› added 7 years ago

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TIL we use the word cancer as a medical diagnosis because Hippocrates thought the tumors looked like crabs

Read more cancer.org

via reddit.com

AN7da TIL there was a made up accent Mid-Atlantic accent. It was generally used for documentary and news reporting
98lQ TIL that a German knight named Gotz von Berlichingen lost his hand in 1504, and had it replaced with a mechanical iron prosthetic. It was capable of grasping everything from a sword to a feather pen.
rN5v1 TIL Medieval Benin City was described as "wealthy and industrious" and was said to have walls 4x the size of The Great Walls of China
egEg TIL that on their way to an expected easy victory in Greece, the Persians brought a block of marble along to make a victory memorial. After their defeat at Marathon, the marble was used for a statue of Nemesis, the goddess of divine justice who strikes down those who suffer from hubris and pride.
51Q TIL that Alabama is just one of many places where you can own a lion, tiger, cobra, or bear, but not a pit bull.