12 Great Weird Ancient History Facts

Ancient Civilizations and Their Oddities

Ancient history is filled with bizarre and fascinating facts that often leave us scratching our heads. Here are some of the weirdest tidbits from ancient civilizations.

1. The Great Pyramid of Giza Can Swivel
   The Great Pyramid of Giza, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, has a swivel door weighing around 20 tons. Despite its massive weight, it could be opened with minimal force from inside.

2. Roman Gladiators Had Endorsements
   Much like modern athletes, Roman gladiators had endorsements. They were sponsored by wealthy patrons and even had their own line of merchandise, including oil lamps and figurines.

3. Ancient Egyptians Loved Board Games
   The ancient Egyptians were avid board game players. One of their favorite games was Senet, a game that dates back to around 3100 BCE. It was so popular that it was often buried with the dead for them to play in the afterlife.

Unusual Practices and Beliefs

Ancient societies had some practices and beliefs that seem quite strange today. These customs give us a glimpse into their unique ways of life.

4. Spartan Babies Were Inspected for Strength
   In ancient Sparta, newborns were inspected by elders. If a baby was deemed weak or deformed, it was left to die on a hillside. This harsh practice was intended to ensure that only the strongest survived.

5. Romans Used Urine as Mouthwash
   Romans believed that urine could whiten teeth and freshen breath. They used it as a mouthwash, and it was so valued that it was taxed.

6. Ancient Greeks Exercised Naked
   The word "gymnasium" comes from the Greek word "gymnos," meaning naked. Ancient Greeks exercised in the nude to encourage appreciation of the male body and to promote equality among citizens.

Strange Inventions and Innovations

Ancient inventors came up with some truly peculiar devices and methods. These innovations often reflect the ingenuity and creativity of their times.

7. The Greeks Invented the Alarm Clock
   The ancient Greeks invented the first alarm clock. It used water to measure time and included a mechanism that made a sound at a predetermined time, waking people up.

8. Romans Had Heated Floors
   Wealthy Romans enjoyed the luxury of heated floors. They used a system called hypocaust, which involved heating air beneath the floors and within the walls to warm their homes.

9. Ancient Chinese Invented Earthquake Detectors
   In 132 AD, Chinese inventor Zhang Heng created the first seismoscope. This device could detect earthquakes hundreds of miles away by dropping a ball from a dragon's mouth into a frog's mouth when seismic activity was sensed.

Peculiar Laws and Governance

Laws and governance in ancient times often reflected the unique values and priorities of their societies. Some of these laws seem quite odd by today's standards.

10. Babylonian Law of Retaliation
    The Code of Hammurabi, one of the oldest deciphered writings of significant length, included the law of retaliation, or "an eye for an eye." This meant that punishments often mirrored the crimes committed.

11. Ancient Rome's Vomitoriums
    Contrary to popular belief, vomitoriums were not places where Romans went to vomit. Instead, they were passageways in amphitheaters that allowed large crowds to exit quickly. The name comes from the Latin word "vomere," meaning "to spew forth."

12. Egyptian Pharaohs Had Fake Beards
    Both male and female pharaohs wore fake beards as a symbol of their divine status. These beards were often made of metal and were strapped to the face with ribbons.

The Oddities of Ancient History

Ancient history is full of strange and fascinating facts that often leave us scratching our heads. From the bizarre medical practices of ancient Egypt to the mysterious disappearance of the Roanoke Colony, these oddities remind us how much we still have to learn about our past. They also show that human curiosity and creativity have always been boundless, even if sometimes a bit strange.

These quirky tidbits not only entertain but also offer valuable insights into the cultures and societies that came before us. They help us understand the complexities of human behavior and the lengths people have gone to solve problems or explain the unexplainable.

So next time you stumble upon a weird fact from ancient history, take a moment to appreciate the rich tapestry of human experience it represents. Who knows? You might just uncover a new favorite story to share.