The Ides of March is often related to the death of Julius Caesar. According to historians, Caesar was stabbed to death during the Ides of March in 44 Before the Common Era (BCE). Caesar had become a dictator, and Roman politicians were no longer happy with him. Around sixty conspirators took part in the plan […]
Beware of the Ides of March: What Happens on March 15? Read More »
True crime is a genre of story that has taken the world by storm, from video documentaries and television shows to extensive news coverage and podcast series. People cannot get enough of hearing the twisted things that can emerge from the darkest corners of humanity. Although some debate the ethics of true crime storytelling, its
Jaycee Dugard: A Story of Resilience and Survival Read More »
The past is full of events that gained their notoriety from the death and destruction they wrought, but few of those events took place over a single night. In the city of Kolkata, then called Calcutta, one night was all it took to make a grisly mark in history, all thanks to their dungeon–the Black
The Horror of the Black Hole of Calcutta Incident Read More »
The history of punk rock is rife with larger-than-life characters, some of them so iconic that they seem plucked out of a movie instead of reality. One of these figures is the infamous Sid Vicious, the bassist for the Sex Pistols. A pivotal figure in both punk rock and broader counterculture scenes, Sid Vicious made
The Short, Rebellious, Punk Rock Life of Sid Vicious Read More »
Can you imagine a life without automobiles? It can be difficult to fathom that just 140 years ago, there were none of them on the road. But who invented the car? The name should be quite familiar: Karl Benz. It is important to note that while Benz is credited for its invention, many inventors and
Who is Credited as the Inventor of the Car? Read More »
What makes someone beautiful? Some attributes, like bright eyes and a winning smile, will always be considered beautiful in a person, but there are dark marks in history where beauty was intimately linked to pain. One such practice, maybe the most painful of them all, was foot binding. Foot binding was a centuries-old Chinese tradition
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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 »
Some tales of criminal activity are so gruesome that it is nearly impossible for anyone to conceive how they can be committed. Omaima Nelson’s murder of her husband exists alongside mythically evil killers like Jeffrey Dahmer and Hannibal Lecter for her mutilation of his body after she killed him. After her arrest, her horrific acts
Self-Defense or Murder?: The Trial of Omaima Nelson Read More »
In 1920s Chicago, violence was everywhere. With prohibition in full swing, and bootleggers rising to meet the ever-increasing demand for alcohol, tensions across the city were high. Completing the recipe for violence was the organized crime syndicates that all but ran the city. Ranging from small-time bootlegging gangs to enormous crime empires like Al Capone’s
What Led to the Grisly St. Valentines Day Massacre? Read More »
The tragedy of Marilyn Monroe’s life was once hidden behind the glitz and glamor of her time in the spotlight. These days, we’ve learned to look a little deeper and see just how tragic and tumultuous her life was. Was this fate singular to Marilyn, or did it run in the family? Gladys Pearl Baker,
Gladys Pearl Baker: The Mother of Superstar, Marilyn Monroe Read More »
