Roman slaves wore collars of iron with messages like a modern dog collar, for example this one, which reads “I have run away; hold me. When you shall have returned me to my master, Zoninus, you will receive a solidus” 00
The idiom “Turning a blind eye” is attributed…
The idiom “Turning a blind eye” is attributed to Admiral Horatio Nelson who, in the midst of battle and given the permission to retreat by his superior, lifted the telescope to his eye (blinded from an earlier injury) and said “I really do not see the signal” and pressed on with the attack. 00
In medieval years, an hour was divided into 4…
In medieval years, an hour was divided into 4 puncta (quarter-hours), 10 minuta, or 40 momenta. So if you asked someone to “wait a moment”, turns out that you really asked them to wait for about 90 seconds. 00
Knight v Snail
In medieval manuscripts there are many depictions of knights fighting giant snails. There’s no solid reason why. 00
In medieval England, the Lord’s Prayer…
In medieval England, the Lord’s Prayer was often used as a measurement of time in medical and culinary books. 00
The ancient Chinese used natural gas…
The ancient Chinese used natural gas for lighting purposes around 500 B.C., using bamboo pipelines to transport the gas for miles. 00
After the assassination of Julius Caesar…
After the assassination of Julius Caesar a large comet hit the Earths atmosphere, it was seen in Rome and China, and may have been brightest daylight comet in recorded history, it led to Caesar being Deified, an Imperial Cult, and the building of the ‘Temple of the Comet Star’. 00
The longest war in recorded history…
The longest war in recorded history lasted 335 years and 19 days. It was between the Dutch and the Isles of Scilly, there were no casualties, and the Dutch actually forgot about the conflict until a Scilly historian contacted them about it in 1985. A treaty was signed between them in 1986. 00
In 1869, a strange fashion…
In 1869, a strange fashion trend was afoot among the hippest London ladies. With the assistance of canes and mismatched shoes or specialty pairs with different heel heights, they affected what was called the Alexandra Limp. 00
1.7 billion years ago, there was…
1.7 billion years ago, there was a natural nuclear reactor that ran for a few hundred thousand years. 00