History

June 20, 2023

Who Was Ennigaldi-Nanna? Learn About the Woman Who Founded the Worldโ€™s First Museum

When you want to learn more about art, history, and culture, museums are usually the best destinations. Interestingly, the word museum actually derives from the ancient institution called the Mouseion, or โ€œInstitution of the Muses,โ€ which contained the famed Library of Alexandria and other rooms. However, while this is where the museum gets its name, it is not the first instance of a place that displays objects of significance.

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June 17, 2023

Fascinating Video Reveals What It Takes to Ring a 70-Ton Bell at a Japanese Temple

When you think of a monumental bell, what comes to mind? Is it one shaped like a hollow cup, much like the Liberty Bell? If so, you aren't alone. In Eastern cultures, however, there are bells much larger than it. Located in temples and palaces, ringing these instruments can be a team effort, as they have to be hit from the outside by a large swinging beam for their sounds to come alive.

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June 12, 2023

Why 1,200 Bone Pieces From 28 People Were Found in Benjamin Franklinโ€™s Basement

Founding Father Benjamin Franklin is known as a great American Patriot who signed the Declaration of Independence. But he didn't always live in the United States. He traveled widely throughout Europe and spent over a decade living in London. Interestingly, when his London home was renovated in 1998, restorers found a stunning secret hiding in the basementโ€”human remains.

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May 29, 2023

Explore the World Through Medieval Eyes on a Map Called the โ€˜Hereford Mappa Mundiโ€™

Welcome to the Hereford Mappa Mundi, or as one might call it: a view of the world from an Englishman in 1300. Complete with Biblical motifs, mystical creatures, and some true geography, the ancient map depicts a unique worldview. It is preserved at Hereford Cathedral in Hereford, England. Visitors can peer closely at the 64โ€ณ x 52โ€ณ map to search for their favorite locations. Now, online viewers can get this up-close-and-personal experience as well.

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