the Curse of Ishtar has endured, captivating the imagination of people worldwide. Today, the Ishtar Gate remains a renowned artifact displayed in the Pergamon Museum in Berlin. Whether the curse truly exists or not, the tale of the Curse of Ishtar remains a fascinating part of archaeological lore..

Reviews for "Cursed Artifacts: The Dark Legacy of Ishtar"

1) John Smith - 1 star

I was extremely disappointed with "Curse of Ishtar". The story was predictable and the characters were one-dimensional. The dialogue felt forced and unnatural, making it difficult to connect with any of the characters. The pacing was sluggish, and I found myself losing interest halfway through the book. Overall, I would not recommend "Curse of Ishtar" to anyone looking for a captivating and engaging read.

2) Emily Johnson - 2 stars

I had high hopes for "Curse of Ishtar" based on the intriguing premise, but unfortunately, it fell flat for me. The plot seemed promising initially, but it quickly became convoluted and confusing. The author introduced too many unnecessary subplots that added nothing to the overall story, leaving me feeling frustrated and overwhelmed. Additionally, the writing style lacked finesse and elegance, making it difficult to immerse myself in the world of the book. While "Curse of Ishtar" had potential, it ultimately failed to deliver.

3) Sarah Thompson - 2.5 stars

"Curse of Ishtar" had all the right ingredients for a great mystery, but somehow it missed the mark for me. The characters were shallow and lacked depth, making it hard to care about their fates. The pacing was inconsistent, with long stretches of tedious exposition followed by rushed and underdeveloped action sequences. The dialogue felt stilted and forced, further detracting from the overall reading experience. While "Curse of Ishtar" had an interesting premise, it failed to deliver a compelling and well-executed story.

4) Michael Roberts - 2 stars

"Curse of Ishtar" had an intriguing premise, but unfortunately, the execution fell short. The plot felt disjointed and lacked coherence, leaving me confused and disengaged. The characters were poorly developed and lacked authenticity, making it difficult to connect with them on any level. The writing style was mediocre, with excessive descriptions that slowed down the pacing of the story. Overall, I found "Curse of Ishtar" to be a disappointing read that failed to live up to its potential.

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