Did You Know?

Medieval European courts would employ professional insulters to mock visiting diplomats.

These professional mockers would test foreign diplomats' composure through elaborate insults. The practice was used to assess visitors' character and diplomatic skill.

Did You Know?

In medieval Europe, people would hire professional hermits to live in their gardens.

Wealthy estate owners would employ ornamental hermits to live in purpose-built structures on their property. These hermits were...

Read more: In medieval Europe, people would hire professional hermits to live in their gardens.

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The Tudors believed that rubbing a dead person’s teeth on their gums would prevent toothache.

This macabre dental practice involved rubbing teeth taken from corpses on painful gums. The practice was widespread enough...

Read more: The Tudors believed that rubbing a dead person’s teeth on their gums would prevent toothache.

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Persian kings would debate important matters twice – once sober and once drunk.

Important decisions were discussed first while sober, then again while intoxicated. If an idea seemed good in both...

Read more: Persian kings would debate important matters twice – once sober and once drunk.