Every school child is familiar with the story of the Pied Piper of Hamelin, or at least the vague elements. It involves a mysterious figure showing up in a town in Germany during the Middle Ages, both scaring away a plague of rats from the settlement and then luring scores of children away from the …
The Disturbing True Story of the Pied Piper of Hamelin Read More »
The world of luxury sports cars is one of competition both off and on the road. Cars designed for high speeds and good looks are a niche market, and that means companies that sell such high-end vehicles need every advantage they can to stay competitive since every sale counts. Sometimes, that drive for competition creates …
The Story Behind The Lamborghini and Ferrari Rivalry Read More »
You’ve seen Storks multiple times on cards, cartoons, or an entire baby product range. But have you ever stopped to think about the connection between storks and babies? Storks are one of the most beautiful creations, often linked to immaculateness and peace owing to their pure white color. However, these birds are friendly as they …
The History Behind Storks Delivering Babies To Your Door Read More »
Writing in 1843 in his collection of eighteen essays compiled and entitled as Celebrated Crimes, the great French novelist, Alexandre Dumas, made a startling claim about modern depictions of Jesus Christ. Dumas claimed that all modern depictions made of the great Jewish prophet and the Christian son of god stemmed from pictures of one individual. That …
Were Modern Depictions of Jesus based on Cesare Borgia? Read More »
On the morning of the 2nd of February 1685, the King of England, Scotland, and Ireland, Charles II, at just 54 years of age, had a sudden apoplectic fit. Four days later, at approximately 11:45 am, he died. It was a sudden and bizarre death that immediately aroused suspicions at court and within government circles. …
The Mysterious Death and Autopsy of Charles II of England Read More »
Since medieval times, Christian Monks have been shaving their head on top in the way we’ve all come to associate them with. The style, bald with a brim of hair, is as iconic as their dark brown attire, but what is it that makes Christian Monks adopt this rather unusual, and some would say unflattering, …
Why did Christian Monks have such strange haircuts? Read More »
Vikings have captured imaginations for centuries. Irish monks trembled at their sight, Early Russians fought them for Baltic water rights, and Byzantine Emperors hired their descendants as bodyguards. While much has been written about them from various contemporary and more recent sources, the Vikings themselves left few initial records. As a result, most of what …
Blanche Monnier, or the la Séquestrée de Poitiers (“The Confined Woman of Potiers”), was a French woman trapped in a tiny room for a quarter of a century by her socialite mother. Few stories scandalized French society in the early twentieth century as much as Blanche Monnier, and rightfully so. How could a mother do the unthinkable …
Blanche Monnier: The French Aristocrat Held Captive for 25 Years Read More »
The character Shrek voiced by Mike Myers, is one of the most iconic animated characters of the last century. For years many have believed that a real-life man, Maurice Tillet, inspired the green ogre. Dreamworks has neither confirmed nor denied this, but the similarities are uncanny. The Early Life of Maurice Tillet Maurice Tillet, most …
The Life of Maurice Tillet, The Man Who May Have Inspired Shrek Read More »
The legendary Baba Yaga is an ambiguous creature. She is an anomaly, popularly described as a mother-nature figure and an evil creature who seeks to devour adventurers who fail the tasks she gives them. Much like her unclear purpose, the meaning of her name is contested: it is widely believed that Baba means something akin …
The Mystery of Baba Yaga, the Slavic Witch With Unclear Intentions Read More »
