Back in the days of the Roman Empire, a doctor named Rufus from a town called Ephesus noticed something strange about certain patients. They would wake up with swollen, painful joints, especially in their feet. Today we call this gout, but back then it was just another mystery. A long time after Ruf
Last week, a historic relic vanished from a quiet church in the Czech countryside. Police say a 35-year-old man is now in custody for allegedly taking the 800-year-old skull of Saint Zdislava. The saint lived from 1220 to 1252 and is famous for helping the poor. Her canonization by the Pope in 1995
The story of how church and state have clashed goes back more than a thousand years. In the 400s, a pope named Gelasius claimed that while kings ruled on earth, priests had the ultimate say because they promised eternal life. That idea didn’t settle things but it set a pattern that many later leader
Deep in the waters of Lake Lednica, a treasure trove of medieval weapons has been uncovered, offering a peek into Poland's early history. These artifacts, linked to the country's first rulers, were recently retrieved by a team of archaeologists. The lake, located near Ostrów Lednicki, was once a sig
Ben Affleck and Matt Damon are back in the spotlight. Their 2021 movie, The Last Duel, is now a hit on HBO Max. This is surprising because the movie didn't do well when it first came out. It only made $30. 5 million at the box office. But now, people are watching it online. The movie is about a fig
Medieval times were heavily shaped by Christian beliefs. Within this era, saints were highly respected as figures who could help cure illnesses. When it comes to urology, six saints are particularly notable. First, there is Saint Margaret of Antioch. She is often shown wearing a belt around her kid
In the heart of Europe, around the year 900, a significant event unfolded. The first "Polish" political entity emerged, driven by the Eurasian slave trade. This new powerhouse embarked on a rapid expansion, both in territory and in its impact on the environment. Construction projects boomed, and the
The Psalter of Robert de Lisle is a fascinating piece of history. It includes a visual story called "Ages of Man. " This story shows the journey of life, from birth to death. The last four stages of this journey are particularly interesting. They show how people in the Middle Ages thought about gett
The day was like any other for Mark Sell, a retired firefighter from Norfolk, England. He was out in a field with a friend, metal detector in hand, hoping to find something interesting. Little did he know, his day would take an extraordinary turn. The metal detector beeped faintly, signalin
In the 13th century, the inquisition in Bologna relied heavily on people ratting each other out. Testimonies were key to these trials, and who people chose to incriminate wasn't always straightforward. Several factors played a role: the social circles of the accused, the choices made by investigato
