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TIL in the 1700s, ornamental “garden hermits” were men hired to live on the estates of the wealthy. Dressed as druids and living in small structures, hermits would sometimes answer guests’ questions or give advice. Alternatively, they would remain silent, serving as a perpetual play or live diorama.

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9wZ8X TIL Johannes Kepler's mother Katharina, who first sparked his interest in astronomy at age 6 with the Great Comet of 1577, was accused of witchcraft using garbled contents of mankind's first science fiction The Dream, which he wrote. He succeeded in acquitting and releasing her alive, a rare result
YpeEB TIL that there was another general Paulus responsible for the fall of an empire. After revolting against the western roman emperor, the Heruli stormed on Italy. General Paulus was leading the remainder of the roman army. The Battle of Ravenna was the finishing blow to the empire.
aNxJ TIL Washington Square Park in NYC was once a potters field cemetery and where the fountain is today was the location the gallows where the cities guilty were hanged. There are still approximately 20,000 bodies still buried there.
xVDyb TIL psychiatrist Avicenna had a malnourished patient who believed he was a cow ready to be slaughtered. Avicenna, impersonating a butcher, came to kill him but said the cow was too lean and had to eat more. The patient ate more food which restored his health and cured the delusion.
Jkm4 TIL there is a super highway between New York and London being proposed that would cross the Bering Strait.