View Recent Blogs

In Zhengzhou, China, stands a monumental testament to antiquity: a towering sculpture, reaching a staggering 106 meters (348 ft) in height. This awe-inspiring structure immortalizes two fabled figures from Chinese lore: Yandi, remembered as the “Flame Emperor,” and Huangdi, revered as the “Yellow Emperor.” Erected to commemorate their roles as the progenitors of Chinese civilization, these statues serve as enduring symbols of the mythical epoch that shaped the nation's political and economic landscape. While Yandi's legacy is enshrouded in mythological lore, certain historical accounts of China trace back to the reign of Huangdi, marked by his victory over Yandi. This pivotal event facilitated the consolidation of disparate Chinese tribes, culminating in the emergence of a more unified China. The enduring

Wallpaper isn’t as popular as it once was, and perhaps the reason for its fall from fashion was its ability to kill! In the Victorian Era, a brilliant green-colored pigment proved popular in wall colors, but its toxicity was fatal to many, especially children and the elderly. In 1778, Swedish Chemist Carl Scheele created the brilliant green pigment called “Scheele’s Green,” which was composed of copper arsenite. As its name suggests, copper arsenite contains the deadly element arsenic. Not all commercially available green paints contained arsenic, but many of the prominent ones did, such as Emerald Green, Paris Green, and Schweinfurt Green. Although the dangers associated with ingesting arsenic were well known, the people of the 19th century did not

Inhabiting the Pine Barrens of Southern New Jersey, United States, is a creature known as the Jersey Devil. This legendary being has been described as a kangaroo-like creature with the head of a goat, horse, or dog - depending on the source. It also has bat wings, horns, cloven hooves, claws, and a forked tail. It can move with impressive speed and emits a blood-curdling scream to make its presence known. In the beginning, it would feast upon cattle and sheep, then it moved on to terrorizing people with its unearthly scream in the surrounding rural area and beyond. According to legend, the appearance of the Jersey Devil foretells disaster in the form of shipwrecks, war, crop failures, or other

First mentioned in the 5th century by Armenian chroniclers, the “Ghost City” of Ani was described as a strong fortress on a hilltop that was a possession of the Armenian Kamsarakan dynasty. From this point on and throughout its occupation, the site had a turbulent history: changing hands multiple times, withstanding sieges, massacres, earthquakes, and looting - which led to its eventual abandonment. Despite this, the site has been seen as a place of extreme beauty, architectural marvel, and rich history for both the Turks and Armenians. While it remains a point of contention between these two nationalities, it is currently being restored, and conserved as an important piece of world history, which also led to it being recognized as

Forever intertwined, Morana, goddess of winter and death, and Vesna, goddess of spring and rebirth, could not exist without each other. However, they could not possibly exist in the same place at the same time either. They are the forces that kept the ancient Slavic world turning in a cycle of death and rebirth. One goddess loved for her beauty and bounty, the other feared and hated for her ugliness and darkness. The modern traditions are an echo of how these two were once celebrated and ritually murdered, and they show how interconnected the goddesses were, and continue to be. Morana, the Goddess of Winter and Death Commonly known as Marzanna, her Polish name, Morana (as she is known in

The imperial harem of the Ottoman era was the collection of wives, servants, and concubines of the Sultan, who sometimes numbered in the hundreds. Some were mere playthings or used for the production of heirs, while others rose to great power and influence. The term “harem” brings to mind an image of a room full of beautiful women whose sole purpose in life was to please their captor sexually. This image may have been inspired by the 16th and 17th century harems of the Ottoman Empire. However, the members of the harem were more than just sexual playthings for the Sultan. Existing between 1299 and 1920 AD, the Ottoman sultan’s harem was comprised of wives, servants, female relatives of the

Have you ever wondered how many people lived in England in the late 11th century? Well, William the Conqueror did, but mostly so that he could know how much land and money those people had. To figure this out, he commissioned a massive survey of England which was compiled into 913 pages. It was called The Domesday Book and it survives to this day. To answer the question, approximately 1.5 million people lived in England in 1085. If you think that is useless information, you should consider that not only was the book cited throughout the Middle Ages as evidence, frequently in law courts, it has even been cited as recently as the 1960s in a court case regarding ancient

In Norse mythology, Valkyries were originally sinister spirits that would fly above the battlefield in search of the dead, deciding the fate of the fallen for Odin. The word “Valkyrie” means “chooser of the slain,” and once chosen the warriors would be flown by the Valkyries over Bifrost, the rainbow bridge, and on to Valhalla. Valhalla was the heavenly home of Odin’s fallen army, and the hall for those who had died heroically in battle. [[{"type":"media","view_mode":"media_large","fid":"74828","attributes":{"alt":"","class":"media-image","height":"431","typeof":"foaf:Image","width":"610"}}]] Valkyries on a battlefield. ( warmtail /Adobe Stock) However, later in Norse mythology the Valkyries were more romanticized and they became Odin’s shield-maidens, virgins with golden hair, who served the heroes meat and drink in the halls of Valhalla. The act of serving meat

Stories and tales about gigantic beings inhabiting the Earth occur in almost all ancient cultures and civilizations. From the Indo-Europeans, to the Greeks, to the Christian Bible, tales of giants have been passed down from generation to generation and these stories still exist in modern day. There has never been any concrete evidence to prove the existence of giants, that is unless you believe the giant footprints that have been found across the globe. Multiple giant footprints have been discovered and are thought to be millions if not billions of years old. To the locals where these footprints can be found they are known as “the footprints of god.” Could the history books and what we know of evolution be

A cloud of mystery looms over the ringforts that speckle the countryside of Ireland. More than 45,000 ringforts have been documented throughout Northern Europe and yet little is known about the date, occupancy, and function of these structures. Perhaps this mystery persists due to the mythology surrounding them; that they exist as the gate way to the realm of the fairies and are protected pieces of Irish history that few dare to disturb. Documenting Irish Ringforts Accounts of missing livestock, trances, death, and other misfortune have kept the fairy forts protected for many years. However, a few brave historians and archaeologists are beginning to peel back the curtain and search for answers regarding these ancient structures. But it’s not just