In 1829 Dr. Nathanial Ward became highly aware of the harmful effects the factories of London were having on the quality of air surrounding his home. While performing an experiment he inadvertently made a discovery which would lead to the establishment of terrariums and provide proof of the need for …
(The following article was first published in The Heretic Magazine Vol. 7 (Oct. 2015 issue) Board games are intuitive creations found at the very first orderings of civilizations. They offer powerful insight into key beliefs and habits of the societies who played them. But unfortunately, games are often neglected by …
I am pleased to offer the following guest post by Nicolai Anichkin. I respect his thoughts and find them interesting. The post may require a bit of understanding for the Voynich Manuscript beforehand, however. I’ve previously written a summary on the VM which might help fill you in on what …
Sitting on one of my book shelves is a tiny 3×5 inch book from 1833 entitled The Youths’ Guide. It contains selections gathered from the letters of Lord Chesterfield to his son and additions from other eminent authors. The book is a wealth of knowledge; and the writer hoped those …
In 1960, a Belgian explorer, Jean de Heinzelin de Braucourt (1920-1998), discovered one of the earliest and most curious mathematical artifacts known to us today. Named the Ishango Bone, after the region from which it was found and material used for its fashion, this historical object provides an intriguing glimpse …
The symbol of the cross is known to have ancient origins and various meanings throughout time. It is one of the most widely known images. But, what does the cross mean to you? What does it mean to others? Why does a simple depiction of two lines, one vertical and …
Playing with eyes for centuries, the image of three hares has shared not only ears, but the admiration of many different faiths across many different regions of the world. The origin and initial meaning for the mystifying, rotating hares are still debated. The circular motif causes a person to question …
Anyone who has taken a snapshot and thought the sight was absolutely amazing at the time, probably has said, “The picture does not do it justice” or “you would have to be there to get the full effect.” Showing the image to others, or even looking at it later yourself, it is …
The number 17 holds a curious spot to many mysteries. As mentioned in the article entitled, The Mystifying and Recurrent Number of 17, the date of 17 appears numerous times in connection to the mystery of Rennes le Chateau. It was also upon this date, the 17th of January, that Nicolas Flamel was believed …
Living on the Italian peninsula, the Etruscans were an ancient people who faded into the Roman culture by the first century BC. Discovery of Etruscan artifacts have exposed some of their beliefs and influences onto the early Roman people. One of the items which have provided researchers with a wealth …
