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Dispelling Some Myths: Crucifixion
Crucifixion?...Good. Out of the door. Line on the left. One cross each. Next... Crucifixion is a method of capital punishment in which...
Tastes Of History
Mar 31, 2024

About History: Named after a Battle
In an earlier article we explored the origin of the French dish Chicken à la Marengo which was named, according to a popular myth, after...
Tastes Of History
Mar 1, 2024

On This Day: The Forgotten Queen
February 12th, 1554: England's forgotten queen, Lady Jane Grey, is executed for treason. In most popular histories, and as taught in...
Tastes Of History
Feb 12, 2024

About History: Grenade!
In warfare, throwing weapons at your enemies has a very long history indeed. In its simplest form, rocks could be hand-thrown by early...
Tastes Of History
Jan 10, 2024

On This Day: Io Saturnalia!
On This Day, December 17th, the ancient Roman festival of Saturnalia began. Held in honour of the deity Saturnus, as its name implies,...
Tastes Of History
Dec 17, 2023

Food History: A Roman soldier’s diet
The diet of a Roman soldier consisted of wheat, rations of smoked bacon or fresh meat (when available, usually pork), vegetables,...
Tastes Of History
Nov 29, 2023

Dispelling Some Myths: Was yellow the colour of prostitution?
Over the years we have periodically encountered claims that prostitutes in the Roman Iron Age and then later in the Mediæval period wore...
Tastes Of History
Nov 22, 2023

On This Day: Remembering Noor Inayat Khan
September 13th, 1944: On This Day SOE operator Noor Inayat Khan was executed at Dachau concentration camp in Bavaria. At dawn on...
Tastes Of History
Sep 13, 2023

Horrible History: Social Status
What follows was inspired by the tweet on May 25th, 2022 by @HistoryFilmClub shown right. Like many who responded naming just one...
Tastes Of History
Aug 30, 2023

On This Day: Caesar invades Britain
August 26th, 55 BC: Gaius Julius Caesar first ‘invasion’ of Britain takes place. Britain was not unknown to the Classical world. As early...
Tastes Of History
Aug 26, 2023

Horrible History Costume: World on Fire
Created by Peter Bowker, ‘World on Fire’ is a British war drama television series set in the Second World War. It follows the intertwined...
Tastes Of History
Aug 16, 2023

Boudica: Rebel, Freedom Fighter, Feminist Icon
The Known Knowns Since at least the 16th century, Boudica, Queen of the Iceni, has retained a compelling hold on the British imagination...
Tastes Of History
Aug 2, 2023

Dispelling Some Myths: Tintagel and King Arthur
A recent tweet described Tintagel Castle on the North coast of Cornwall as a ‘medieval fortification’, built in the 13th century, and...
Tastes Of History
Jul 26, 2023

Dispelling Some Myths: Divorce by combat
It is highly unlikely that Mediæval divorce was ever settled by combat. Yet a handful of sources do mention judicial duels fought between...
Tastes Of History
Jul 19, 2023

Dispelling Some Myths: Vomitorium
Dispelling the myths about ancient Roman 'vomitoria'.
Tastes Of History
Jul 12, 2023

Dispelling Some Myths: ‘Duelling’ pistols
A beginner's guide to the history of duels and duelling.
Tastes Of History
Jul 5, 2023

On This Day: The Globe on fire
June 29th, 1613: The Globe Theatre burns to the ground. The first recorded performance of William Shakespeare’s ‘All is True’ took place...
Tastes Of History
Jun 29, 2023

About History: The humble Pigeon goes to War
First broadcast on BBC1 on October 5th, 1989, ‘Corporal Punishment’ is the second episode of ‘Blackadder Goes Forth’, which is the fourth...
Tastes Of History
Jun 21, 2023

Horrible History: Horse play
Introduction What follows was inspired by a @HistoryFilmClub tweet shown right. Like many who responded, naming just one historical...
Tastes Of History
Jun 7, 2023

Horrible History: "Hollywood Ninja"
Introduction What follows was inspired by a @HistoryFilmClub tweet shown right . Like many who responded, naming just one historical...
Tastes Of History
May 31, 2023
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