Fascinating Tales from the Past: History's Hidden Gems.

1919's Great Molasses Flood

Envision a sticky catastrophe of monumental scale! A huge tank of molasses in Boston exploded, unleashing a 15-foot tsunami that raced through the streets at 35 miles per hour. Out of 150 persons injured, 21 died in this strange disaster. It took weeks to clean up, and for decades thereafter, many said they could still smell molasses on hot days.

A Senate Mounted on a Horse: The Emperor's Quest

Incitants was supposedly chosen consul and senator by the Roman Emperor Caligula because of how much he loved his horse. A team of eighteen attendants cared for the horse as it resided in its marble stable, which it adorned with purple blankets. Historiographers of the modern era speculate that this was Caligula's ingenious method of making fun of the Senate by implying that his horse could hold its own.

Cats in Medieval Times

According to Pope Gregory IX, who lived during the Middle Ages, cats were worshipped by demons. Cats were hunted to extinction across Europe as a result of this. Rats flourished as a result of the decline in cat populations, which aided in the spread of the bubonic plague. What a delightful set of unexpected outcomes!

1518's Dancing Plague

A Frenchwoman in Strasbourg couldn't help but break into spontaneous street dancing. Her dance frenzy quickly attracted 400 followers in just one month. Some people have passed away as a result of dancing themselves to exhaustion. Extreme psychological stress or food poisoning might have triggered this mass panic, according to historians.

Australia's Great Emu War

Australia officially went to war with emus in 1932. The emu population was a crop-destroying problem, so the military tried to cull it with machine guns. By forming tiny groups and skilfully dodging gunfire, the emus demonstrated an unexpected level of resilience and strategy. In a show of defeat, the troops retreated, and the local farmers once again asked for military aid, but this time they were turned down.

The Pizza Hut Was Invented Nearer Cleopatra Than the Pyramids Were Built

This mind-blowing revelation demonstrates the immense age of the pyramids. The Great Pyramid of Giza was constructed circa 2560 BCE, while Cleopatra lived around 30 BCE. Pizza Hut first opened its doors in 1958 CE. Cleopatra lived approximately 2,500 years after the pyramids were erected, yet Pizza Hut started serving its first slice only about 2,000 years prior.

The Costliest Tea Party Ever

During the 1773 Boston Tea Party, American colonists threw 342 chests of tea from Britain into the bay. That tea would be worth over $1.7 million if bought now! Protesters replaced a padlock they had broken during the raid and were extremely cautious to damage only the tea.

The Enigma of the Tunguska Disaster

Eighty million trees across eighty-three square miles were levelled in 1908 when an explosion above Siberia with the power of one thousand atomic bombs occurred. No impact crater was ever discovered, but scientists believe it was probably an air burst from a comet or meteor. Even though it was thousands of miles away, the explosion was powerful enough to illuminate the night sky in London, England.

The Ice City's Builder, the Emperor

The ice palace was constructed by Russian Empress Anna Ivanovna in 1740. A actual cannonball-firing ice cannon was among the ice sculptures and furniture that were part of the exhibit. She had her court jester wed at the palace, but she made him spend the wedding night in the icy building.

The Last Act of the Lighthouse of Alexandria

Nearly two millennia passed before the world-famous Lighthouse of Alexandria came crashing down. It was one of the ancient world's seven wonders. Its last years were spent in an unanticipated capacity: that of a mediaeval watchtower. After suffering damage from multiple earthquakes, it finally collapsed; in the 15th century, the Citadel of Qaitbay was built using its last stones.

The Military's Most Patient Operation

A tiny drummer garrison was left to watch a fort by the Spanish during the Dutch Revolt, while the main army went on campaign. The Dutch intended to launch their attack when the Spanish troops had slept off. The returning army finally relieved the Spanish soldiers after they had drummed continuously for three years.

The Very First Vending Machine in the World

Hero of Alexandria, in the first century CE, created the first vending machine. In Egyptian temples, it distributed sacred water. A coin's descent onto a pan connected to a lever released water from the device. The valve would be turned off when the counterbalance tipped the pan.

The dates and names we learned in school are just the beginning of the endless tales of human genius, stupidity, and incredible luck that we still find fascinating.