The Florence Supermax prison, known as the “Alcatraz of the Rockies,” is what one former prison warden called a “clean version of hell.” It’s a massive complex that houses the world’s most dangerous criminals. Anyone from Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzman to Ted Kaczynski can be found in this concrete cage nestled in a remote part …
Inside One of the Roughest Prisons in the World: Florence Supermax Prison Read More »
The ancient Chinese method of execution known as lingchi (or ling chi), is perhaps better known by the more descriptive, “death by a thousand cuts.” As the name implies, this was a form of torture that involved slicing into the victim over and over again until they died. It was normally saved for the very …
The History of Lingchi: Death by a Thousand Cuts Read More »
Mary Ann Bevan was a mother of four who led a normal life until she developed a rare condition that changed her forever. At the age of 32, she began to experience physical changes that gradually transformed her from an attractive young lady into the person that people would come to call “The Ugliest Woman …
Pope Boniface VIII went down in history as one of the most controversial popes of all time. His conflicts with the state, particularly the French King Philip IV, led to a posthumous trial against him for heresy. Here, we delve into the events that laid the groundwork for his trial, the accusations levied against him …
The Most Controversial Pope In History: Pope Boniface VIII Read More »
It is rare for a person to leave such an enduring mark on the world as Josephine Baker did. She dazzled audiences in Paris with her electrifying performances and daring fashion, but her life was about much more than entertainment. She risked her life as a World War II spy, gathering intelligence across the world. …
Memnon was known to the ancient Greeks as the greatest African warrior who ever lived. Born of a goddess and a prince, he grew up to become king of the land of Ethiopia. When he brought his vast army of warriors to Troy to aid in the defense of the city, the beleaguered Trojan king …
Memnon: The Greatest African Warrior of Greek Mythology Read More »
For centuries, the Mongols ruled an empire that stretched from China to Eastern Europe. It was the largest empire in the world, created through centuries of brutal warfare. Over time, the name Mongol became synonymous with the fearsome horsemen of the Eurasian steppe. Their exploits in battle – not to mention what came after – …
Sarah Rector’s name has long been associated with fame related to her status as one of the first Black woman millionaires in the US. What makes this unusual is that she reached this achievement in an era where millionaires in the United States were rare, no matter which sex they were. Even more noteworthy was …
The moniker, “father of modern medicine,” usually goes to the ancient Greek physician Hippocrates. However, there is another man who predates him by nearly 2,000 years who may deserve that title even more. That man is Imhotep. He was a multi-talented ancient Egyptian who was behind some of the greatest innovations of Egypt’s Old Kingdom. …
Upon the liberation of concentration camps following World War II, the Allied forces discovered the nightmarish aftermath of the Holocaust. The camps in Nazi-occupied territories were rife with scenes of mass murder, suffering, and depravity. One of the most disturbing discoveries was at Bergen-Belsen, which the British Army liberated on April 15th, 1945. Again, the …
Johanna Bormann: The life of “The Weasel of Auschwitz” Read More »
