Religion
The Sacred Chickens that Shaped Roman Decision-Making
Some might say Julius Caesar was the most influential figure in Roman history. Others might nominate Brutus, the man who…
12 of History’s Greatest Back Stabbers and their Dramatic Consequences
According to folk etymology, the term "double-cross", as in deception by some kind of double-dealing, originated with the 18th century…
12 of the Most Unbelievably Strange Deaths of the Renaissance
The one commonality uniting all of mankind, regardless of time, place, race or sex is that sooner or later, everybody…
The Ghost in the Mirror: The Legend of Bloody Mary Revealed
As most of us know, standing alone in a darkened room, quietly muttering Bloody Mary into a mirror isn’t just…
Burning Ambition in Renaissance Florence: The Life and Death of Girolamo Savonarola
Visit Florence today, and you'll see a city of extraordinary beauty, breathtaking architecture and unrivaled artistic heritage. But for all…
The Pendle Witches: 12 Disturbing Details About the Notorious 17th Century Witch Trials
On August 20, 1612, the single largest trial of witches in English history concluded at the Summer Assises in Lancaster Castle.…
The Dark Prints: The Baffling Mystery of the Devil’s Footprints
Even for England’s dreary standards, the winter of 1855 was particularly bleak. From January right through to March, temperatures hovered…
Two Monks Started First Recorded Copyright Battle, Resulting in Thousands of Deaths
It doesn’t take much for copyright disputes to turn nasty. Intellectual property, being so personal by nature, is one of…
America’s Commercial Airline Inventor Also Founded a Bizarre Cult
Alfred Lawson was an unassuming man whose life was filled with some success and a few failures, but few could…
Philosopher Prince to Islamic Prophet: 9 Surprising Legends About Alexander the Great
Most people are familiar with the historical exploits of Alexander the Great. After unifying Greece, he set about defeating the…