History isn’t just about battles and treaties—it’s also packed with moments so bizarre they’re hard to believe. These stories highlight the stranger side of human history, where truth proves to be far weirder than fiction.
Unbelievably Weird Ancient History
- Ancient Egyptians Used Crocodile Dung as Birth Control
Women mixed dried crocodile dung with honey and inserted it as a form of contraception. Surprisingly, it may have worked by altering the pH levels. - King Tut’s Dagger Came From Space
The famous pharaoh’s iron dagger was crafted from meteoric metal, identified by its high nickel content. - Roman Emperors Had Gladiators Fight at Dinner Parties
For their amusement, wealthy Romans hosted private gladiatorial matches while they dined. - The Hanging Gardens of Babylon May Have Never Existed
Despite being one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, no definitive evidence has been found to confirm their existence. - Ancient Greeks Used Breadcrumbs as Erasers
Long before rubber erasers, Greeks used small balls of bread to remove mistakes from parchment.
Medieval Oddities You Won’t Believe
- People Thought the Black Death Was Caused by “Bad Air”
Medieval doctors wore beak-shaped masks filled with herbs to protect themselves from what they believed was contaminated air. - The Dancing Plague of 1518 Made People Dance Until They Collapsed
In Strasbourg, dozens of people inexplicably danced nonstop for days, with some reportedly dancing to death. - Medieval Europeans Wore Live Snakes as Fashion Accessories
It was considered trendy to drape small snakes around one’s neck as a sign of wealth and eccentricity. - Rats Were Once Excommunicated by the Church
In 1508, rats accused of destroying crops were put on trial and officially excommunicated. - Knights Feared Snails in Manuscripts
Medieval illustrations often depicted knights battling giant snails, which may have symbolized inevitable defeat.
Revolutionary and Modern History’s Wildest Stories
- George Washington’s Teeth Weren’t Made of Wood
Contrary to myth, his dentures were made of a mix of ivory, human teeth, and animal teeth, held together with metal. - Napoleon Was Once Attacked by Rabbits
During a rabbit hunt, his men accidentally released tame rabbits, which swarmed him instead of fleeing. - The Eiffel Tower Almost Became a Giant Guillotine
During the French Revolution, an architect proposed using the Eiffel Tower as a massive guillotine for public executions. - The U.S. Once Had a Camel Corps
In the mid-19th century, the U.S. military experimented with camels for desert transportation but abandoned the project when the Civil War broke out. - The Great Molasses Flood of 1919 Killed 21 People
In Boston, a storage tank burst, releasing over 2 million gallons of molasses in a wave that destroyed buildings and trapped people in its sticky mess.
- Learn more about the Molasses Flood at History.com.
Strange and Unbelievable Inventions
- Thomas Edison Invented a Talking Doll That Terrified Children
His phonograph-powered dolls were so creepy that parents demanded refunds, and the product was discontinued. - The First Vending Machines Sold Holy Water
Invented in ancient Egypt, these machines dispensed water for temple worshippers after they deposited a coin. - Victorians Used Cobwebs as Bandages
Spider silk was believed to have antiseptic properties, so people used cobwebs to dress wounds. - The First Alarm Clock Only Rang at 4 a.m.
Invented in 1787 by Levi Hutchins, the clock was designed to wake him for work—but it couldn’t be adjusted. - Bubble Wrap Was Originally Invented as Wallpaper
Its creators later discovered its potential as packaging material when the wallpaper idea didn’t take off.
Weird Military Facts
- During WWII, the Allies Used “Ghost Armies”
Inflatable tanks, fake radio transmissions, and sound effects were used to deceive German forces. - The British Once Attempted to Use Exploding Rats
Dead rats filled with explosives were meant to sabotage German factories, but the plan was discovered before it could be used. - Hitler Was Obsessed with the Spear of Destiny
He believed the spear that supposedly pierced Christ’s side would grant him invincibility, and he actively sought it during WWII. - Pigeons Won Medals for Bravery in WWII
Cher Ami, a pigeon, delivered a critical message that saved nearly 200 soldiers, earning the French Croix de Guerre. - Japan Once Bombed the U.S. Using Balloons
During WWII, Japan launched incendiary balloon bombs across the Pacific, some of which reached U.S. soil.
Bizarre Cultural Practices
- Victorians Took Photos of the Dead
Known as post-mortem photography, families posed with deceased loved ones to preserve their memory. - In the 1800s, People Drank Radioactive Water
Radium-infused water was marketed as a health tonic until people started dying from radiation poisoning. - Mummies Were Used as Paint Pigment
“Mummy brown” was a popular paint color made from ground-up mummies in the 16th and 17th centuries. - People Once Believed Tomatoes Were Poisonous
Called “poison apples,” tomatoes were thought to cause death when served on pewter plates. - Chess Was Once Banned for Being Too Addictive
In 1197, a Persian ruler banned chess because he thought people spent too much time playing it.