Just when you thought there couldn’t possibly be any more mind-blowing fact, we bring you 30 more!
Ancient History
The Great Pyramid of Giza was the tallest man-made structure in the world for over 3,800 years.
In ancient Rome, purple clothing was reserved only for emperors.
The Hanging Gardens of Babylon, one of the Seven Wonders of the World, may have never existed – some historians believe they were a myth.
Ancient Egyptians played a board game called Senet, one of the world’s oldest known games. It was played on a 30-square grid with movement determined by the throw of casting sticks.
Knights often used live snails as a symbol on shields and manuscripts (representing humility or mockery). Historians are puzzled as to why.
The first universities in Europe were founded in the 12th century in Bologna and Paris.
Medieval castles sometimes had secret “murder holes” in ceilings to drop rocks or hot oil on invaders.
In ancient China, soldiers used to carry silk handkerchiefs to wrap wounds – silk was naturally antibacterial.
Bizarre Laws
The UK forbids the handling of salmon in “suspicious circumstances”.
You cannot name a pig “Napoleon” in France.
It’s against the law in Switzerland to flush the toilet after 10pm in an apartment building.
In Japan, it’s illegal to be overweight – there’s a government “metabo” law.
Lacy underwear is illegal in Russia.
In Singapore, chewing gum is banned (unless prescribed for medical reasons!).
Schools in Tuszyn, Poland, banned Winne-The-Poo books due to the little bear not wearing anything from the waist down.
In Scotland, it’s illegal to ride a cow while drunk.
Curious History
Ancient Egyptians used crocodile dung as early contraception.
The first recorded “knock-knock” joke appeared in Shakespeare’s Macbeth.
Winston Churchill’s mother was born in Brooklyn, New York.
During the Middle Ages, animals sometimes went on trial and were even executed.
In Victorian times, people mailed children through the postal service with stamps attached to their clothes!
Ancient Rome used urine as mouthwash. There was even a tax on it!
During World War II, a Great Dane named Juliana won the Blue Cross Medal after she extinguished an incendiary bomb by peeing on it!
In the 1800s, people believed tomatoes could turn your blood into acid.
Famous People and Curious Facts
Albert Einstein never wore socks because his big toe always poked through them.
Elvis Presley’s natural hair colour was sandy blond, not black.
Leonardo da Vinci could write with one hand and draw with the other at the same time.
Beethoven continued composing music even after he went completely deaf.
Dolly Parton once entered a Dolly Parton lookalike contest and lost.
Abraham Lincoln was a licensed bartender before becoming president.
We hope you enjoyed reading “Curious and Bizarre Laws and Historical Facts“. Click here for more of our articles about strange facts.
