In a remarkable breakthrough, researchers traced the origins of the Black Death, one of history’s deadliest pandemics, to a small region in Central Asia near present-day Kyrgyzstan. This discovery sheds new light on the roots of the plague that decimated nearly half of Europe’s population in the 14th century and offers crucial insights into the […]
A Revolutionary Study Identified the Origin of the Black Death Read More »
Rats can be a real nuisance. They get into our food, our trash, and even our homes. But when applied in the right (or rather, wrong) ways, they can turn into something far more sinister: a form of torture so cruel that the very mention of it can be enough to compel someone to spill
Rat Torture: One Of History’s Most Barbaric Torture Methods? Read More »
When we think of Vikings you might get an image of a fierce warrior running at you with a huge battle ax and screaming at the top of his lungs. Vikings were known for their warrior culture and fierce fighting styles. Like many other military units, the Vikings had an elite group of warriors that
The Brutal History of Viking Berserkers Read More »
Throughout the Dark and Medieval ages, punishments for crimes would become both more creative and more gruesome than ever before. Tales of executions have fascinated and horrified have the public for as long as history has been recorded, and none so much as being hanged, drawn, and quartered. Made famous by the execution of William
The Horrific History of Being Hanged, Drawn, and Quartered Read More »
The sprawling and diverse landscape of Europe is home to many beautiful, centuries-old castles all with a unique history. Sprinkled across the cities, throughout the countryside, and in small towns all over, castles are standing time capsules of our history. Castle architecture tells us a story about the cultural, political, and technological practices of the
Photos of the Most Picturesque Castles in Europe Read More »
Mimir is an obscure figure from Norse mythology, more ancient than Odin himself. His name in Old Norse meant The Rememberer. Mimir guarded the Well of Wisdom that lay between the roots of the World Tree, which made up the center of their universe. Yggdrasil, also called the World Tree, is an ancient ash tree
Mimir: The Wise Norse God More Ancient than Odin Himself Read More »
Historically, armor has served as a critical component in the survival and success of warriors on the battlefield. Beyond its practical purpose of protection, armor has also been a powerful symbol of status. From the intricate mail of medieval knights to the ornate armor of the samurai, each piece tells a unique story about the
25 stunning pieces of armor from throughout history Read More »
It’s not a term that many people today are very familiar with because no one has been exposed to it. But, hundreds and even thousands of years ago, it was, unfortunately, one of the most barbaric and sadistic methods of torture ever imaginable. Keelhauling is a word that in the 1800s would make you shudder
Keelhauling: Taking Punishment to the Extreme Read More »
Rising up out of the water like someplace from a fairy tale, Venice is a city of extremes. A romantic destination of bridges and canals… and a moldering cesspool of crumbling buildings tilting slowly towards the mud that has supported them for a thousand years or more. It begs the question: why was this astonishing
How was the Floating City of Venice Constructed? Read More »
Golems have become ubiquitous figures in modern folklore, featured everywhere from Discworld novels to the world of Minecraft. But where did they come from? The English word comes from the Hebrew golem meaning “shapeless mass”. The word ‘golem’ is used once in the bible, and English versions translate it in various ways; it’s most often
The Role of Golems in Jewish History and Folklore Read More »
