History

The bloodcurdling scream the Aztec death whistle makes explains why the Aztecs may have used it as an intimidation tactic in battle — or in human sacrifice.

The origins of the idiom “happy as Larry” date back to the 19th century—but whether it’s attributed to a New Zealand writer, Australian boxer, or Cornish slang word is anyone’s guess.

In 19th-century London, a fire-breathing demon known as “spring heeled Jack” reportedly leapt from walls and terrorized citizens—often women walking alone at night.

Though the ten-gallon hat doesn’t actually hold 10 gallons, this Stetson classic has become an indisputable part of cowboy culture.

The phrase “shiver my timbers” first appeared in a book by Captain Frederick Marryat published in 1834. Since then, it’s appeared in numerous books and films.

Juneteenth celebrates the ending of slavery in the United States. Dating back to 1865, it is the oldest such commemoration.

In 1932, the Australian army started an offensive against a horde of itinerant emus. The Australian Emu War would be chalked down as a victory for the emus.

Ulrich von Liechtenstein was made famous by Heath Ledger in the film A Knight’s Tale. Did you know he was a real person? His real life exploits were arguably more outrageous than those portrayed by Hollywood.

In Indian mythology, the god Indra rescues the world by killing an evil serpent with a thunderbolt. In Norse mythology, Thor famously slays the serpent Jörmungandr with thunder. This similarity is one tantalizing clue to the fact that the mythologies and languages of Europe and India share a common source—a lost culture about which we know little, but owe much.