Harmonia's Necklace

An unlucky possession; something that brings evil to all who possess it. Harmonia was the daughter of Mars and Venus and she received the fatal necklace on her marriage to King Cadmus. Vulcan, to avenge the infidelity of her mother, also gave the bride a present of a robe dyed in all kinds of crimes, which infused wickedness and impiety into all her offspring. Both Harmonia and Cadmus, having suffered many misfortunes, changed into serpeants. ~ From Brewer's Dictionary of Phrase & Fable