...that Aristotle believed that a vital heat was produced in the heart, causing blood to boil and expand outward into the arteries with each pulsation?
...that the Capitoline Games of Ancient Rome became so popular that the Romans counted periods of time by them, rather than their previous unit of lustrum?
...that camelot is a woven fabric that might have originally incorporated camel or goat hair?
...that the highest distinction among the Caloyers, a Greekmonastic order, involves spending one's entire life alone, confined in a cave on top of a mountain?
...that a catoptric theatre(pictured) was an ancient optical illusion in which a single elaborate scene appeared to be larger than the box that contained it? Catoptric Theatre box
...that Epiphanius's most important work, the Panarion, is ironically the only surviving source of information on several early Christiansects that he sought to eliminate with his writing?
...that the French West India Company was so successful at recovering commerce from the Dutch in the West Indies, that the company became obsolete after only 9 years in operation?
...that Roman EmperorTrajan was heavily criticized for giving extravagant donations, called congiaria, to every citizen?
...that a Roman man once received the surname of "Tricongius" for his ability to drink three congii of wine (9.8 litres; 2.6 gallons) in one sitting in a feat that he once performed before Emperor Tiberius?
...that the Roman festival of hilaria, which allowed anyone to masquerade as any rank, was used in a plot to assassinate EmperorCommodus, by conspirators planning to disguise themselves as members of the Praetorian Guard?
...that at the Roman festival of Quinquatria in 59, Emperor Nero invited his mother Agrippina to his villa, as part of his plan to assassinate her?
...that the invention of the tone variator(pictured) in 1897 marked the advance beyond classical psychophysics, as it allowed the study of the perception of continuous changes in stimuli? Tone variator
...that the 1672 treatise Loimologia is a rare first-hand account of the Great Plague of London, written by one of the few physicians to remain in the city during the plague?
...that St. Nilus reportedly foretold to princess Aloara of Capua, for her part in the murder of her husband's nephew, that none of her offspring should reign in Capua—a prophecy that came true in 999?
...that the sole surviving portion of the work of 4th-century musical writer Alypius is the chief source of modern knowledge of Greekmusical notation?
...that the 1870 poem The Heathen Chinee, written by Bret Harte as a satire of racial prejudice, was publicly embraced as a mockery of Chinese immigrants, and shaped anti-Chinese sentiment in the U.S. more than any other work at the time?
...that in one type of Anglo-Saxontrial, the accused tried to prove their innocence by swallowing a piece of bread and cheese, called "corsned", without choking?
...that in Ancient Roman entertainment, a desultor was a performer who led several horses in full gallop—as many as six or eight at once—and leaped from one to another?
...that the distinct resemblance of a certain silver mixture, known as Diana's Tree, to a forest of trees led alchemists to theorize the existence of life in the realm of minerals?
...that it was common for the Roman Emperor to be elected to one of two offices of the highest judicial magistrates known as duumviri, and the other position was left up to the emperor for the appointment of a praefectus?
Here are some odd, humorous, obsolete, shocking, or generally interesting entries I've found while reading through the 1728 Cyclopaedia:
Algarot: ... This is also called Emetic Pouder—It purges violently both upwards and downwards.
Burning: in our antient Customs, was an infectious Disease, got in the Stews, by conversing with leud Women.
Camus: a Person with a low, flat Nose, hollow'd or sunk in the Middle ... The wife of the great Cinghis Kam (Genghis Khan), a celebrated Beauty, had only two Holes for a Nose.
Cells: in Anatomy, are little Bags, or Bladders, where Fluids or other Matters are lodg'd. [yes, that's it]
Clitoris: ... In many respects it represents the Penis of a Man; whence some call it the Woman's Yard.
The manner wherein Vapours are rais'd into Clouds may be conceiv'd thus:
Fire, being of a light, agil Nature, easily breaks loose from Bodies wherein 'tis detain'd.
Now, by reason of the exceeding smallness of the Particles of Fire, their attractive Force must be exceeding great: hence, in their Ascent thro' fluid Bodies, part of the Fluid will cling around them, and mount up together with them, in form of Vesicles of Water replete with Particles of Fire; which Vesicles are what we call Vapour... etc.
A French Embassador at Constantinople, shewing the Grand Seignior a [painting of the] Decollation of St. John, admirably represented, except that the Painter had not observed, that when a Man is beheaded, the Skin shrinks back a little; The Emperor immediately spied the Fault in that exquisite Performance; and to convince the Embassador thereof, sent Orders for a Man to be immediately beheaded, and his Head to be brought for a Proof.
a Term only us'd in speaking of the Condemnation, and Execution of the Saviour of the World, by Pontius Pilate, and the Jews; which was an horrible Deicide.
The Jews, an ingenious Author observes, were never more remote from Idolatry than at present; Never more inviolably attach'd to the Law of Moses, than at present : Whence then that Load of Evils and Misfortunes they have so many Ages groan'd under, Evils incomparably greater and more lasting than all the Chastisements wherewith God anciently avenged their most heinous Idolatries? Whence do they arise, but from the Deicide they committed in the Person of Jesus Christ. [just... wow]
The entire article on "disease" is a pretty interesting read. They were basically stuck with subcategorizing health problems according to vague predetermined categories. So, for example, the body is composed of "solids" and "liquids", and diseases either affect solids, or they affect liquids, or they affect both (basically, nothing is being said). They believed that every disease could be attributed to worms, or to the "molecules" of the blood being too big or small, for example.
For your constant and tireless work, always high-quality, I award you this silly animated GIF. I mean, this beautiful barnstar! Ashibakatalk 21:33, 26 Feb 2005 (UTC)
For all the wonderful images you've bnrought to featured status, I hereby award you The Photographer's Barnstar – ClockworkSoul 03:16, 23 Mar 2005 (UTC) (KC)
For the huge improvements you made to Norman Borlaug where the AID failed, and your countless other great contributions, I award you this barnstar. -- the wub (talk) 09:16, 17 Jun 2005 (UTC)
For having the most welcome welcome message a newcomer could wish to receive, I hereby award you this WikiCookie. Don't lose the great sense of humor! Sango123 23:16, August 19, 2005 (UTC)
I, Thelb4, award you this Barnstar for welcoming me and other people very kindly – Random Acts of Kindness Barnstar
I, Reflex Reaction award this barnstar to Brian0918 for his excellent work at WP:MEA developing new lists and pruning those list
I award this Award to Brian0918 for their great efforts one the awards pages that promotes good cheer for alll wikipedians. --evrik17:24, 31 March 2006 (UTC)[reply]
In recognition of your meritorious service to DYK, both as a prolific article contributor and keeping it running. -- Blnguyen06:01, 19 June 2006 (UTC)[reply]
For the hard work in bringing atheism to featured article quality, boldly cutting out unnecessary complexities, rewriting massive weasel-sections, and most importantly, being very kind to me :) Even if this is a bit premature: congratulations on yet another featured article! Merzul19:16, 11 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]
I, Smee, hereby award you with The 25 DYK Medal, in recognition of your over 25 contributions to the Did you know? section, as featured on the Main Page. Great job, you're on your way to 100! Thank you for your contributions to the project. Yours, Smee04:39, 24 May 2007 (UTC)[reply]
Excellent job! I see that you have exceeded 50!!. Do keep up the good work ... such a range of subjects. Congratulations on fifty plus DYKs Victuallers (talk) 09:12, 16 January 2008 (UTC)[reply]
Awarded to you for your many serious accomplishments, and for providing a reason for pursuing the Master Editor Award. Thanks!--Jakkinx (talk) 00:00, 23 October 2009 (UTC)|}[reply]
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08:44, 7 May 2006 (UTC)
