› added 9 years ago

11236

TIL that in 480 BC, the Persians’ bridges were destroyed by storms as they invaded Greece. King Xerxes then ordered his men to give the sea three hundred whip lashes, to throw fetters into it and to burn it with red hot irons. Meanwhile, the punishers were to shout “you are a turbid and briny river”

J86l TIL diamond engagement rings only became popular in the 1940’s as a guarantee of compensation in case the suitor cancelled the engagement. This became necessary after states began banning the breach of promise lawsuits that previously accomplished this.
kJ8Ed TIL Brussels not only have free public transport, they have a bus called "Not The 48" which takes you to a mystery location if you're feeling a bit down or you just don't have anything to do that day.
yVrRa TIL that during Napoleon's 1798 Egyptian campaign, he brought along 167 scholars, scientists, and artists to study ancient Egypt. This "Scientific Expedition" led to significant discoveries, including the Rosetta Stone, which was key to deciphering Egyptian hieroglyphs.
xVKQB TIL the 1980 comedy "Airplane!" is a remake of the 1957 drama "Zero Hour!" Both are about a guilt-stricken fighter pilot who called upon to land a plane after the crew and several passengers fall ill after eating fish. Many of the lines in "Airplane!" were taken verbatim from "Zero Hour!"
6EpBm TIL of Mortsafes. They were iron contraptions placed over a grave to prevent body snatchers from digging up the newly deceased people. You can still find disused mortsafes around Scotland