The Legend of The Left-Handed Giant Triton Shell

In Maldivian mythology, the rare left-handed Giant Triton shell is considered to be one of the most powerful mediums that can be used for Black Magic. It is called left-handed because the orientation of the shell means that you can only insert / cup the opening (hole) of the shell with your left-hand only, when you raise it to your mouth to blow.

Magic performed with the aid of 4-left handed Giant Triton shells is associated with the acquisition of extraordinary political power and control. There are many legends perpetuating this myth. One legend is that when an Ancient King that could communicate with as well command Jinn^[1] passed away, the auspicious ring he used to control the Jinn was stolen by an Ifrit (i.e., one of the most malevolent and powerful types of Jinn in Islamic theology). The Ifrit took the ring and fled inside a left- handed Giant Triton shell. It then plunged the shell deep into the abysses of the ocean. It is said that from that point onwards, people from all across the world have been scouring the ocean floor looking for that specific left-handed Giant Triton shell.

Over time, this legend morphed into the belief that left-handed Giant Triton shells could be used to wield immense power and control over Jinn and other supernatural beings. Subsequently, using these beings to acquire immense political power and influence.

The stories and rumours regarding left-handed Giant Triton shells in Maldives are quite numerous. It has been attributed to various Kings and Presidents coming to power by acquiring 4 left-handed Giant Triton shells. I am not sure why 4 is needed, but it may allude to the fact of the rarity of these shells and the immense work and luck that must be attributed to acquiring them. It is said that over 90% of gastropod species have shells in which the direction of the coil is dextral (right-handed).

In contemporary times, there is even a rumour that the National Museum of Maldives had one in their inventory and was displayed for a brief period, but that numerous attempts to steal it made the curators hide it from public display. It is also very interesting to note that if you google “buy left-handed Giant Triton shell” and scour the web, especially the dark web, you can find prices fetching upwards of $25,000 for one of these shells.

Being a writer and owing to my deep fascination for Maldivian and World mythology and folklore. I’ve also come up with a fantastical conspiracy theory to further the legend of the left-handed Giant Triton Shell.

It’s an anecdote regarding the rise of the British Empire. I speculate that the Knights Templar had found the original left- handed Giant Triton Shell during an excavation of Temple Mount. Somehow, the shell was passed to James VI of Scotland who later ascended (as James I) to the English throne and he was able to fully unlock its power. After negotiating the Treaty of London, ending hostilities with Spain, James I then granted charters to both the Plymouth Company and the London Company for the purpose of establishing permanent settlements in North America.

This marked the beginning of the establishment of British colonies overseas and the start of the British Empire. Of course, there have been many empires throughout history. However, and arguably, none that has matched the influence of the British Empire. From the dominance of their currency to English being the world’s most widely spoken language, their influence is truly unmatched and maybe it’s all thanks to that left-handed Giant Triton shell.

^[1] (in Arabian and Muslim theology) an intelligent spirit of lower rank than the angels, able to appear in human and animal forms and to possess humans