Unusual Histories and Forgotten Facts
Human history is a treasure trove of unusual stories, fascinating facts, and curious events that often go unnoticed. While we might be well-versed in mainstream historical narratives, there are countless hidden gems waiting to be discovered. Let’s dive into some intriguing and lesser-known historical facts that are sure to captivate your imagination.
The Great Emu War
During the Great Depression, Australia faced an unexpected adversary: emus. In 1932, Western Australia experienced an emu invasion, with tens of thousands of the large, flightless birds wreaking havoc on crops. The government deployed soldiers armed with machine guns to combat the emus, but the birds proved surprisingly resilient. Despite their best efforts, the soldiers couldn’t significantly reduce the emu population, leading to what is humorously referred to as the “Great Emu War,” which the emus arguably won.
The Dancing Plague of 1518
In July 1518, a peculiar phenomenon struck the city of Strasbourg, then part of the Holy Roman Empire. Residents inexplicably started dancing uncontrollably in the streets. This bizarre outbreak, known as the Dancing Plague, saw hundreds of people dance for days, and even weeks, without rest. Many collapsed from exhaustion, and some reportedly died from strokes and heart attacks. Historians have speculated about the cause, ranging from mass hysteria to ergot poisoning, but the true cause remains a mystery.
Cleopatra’s Time Capsule
Cleopatra VII, the last active ruler of the Ptolemaic Kingdom of Egypt, lived closer to the moon landing than to the construction of the Great Pyramid of Giza. While the Pyramid of Giza was completed around 2560 BCE, Cleopatra was born in 69 BCE, approximately 2,500 years later! The moon landing, on the other hand, occurred in 1969 CE, only about 2,000 years after her death. This mind-bending fact puts historical timelines into a whole new perspective.
The Exploding Whale of 1970
In November 1970, the Oregon Highway Division faced an unusual problem: the carcass of a 45-foot sperm whale had washed ashore near the town of Florence. Decaying whale carcasses can pose significant health hazards, so the authorities decided to dispose of the whale using dynamite in the hopes that scavenging birds and marine life would clean up the remaining bits. However, the explosion didn’t go as planned. Instead of disintegrating smoothly, large chunks of whale blubber were launched into the air, raining down on bystanders and damaging cars parked a quarter-mile away. The “exploding whale” incident has since become a legend in Oregon and is an important lesson in disaster management.
The Library of Alexandria’s Last Stand
The Library of Alexandria is famed as the ancient world’s greatest repository of knowledge, but it met a tragic and violent end. One part of its demise is linked to Julius Caesar. In 48 BCE, during Caesar’s civil war, his forces set fire to the Egyptian fleet in Alexandria’s harbor. The fire spread to parts of the city, including the library, resulting in the loss of countless texts. While the library faced multiple destructive events over centuries, Caesar’s incidental role in its destruction is a poignant reminder of the fragility of human endeavors.
Kleroterion: Ancient Greece’s Randomness Machine
The ancient Greeks were pioneers in democracy and civic administration. One intriguing aspect of their judicial system was the kleroterion, a device used to randomly select citizens for jury duty. The machine consisted of a slab of stone with slots for placing bronze identification tokens. Dice were then rolled through a funnel, and depending on the outcome, certain citizens’ tokens would be chosen, ensuring randomness and reducing corruption in jury selection. This early understanding of randomness and fairness was remarkably ahead of its time.
Tsutomu Yamaguchi: The Unluckiest Survivor
Tsutomu Yamaguchi holds the unenviable distinction of being one of the few individuals to have experienced both atomic bombings in Japan during World War II. On August 6, 1945, he was in Hiroshima on a business trip when the first atomic bomb was dropped. He miraculously survived and returned to his hometown of Nagasaki – only to witness the second atomic bomb three days later. Yamaguchi survived both bombings and lived to the age of 93, embodying an extraordinary story of resilience amid unparalleled devastation.
The Great Stink of 1858
In the summer of 1858, London experienced the “Great Stink” when the Thames River, heavily polluted with untreated human waste, emanated such an unbearable odor that it disrupted city life, including sessions in the Houses of Parliament. The event highlighted the dire need for improved sanitation and led to the construction of London’s modern sewer system, designed by the engineer Joseph Bazalgette. The system is still in use today, showcasing one of the most critical public health advancements of the time.
These slices of history reveal how peculiar, unpredictable, and sometimes humorous the past can be. They remind us that beneath the surface of well-known events lie countless stories that can enlighten, entertain, and inspire us.
The Great Emu War
During the Great Depression, Australia faced an unexpected adversary: emus. In 1932, Western Australia experienced an emu invasion, with tens of thousands of the large, flightless birds wreaking havoc on crops. The government deployed soldiers armed with machine guns to combat the emus, but the birds proved surprisingly resilient. Despite their best efforts, the soldiers couldn’t significantly reduce the emu population, leading to what is humorously referred to as the “Great Emu War,” which the emus arguably won.
The Dancing Plague of 1518
In July 1518, a peculiar phenomenon struck the city of Strasbourg, then part of the Holy Roman Empire. Residents inexplicably started dancing uncontrollably in the streets. This bizarre outbreak, known as the Dancing Plague, saw hundreds of people dance for days, and even weeks, without rest. Many collapsed from exhaustion, and some reportedly died from strokes and heart attacks. Historians have speculated about the cause, ranging from mass hysteria to ergot poisoning, but the true cause remains a mystery.
Cleopatra’s Time Capsule
Cleopatra VII, the last active ruler of the Ptolemaic Kingdom of Egypt, lived closer to the moon landing than to the construction of the Great Pyramid of Giza. While the Pyramid of Giza was completed around 2560 BCE, Cleopatra was born in 69 BCE, approximately 2,500 years later! The moon landing, on the other hand, occurred in 1969 CE, only about 2,000 years after her death. This mind-bending fact puts historical timelines into a whole new perspective.
The Exploding Whale of 1970
In November 1970, the Oregon Highway Division faced an unusual problem: the carcass of a 45-foot sperm whale had washed ashore near the town of Florence. Decaying whale carcasses can pose significant health hazards, so the authorities decided to dispose of the whale using dynamite in the hopes that scavenging birds and marine life would clean up the remaining bits. However, the explosion didn’t go as planned. Instead of disintegrating smoothly, large chunks of whale blubber were launched into the air, raining down on bystanders and damaging cars parked a quarter-mile away. The “exploding whale” incident has since become a legend in Oregon and is an important lesson in disaster management.
The Library of Alexandria’s Last Stand
The Library of Alexandria is famed as the ancient world’s greatest repository of knowledge, but it met a tragic and violent end. One part of its demise is linked to Julius Caesar. In 48 BCE, during Caesar’s civil war, his forces set fire to the Egyptian fleet in Alexandria’s harbor. The fire spread to parts of the city, including the library, resulting in the loss of countless texts. While the library faced multiple destructive events over centuries, Caesar’s incidental role in its destruction is a poignant reminder of the fragility of human endeavors.
Kleroterion: Ancient Greece’s Randomness Machine
The ancient Greeks were pioneers in democracy and civic administration. One intriguing aspect of their judicial system was the kleroterion, a device used to randomly select citizens for jury duty. The machine consisted of a slab of stone with slots for placing bronze identification tokens. Dice were then rolled through a funnel, and depending on the outcome, certain citizens’ tokens would be chosen, ensuring randomness and reducing corruption in jury selection. This early understanding of randomness and fairness was remarkably ahead of its time.
Tsutomu Yamaguchi: The Unluckiest Survivor
Tsutomu Yamaguchi holds the unenviable distinction of being one of the few individuals to have experienced both atomic bombings in Japan during World War II. On August 6, 1945, he was in Hiroshima on a business trip when the first atomic bomb was dropped. He miraculously survived and returned to his hometown of Nagasaki – only to witness the second atomic bomb three days later. Yamaguchi survived both bombings and lived to the age of 93, embodying an extraordinary story of resilience amid unparalleled devastation.
The Great Stink of 1858
In the summer of 1858, London experienced the “Great Stink” when the Thames River, heavily polluted with untreated human waste, emanated such an unbearable odor that it disrupted city life, including sessions in the Houses of Parliament. The event highlighted the dire need for improved sanitation and led to the construction of London’s modern sewer system, designed by the engineer Joseph Bazalgette. The system is still in use today, showcasing one of the most critical public health advancements of the time.
These slices of history reveal how peculiar, unpredictable, and sometimes humorous the past can be. They remind us that beneath the surface of well-known events lie countless stories that can enlighten, entertain, and inspire us.