Buzz
With the arrival of the Internet and the instant availability of vast information, it didn’t take long for many of us to realize just how much we were never taught in school. Especially in history, where the lessons barely touched on the vastness of what actually happened. If they thought they were ‘shielding us,’ they clearly didn’t anticipate the rise of the World Wide Web. Want to get spooked? Keep reading and dive into the weirdness. There’s plenty of it to discover.
10. Slug Soup
Guido da Vigevano, a 14th-century physician during King Philip VI of France’s reign, is recognized for his discovery of a clever antidote to aconite poisoning. Known as monkshood, this plant is still found in gardens today. However, it’s incredibly toxic, and so potent that it was used by Muslims against the Crusaders during the Crusades.
You might be wondering how a 14th-century doctor developed a cure for such a deadly poison. Aconite roots are filled with various chemicals, including Aconitum alkaloids. The most deadly, aconitine, was the very substance that enabled the Muslims to weaponize the plant. It kills by affecting the heart, muscles, and central nervous system, with heart failure being the most fatal effect.
One day, the doctor observed slugs eagerly devouring aconite leaves, and he had an epiphany: if these creatures could withstand the poison, perhaps they could offer a remedy. So, he gathered a batch of slugs and boiled them. He initially tested his concoction on animals, and once satisfied with the outcome, he decided to try it on himself.
Needless to say, this took tremendous courage, as he first had to poison himself with aconitine before drinking his unsettling slug soup. He reported vomiting three times but eventually began to feel better. Now, that’s bold.
9. Bomb Shadows
After the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945, survivors were horrified to find ‘shadows’ of objects like bicycles and cars etched onto sidewalks and buildings, with the most haunting being the shadows of human figures. They quickly realized these were the final moments of people’s lives, leaving behind an eerie echo much like the preserved remains of Pompeii’s victims in volcanic ash.
Once the initial shock wore off, the inevitable question arose: how were these shadows created? It turns out they were more like photographic images than traditional shadows. Dr. Michael Hartshorne from the University of New Mexico School of Medicine explains that when an atomic bomb detonates, an intensely bright light and extreme heat spread out in all directions from the point of explosion.
Any object in the direct path of this intense energy shields the area behind it, while the surrounding space is bombarded by it. The tremendous energy bleaches these areas, leaving the space behind the object in shadow, essentially creating a snapshot. In this way, an atomic bomb acts like a malevolent, giant camera that takes a chilling photograph of its victims, all while killing them. A truly disturbing way to capture an image.
8. Animal Trials
Over centuries in Europe, countries like Switzerland, France, Italy, and others brought legal action against animals such as rats, grasshoppers, pigs, and even snails, accusing them of crimes against God, people, and property. These animal trials had two forms: secular lawsuits were filed against individual animals that had attacked someone, while clergymen and priests sued pests like locusts or rats, excommunicating them for stealing grain.
A prime example of an animal trial occurred in 15th-century France: In December 1457, in the Paris suburb of Savigny, a sow with six piglets grew so enraged and dangerously violent that she attacked and killed five-year-old Jehan Martin. The seven pigs were caught in the act of this heinous crime, promptly apprehended, thrown into the stockade, and scheduled for trial.
While the owner was merely charged with negligence and went free without further consequences, the sow met a much grimmer fate, sentenced to death. Despite being covered in blood, the piglets were acquitted as there was no proof they were involved in the attack. This trial not only feels eerie but also reeks of absurdity and bizarre justice.
7. Pharaoh Pepi
Pharaoh Pepi, also known as Pepi II Neferkare, was an Egyptian ruler of the Sixth Dynasty during the Old Kingdom. He ascended to the throne at just six years old in 2278 BC, with his mother acting as his guardian. As he grew older, Pepi became known for his odd behavior, including instructing his slaves to coat themselves in honey to fend off flies.
While the absurdity of this is remarkable, what made it stranger is that the pharaoh had a deep aversion to flies, even though his people held the insects in high esteem. They admired the fly for its relentless persistence and quick movements, seeing it as a symbol of determination. This admiration eventually led to the creation of gold flies, which were awarded to soldiers who exceeded expectations in battle. The Golden Fly might just be the first ‘Medal of Honor’ in history.
Once again, Pharaoh Pepi was known for his eccentricities. A peculiar letter was found that he sent to Harkhuf, the governor of Aswan, who was leading an expedition into Nubia. In the letter, Pepi requested that the ‘dwarves be captured immediately.’ Dwarves, you say? Hmm, intriguing. On a more serious note, Pepi is widely considered the longest-reigning pharaoh in history, with various sources claiming his reign lasted either 94 or 64 years. Quite a mix of strangeness with a touch of the eerie.
6. Syphilitic Zombies
There are two theories regarding the origin of syphilis. The first is the Colombian Theory, which suggests the disease was brought to Europe by the men of the famous explorer Christopher Columbus in 1493. The second, known as the Pre-Colombian Theory, is based on vague sources that imply the Ancient Greeks may have discovered treatments for certain symptoms of syphilis. However, these sources are hard to confirm, leaving historians to speculate.
The first European outbreak of syphilis occurred when French troops surrounded Naples in 1806. The disease can be so destructive that it literally eats away at the flesh, causing body parts to fall off. It also rots away limbs and causes severe disfigurement and agony. These unfortunate individuals were wandering the streets with their body parts trailing behind them, much like the zombies we see in horror films today. Given the extreme pain they must have been in, their appearance and movements were likely not much different from movie zombies.
Though this story is terrifying to its core, it does have a slightly brighter side. The wealthy had access to better treatment for the disease, and some even survived. Those who did made early strides in plastic surgery and were able to lead relatively normal lives. True, barely-living zombies. It doesn’t get much creepier than that.
5. Minnie Dean
Around 1890, police in Invercargill, New Zealand, began to grow suspicious of a local woman named Minnie Dean, known as a ‘baby farmer’—a term for a foster parent. Authorities were concerned by the large number of babies she had and her newspaper ads seeking even more children to care for.
The authorities also discovered that Minnie Dean had been attempting to secure life insurance policies for the children, which, while not uncommon, raised suspicions. Soon enough, rumors began circulating that babies under her care were mysteriously vanishing. She lived in a dilapidated, filthy house, and in 1889, she lost a six-month-old child. Two years later, a six-week-old baby met the same fate.
The police grew increasingly wary of Minnie Dean, keeping a closer watch on her. In 1895, they got a tip. On May 2, a reporter saw her board a train carrying a hatbox and a baby. When she returned, she still had the hatbox, but no baby, and it was reported that the hatbox seemed unusually heavy.
Her explanation was that the baby had died unexpectedly during the night, causing her to panic. In a state of fear, she stuffed the child’s body into the hatbox, exited the train, and calmly walked away from the station. The reporter contacted the police, who searched the train tracks, but their efforts were futile. Later, they discovered the small girl's body buried in Minnie Dean's garden, alongside the remains of two other children.
Minnie Dean was arrested, tried, convicted, and executed by hanging on the morning of August 12, 1895. It was a fitting end for one of the creepiest foster parents in history.
4. Cruentation
In medieval times, there was a gruesome method for determining the guilt of a murder suspect known as cruentation. The belief was that the victim's body would start bleeding spontaneously when the murderer approached. For more complex cases, jurors would rely on a Trial by Ordeal to settle the matter.
During this trial, the suspect was brought to the victim's body and forced to place their hands on the corpse. If any wounds on the body began to bleed or if something unusual occurred, the suspect would be declared guilty. If something strange did happen, it was seen as a sign from God, a 'judicium Dei,' declaring the suspect's guilt.
Ironically, cruentation may have been more effective than we might think. The psychological pressure placed on the murderer, who had to face the cold, lifeless eyes of their victim while physically touching the corpse, often broke them mentally. Overcome with guilt, many confessed to their crime.
3. Gibbeting
Throughout history, criminals have faced gruesome punishments that often seemed far too extreme for their crimes. In some places today, thieves still risk losing a hand. But one of the most horrifying punishments of all was gibbeting, a cruel and terrifying method that took imprisonment to a whole new level. A criminal could be gibbeted alive, subjected to an unimaginable punishment beyond the very limits of human suffering.
While most criminals were executed, a rare few were subjected to the horrifying punishment of being gibbeted alive. This involved being locked in a wooden cage shaped like a human and displayed for public viewing. The unfortunate soul would be left to die of thirst—if they were lucky—since it was much quicker than the excruciatingly slow process of starvation over the course of weeks.
Gibbeting was reserved for men, as women's bodies were highly sought after by surgeons for dissection, not for display. Strangely, this gruesome spectacle attracted large crowds, with tens of thousands gathering to witness a gibbeted criminal's fate.
While watching a gibbeting might have entertained some, it was far less enjoyable if it was happening right outside your window. The oppressive stench of a rotting body on a hot, humid day in August would make it impossible to keep your windows open, forcing you to stay inside. The eerie noises of the gibbet creaking and swaying in the wind, accompanied by maggots and decaying body parts falling to the ground, would make it an unforgettable, terrifying experience.
Living near a gibbet meant constantly seeing bugs and birds attacking the body, which swayed back and forth in the wind, as if the victim were desperately trying to escape their gruesome fate. Gibbets were often left in place until only the bones remained, sometimes standing for years as a grim reminder of the past.
To ensure that the gibbets couldn't be tampered with or removed, authorities would hang them on towering poles, sometimes as high as 30 feet (9 meters), and in some cases, they would even place over 12,000 nails on the pole to discourage anyone from interfering. The authorities took no chances when it came to preserving these ghastly symbols of punishment. Gibbeting truly stands as one of the creepiest practices in history.
2. Mummy Unwrapping Party
During the 18th and 19th centuries, Europeans became utterly captivated by all things related to Ancient Egypt, the afterlife, and of course, mummies. The fascination was so intense that it earned its own name: Egyptomania.
The obsession with mummies stretches all the way back to the 15th century when merchants began exporting them from Egypt to Europe. Mummies were often used for bizarre, macabre purposes, such as in the creation of 'mumia,' a medicinal powder made from ground-up mummies. Another dark example was 'mummy brown,' a paint color made from the same source. Charming, right?
By the 19th century, the demand for mummies surged, partially spurred by Napoleon’s Egyptian and Syrian campaigns. This led to a massive rise in interest in everything related to ancient Egypt. But it wasn't purely academic curiosity; it was more like, 'Let’s throw a mummy unwrapping party!' These Victorian gatherings were simple affairs—send out invitations, gather for food and drinks, and unwrap a mummy.
Ironically, it was the esteemed English surgeon Thomas Pettigrew who is credited with starting the trend of mummy unwrapping parties in Victorian society. While there are reports of earlier unwrappings, they were undoubtedly rarer and less organized than the ones that became popular in the 19th century.
The unwrapping event typically began with a lecture or presentation outlining the mummy's history. Afterward, the process of removing layer upon layer of ancient cloth began, uncovering the burial items before eventually revealing the body. This would lead to discussions about everything from the body’s preservation to the color of its hair. It certainly would have been a chilling yet intriguing experience.
1. Death Photography
Death photography captured somber and striking images, where entire families posed beside the bodies of their deceased relatives, with some babies appearing to be peacefully asleep. In other portraits, girls suffering from consumption posed regally while the disease silently took their lives, adding a certain tragic allure to the images.
The Victorian era was deeply intertwined with death, a time when epidemics like cholera, typhus, and diphtheria ravaged the population. In 1861, Queen Victoria popularized mourning, turning it into a fashionable statement. Photography, still in its infancy, required lengthy processes, with subjects often appearing blurry. The living subjects, with their slow movements, often resulted in vague, indistinct faces. Meanwhile, the deceased, unmoving, were captured in perfect focus.
For reasons unknown, mourners sometimes painted eyes onto the deceased to make them appear more lifelike in their photographs. How eerie is that? It was also common to keep locks of hair from the dead, using them in rings or lockets. Death masks were made from wax, and many artists created pieces that depicted various symbols and scenes surrounding death.
The trend of death portraits surged in response to later epidemics, as photographs became the only lasting connection families could have to their lost loved ones. As diseases like scarlet fever, diphtheria, measles, and rubella ravaged Victorian nurseries, death photographers found their services in high demand.
Death was undeniably in the air, and the Grim Reaper seemed to be lurking, watching with a sinister grin—perhaps even snapping a death selfie of his own.
