› added 4 months ago

17

TIL that during the French colonization of Syria, General Henri Gouraud went to Saladin’s tomb, kicked it, and said: “Awake, Saladin. We have returned. My presence here consecrates the victory of the Cross over the Crescent."

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XEvRD TIL that in 2019, A&W became the first franchised restaurant chain to turn 100 years old
BrlD TIL the first man made aircraft to land on another planet and send back data was the Soviet Venera 7 in 1970. After successfully landing on Venus, the craft sent back only 23 minutes of weak data, presumably because it landed on its side.
rRQVw TIL: There was a fake sequel to the first part of Don Quixote. The real sequel has Don Quixote find out about the fake sequel, outraged that one would publish a book with false details about his life while also humiliating him.
1a0Z4 TIL coquina (a stone made from cockle shells) was used for forts in the era of heavy cannons because cannonballs sank into the walls instead of shattering or puncturing them
p8bXN Today I learned that the heads on easter island actually also have torsos. In most pictures taken of these famous heads, it shows only the heads but hidden under the ground are its torso. Scientists have 'found interesting discoveries that further our knowledge of the Easter Island civilization'.