Tag Archives: Oddities

2nd Century: Dodecahedron

Posted on February 28, 2021 by corvusfugit

The following entry appears in the 1849 catalog of the miscellaneous collections of the Society of Antiquaries of London: A singular object of bronze, in form of a hollow dodecahedron…with a ball attached to each angle; each of its pentagonal … Continue reading →

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1559: Not Man, Not Woman, Not Androgyne

Posted on October 5, 2019 by corvusfugit

This mysterious Latin inscription appears to be an epitaph composed in the 16th century by someone named or calling himself Lucio Agatho Priscius; the deceased was named Aelia Laelia Crispis. DM Aelia Laelia Crispis Nec vir nec mulier nec androgyna … Continue reading →

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1682: A Black Cloud of Strange Appearance

Posted on March 2, 2019 by corvusfugit

At Lynn, Mass., one evening in 1682, after the sun had set, and darkness had begun to throw its pall over the land, a man by the name of Handford went out of doors to ascertain if the new moon … Continue reading →

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1357: Fruit

Posted on November 23, 2018 by corvusfugit

In passynge be the lond of CATHAYE toward the higℏ ynde & toward BACHARYE, men passen be a kyngdom þat men clepen CALDILHE, þat is a fuƚƚ fair contre. And þere growetℏ a maner of fruyt as þougℏ it weren … Continue reading →

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1660: Theory

Posted on June 3, 2018 by corvusfugit

The 17th century Dutch minister Johan Picard spent several years in Drenthe, where he became interested in the ancient stone structures that could still be seen in the area.  His research eventually led to the publication of his book A … Continue reading →

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1188: Two Islands

Posted on April 21, 2018 by corvusfugit

There is a lake in the north of Munster which contains two islands, one rather large and the other rather small. The larger has a church venerated from the earliest times. The smaller has a chapel cared for most devotedly … Continue reading →

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1886: Methods

Posted on April 14, 2018 by corvusfugit

The following list of terms used to express diverse modes of divination, with explanations, will be found unusually complete and may interest students of occult science. The expressions have been gathered from various sources : Aeromancy, by appearances in the … Continue reading →

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1816: The Visions of Thomas Martin

Posted on March 23, 2018 by corvusfugit

Thomas Martin was born in Gallardon, France in 1783. Beginning in 1816, he began to see visions of an elegantly dressed young man who called himself the Archangel Raphael. The youth commanded Martin to travel to Paris to see King … Continue reading →

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2001: Was the Silence Gloomy?

Posted on March 17, 2018 by corvusfugit

Gilbert Sorrentino’s 2001 novel Gold Fools is written entirely in questions. Here are the opening paragraphs: Were Nort Shannon, Dick Shannon, and Bud Merkel exceptionally morose as they sat before the small bunkhouse and about the flames of the blazing … Continue reading →

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1780: The Dark Day

Posted on March 10, 2018 by corvusfugit

The 19th of May, 1780, was distinguished by the phenomenon of a remarkable darkness over all the northern States, and is still called the Dark day. The darkness commenced between the hours of 10 and 11 A. M., and continued … Continue reading →

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