Strange and disturbing facts about the ancient world
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- Ancient history spans a vast period up to the early Middle Ages and contains numerous bizarre and lesser-known facts.
- The Sati tradition in ancient India forced widows to die with their husbands, reflecting extreme and tragic gender expectations.
- In an interesting twist, ancient Egyptian society allowed both men and women to inherit the throne, valuing lineage through the maternal line.
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- Contrary to modern ideals, ancient Romans associated large penises with foolishness and barbarism rather than masculinity.
- Headaches in the ancient world might be treated with trepanation, a procedure involving drilling holes in the skull to release evil spirits.
- Unlike today, dwarves in ancient Egypt were held in high regard and even served important roles in society and religion.
- Ancient civilizations used animal manure for medicinal purposes, despite the obvious health risks and unpleasantness.
When people talk about ancient history, images of gladiators, pharaohs and Alexander the Great often come to mind, but those themes hardly scratch the surface—history is much bigger than that. What we call "ancient history" covers a long period, from the beginnings of recorded history until the start of the early Middle Ages, around the fifth century, and this era is full of strange and little-known facts from East to West. It turns out that some unimaginable things actually happened then, and not all of them made it into the history books.
So, if you consider yourself a history buff or you just want to learn about the strangest things people have ever done, read on and discover these odd and secret facts that go back to the depths of ancient history.
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1. Even death will never separate you
Widowhood in ancient India didn't mean a woman could mourn for a while and then move on—or at least she couldn't while alive. The tradition known as Sati was based on the belief that a woman had no right to live without her husband and should either be burned alive on her husband's funeral pyre or buried alive beside his corpse. Both methods were horrific, so women probably prayed that they would die first (for natural reasons, of course).
2. Anyone's game (equal opportunity for both sexes in inheritance)
In most kingdoms the heir to the throne was usually a son. But in ancient Egypt either sex could inherit the throne: men and women enjoyed almost equal rights, and descent was traced through the mother rather than the father. Is that progressive thinking or what?
3. There is nothing to brag about
In modern society, having a large penis is often touted as a sign of virility, but in ancient Rome it was the opposite. Rather than being seen as supremely masculine, an oversized penis marked someone as barbaric or foolish. Large phallic images were mostly used as talismans for good luck or as objects of mockery or protection against evil, while statues and artworks of Roman heroes showed men with small, modest genitals.
4. Let her out!
In the ancient world, it might have been wise not to admit you had headaches, because doctors might try to cure you by drilling a hole in your skull. The practice of trepanation (drilling a hole in the skull) was used to treat convulsions, headaches and inflammation, since physicians believed these ailments were caused by evil spirits trapped inside the head that needed to be released. Perhaps the exorcism was less painful!
5. Respect, not ridicule
In modern film and television, dwarfs are often portrayed as outcasts or played for comedy, but in ancient Egypt dwarfs were revered and even worshiped. They held official positions across society, and the Egyptians had several dwarf deities associated with luck, dreams and dance, as well as with arts, crafts and creativity.
6. Alligator treatment
In ancient times it was common to use animal manure as a remedy for a variety of ailments. In ancient Greece, crocodile feces were used as a feminine contraceptive, while in ancient Egypt warriors used animal dung to treat battle wounds. The Scots used sheep droppings to treat smallpox, and pig manure was applied to stop nosebleeds. Thank God someone invented incense!
7. Take advantage of urination
In ancient Rome, human urine had many uses and was a valuable commodity. Emperors such as Vespasian and Nero found ways to profit from it: they levied a tax on collected urine, and Vespasian even ordered the construction of paid public latrines. Urine was gathered for tanning leather and cleaning clothes—though I don't know how they managed not to smell of it!
8. Lead head
Older women didn't have the luxury of picking up modern hair dye at a pharmacy. Some cultures used plant materials, but others used far less attractive mixtures. The ancient Greek and Roman version of a permanent dye was a chemical mix of sulfur and lead. Lacking knowledge of chemistry, these dyes caused serious health problems, but at least their hair looked good!