Historical Mysteries
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Strange Disappearances: Here One Minute, Gone the Next
I recall an episode of The Twilight Zone where a little girl tumbles out of bed and falls through a portal into another dimension that had opened up in the wall of her bedroom. Her rescuer reached through and pulled her back. Of course, that is fiction. Or is it? Legend is full of stories just like this where people are here one minute and gone the next, never to be seen or heard of again. Stayed tuned, this episode of the History of the Bizarre & Mysterious is about strange disappearances.
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Did Pirates Really Go Arrrgh?
A pirate is one of the original terrorists of the world. In fact, terror was just as much a weapon in a pirate's armory as his sword. So just when did the pirate pass from a seafaring, Osama Bin Laden-type of scumbag to the romantic, handsome, swashbuckling hero? More importantly, did they really go "arrrgh?" Let us examine the mystique of the pirate.
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Yes, Virginia, There is a Giant Squid
Eight-year-old Virginia O'Hanlon wrote the editor of the New York Sun in 1897 and asked whether Santa Claus was real. The answer to her query entitled "Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus" written by Francis Pharcellus Church became a classic. But if Virginia were alive today, might she be wondering if other legendary stories are real? The answer to one such story might be entitled "Yes, Virginia, there is a Giant Squid."
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Ghost Ships Blowin' in the Wind
Recently, I flipped through an encyclopedia of the bizarre and came upon a curious entry. The ship called the "Dundee Star" ran aground off Midway Island. In four years time, the abandoned ship drifted completely around the earth and came to rest in 1891 back at Midway Island, the very spot where she started her lonely journey. Now, that's really bizarre, I thought. How many ghost ships might there be just blowin' in the wind?
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The Eggcellent Egg Eggsplained
The egg is the star of many legends and old wives' tales. Eggs have been revered, exchanged, and used in rituals since ancient times and continue to this day as metaphors of possibility whether of ideas or the start of new things. Just where did our love affair with the egg begin?
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The Beginning and Ending of Trees
Trees, tall and short, grow silently in backyards, parks and hills. These beautiful, towering organisms have been around since the beginning of time. People love trees, sometimes worship them, and other times obliterate all the trees they can. What is it with trees?
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The Role of Animals in History
Even though the majority of mankind is happily entrenched in the electronic age and mostly prefers to live in a concrete jungle, the mysterious link between humans and animals continues to hold true. Most of our contact with animals these days is limited to the fleeting glimpse of a bird overhead, the scurry of a squirrel or chipmunk across our paths, or the companionship of a pet. Yet the role of animals in history is of such great importance that we would not be where we are today without them.
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A Day in the Life of an Angel
Right away, I'm in trouble using this title for the article. Of course, angels are not subject to time such as day or night. They are immortal beings. But anyway—made you look! Hope you'll be glad you did and that you will learn something of the history of angels.
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This Place Is Terrible
The mystery of Rennes le Chateau began in 1891 and we are no closer to solving it today. This small, seemingly insignificant, village stands shoulder to shoulder with the Pyramids of Egypt and Stonehenge in the complexity of its riddle. If it could be solved, we may have the answer to some of the most perplexing mysteries on our planet.
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The Kiss Throughout History: A Look at the Contexts and Origins of Kissing
From ancient mothers and their babies to Romans, lords and vassals, discover the origins of the kiss.
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Death by Rye Bread
Hallucinations, violent retching, distorted bodies, wild dancing, burning of the extremities before they turn black and fall off. This mysterious plague killed thousands before the discovery of a fungus among us.
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Who Put the Hob in Hobgoblin?
Do you know the difference between a goblin and a hobgoblin? The characteristics of a gnome or a dwarf? An ogre? A troll? Most importantly, will the bogeyman get you if you don’t read this article?
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Not Quite Human
In the Bible's Book of Genesis and other ancient manuscripts, a mysterious group of people called Nephilim appears. Who are the Nephilim and where did they come from? This is a compilation of all the information I could find on this subject. Scotty from Star Trek might say, "There Be Giants Here."
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A Visit From Auntie
Back in Victorian times, this subject would have caused any lady going by the name of Miss Cornelia to swoon. But in our day, times have changed. Women's History Month would not be complete without a peek into the history of how women have dealt with their menstrual cycles. Rated "M" for "must read."
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Can You Become A Slave?
Disappearances. Abductions. The secret world of human trafficking. This article plots slavery, from ancient times to the system of convict leasing, and discusses human trafficking in White Slavery. Is it possible that you can become a slave?
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The Magic of Sound: Produced, Engineered and Mixed
Sound has affected our world in a mysterious way since the dawn of time. This is a brief examination of sound through history, from singing stones to church bells to the ancient 43-tone musical scale.
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The Candle Mystique
Chances are you have a bit of history sitting somewhere in your home, something greatly needed in times past but now kept simply because of its unique reputation. Let us examine the lowly candle.
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Not a Nice Place to Visit and I Would Not Want to Live There
Out of work? No money? Worse yet, no one to turn to for help? These days we have numerous safety nets to catch us if we find ourselves in that situation, but see what our grandparents faced back in the 19th century. It could mean a trip to the Poorhouse.
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The Things We Put In Our Mouths
That white, blue or multi-colored goo you put on your toothbrush did not start out that way. Read the ingredients for ancient recipes for toothpaste, and you will be thankful toothpaste has come a long way, baby.
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What Did They Mean By That?
Symbols, symbols, everywhere but do you know what they all mean? A look at a few of the symbols from history that you may not know much about.
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Hail to the Food Explorers!
If you were the first primitive person to find a banana, would you eat it? Well, someone did and paved the way for all those after him to enjoy them. This article is a tribute to those great Food Explorers upon which we rest our culinary efforts today.
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What's That Floating in The Moat?
An in-depth investigation of sewage disposal throughout history, which might also answer the question, which way did they go?
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Dragon Slayers are the Good Guys - Part 2
In part 2, we enter a land of mystery and speculation. The dragon's lair might be closer than we first thought!
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Dragon Slayers are the Good Guys - Part 1
Join the quest for the dragon's lair and learn fascinating information about this mysterious creature. Then be sure to stay tuned for part two where we will explore uncharted territory.
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Cursed Be He That Moves My Bones
In the discussion about the article "One Fear Laid To Rest," the question was asked, "where did they put the old bones when they reused grave plots?" This article is the answer to that question.
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Who Was That Masked Man?
Two masks are the universal logo of the theater. Ever wonder where they came from? Let's travel back in time and discover their origin.
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One Fear Laid To Rest
In the 19th century, this fear was real indeed. Thankfully, modern culture has been freed from its hideous grip.
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The Truth About Marie Antoinette
One particular woman stands out in history as one who is overdue for vindication. Written as a letter from a fictitious faithful nanny, this article sets forth the other side of Marie Antoinette's story. If it strikes a cord of outrage within you, it will have done its work.
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Was the Mad Hatter Really Mad?
Mention the Mad Hatter and most people will know who you are talking about. Walt Disney gave us a lovable picture of this character from Lewis Carroll's "Alice in Wonderland," but who would guess that he has a mysterious side as well?
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Tragic Afflictions and the Mysterious Connection
The link between tragic afflictions and creativity has long been a mystery. Like the plot of a best seller mystery novel, this thread runs through the lives of every historical person. Can we solve the mystery?
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Black Death . . .Of Thee We Sing
"Ring around the rosy, pockets full of posies. Ashes, ashes, we all fall down." Do we know what we are singing about?
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