Came across this gem today: in ancient Rome, they treated inflammation of the tonsils with a tonsillectomy. So far so good, right? Until you read how this was managed:'....removal should be attempted by scratching round with afinger and drawing them out...."Did ya catch that? The medicus removed the offending tissue by scraping it out with his fingernail!!!!Oh, ack. … [Read more...] about Ew…As if we Need Another Reason to Be Grateful for Modern Medicine
Ancient World
Who Knew a Random Elegy Could Make Me so Happy?
"Mom, we had to write an elegy poem for class today," says the girl. "Wanna read it?""Sure!" I say. "I'd love to." [After reading] "OMG, this is awesome! You made my day!"Girl grins. "I thought you'd like it."ElegyHath the queen in her glory maintained the waking day?Hath her children in their pity turned their heads away?Hath the queen in her carpet huddled in decay?Doth the … [Read more...] about Who Knew a Random Elegy Could Make Me so Happy?
The Ancient Reason We Cover Our Mouths When we Yawn
This story may give a clue as to why we cover our mouths when yawning:"Once, a man was standing outside his inn, 'when a black dog came up and stood in front of me and yawned, which made me yawn too, quite against my will, and immediately the dog disappeared from sight and I was seized with fever and my face was turned round backwards.'"*So, according to St. Theodore of Sykeon … [Read more...] about The Ancient Reason We Cover Our Mouths When we Yawn
Antony and Cleopatra: The Original “Brangelina”
Amateurs at scandal, really..."Brangelina? Antopatra came first!" The handsome, boyish man's man and the powerful, dangerous vixen who steals his heart -- it's a trope that started waaaaay before Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie highjacked the tabloids. The original outrageous, illicit power couple was none other than the pair who … [Read more...] about Antony and Cleopatra: The Original “Brangelina”
In the You Can’t Make This Stuff up Dept: PURIFICATION BY PUPPIES!
According to Plutarch, ancient Greeks sometimes purified themselves by "rub[bing] around with puppies." There was even a name for it: periskylakismos or "puppifrication."Puppifrication, people! Ritual purification by puppies!See, this is why I love history so much. You COULD NOT make this stuff up if you tried! How awesome is that? I want to be purified by puppies? Where … [Read more...] about In the You Can’t Make This Stuff up Dept: PURIFICATION BY PUPPIES!
