Myths & mysteries
Discover facts about myths & mysteries. Small discoveries that change the way you see familiar things.
Myths & mysteries
Crystal gazing became extremely popular after John of Salisbury complained about it in the twelfth century
In the 12th century, John of Salisbury condemned “specularii,” people who used polished surfaces to search for stolen goods; his detailed account may have…
Discover more
French occultist Eliphas Levi failed out of the priesthood before writing the modern rules of high magic
Alphonse Louis Constant adopted the name Eliphas Levi and popularized links between Tarot and the Kabbalah, along with the pentagram's role in occultism.
Discover more
Ark of the Covenant was basically just a solid gold throne
Ancient texts describe it as a footstool and mobile seat for the divine presence, rather than a weapon.
Discover more
Medieval churches fought over owning the foreskin of Jesus
The spring equinox marks the Sun crossing the equator, not a cosmic clean slate; it doesn't erase past mistakes or excuse bad behavior.
Discover more
Thousands sat on residential roofs expecting the end times
In the nineteenth century, a rural preacher mathematically calculated the exact date the entire world would violently end. Tens of thousands of totally…
Discover more
Ancient artists depicted Saint Christopher with a dog head
A medieval mistranslation of a phrase meaning “from Canaan” led artists to depict Saint Christopher as a dog-headed member of a mythical race.
Discover more
STACKY FOR IPHONEA bigger world.
One discovery
at a time.
Keep discovering with Stacky. Interesting facts in an app that is always within reach.
Texan cultists hoarded massive arsenals for the apocalypse
Believing the end times were imminent, the Branch Davidians stockpiled large quantities of automatic firearms.
Discover more
Medieval trials required carrying red hot iron unburned
In an ordeal by hot iron, an accused person carried heated iron; authorities judged innocence by how the wound healed.
Discover more
Bogomils believed the physical world was built by Satan
They believed only the spiritual realm came from the supreme deity; everything physical belonged to the devil, so even building a church meant creating…
Discover more
Mayan royalty pierced their genitals with stingray spines
Maya rulers performed bloodletting rituals to offer their blood to divine beings; some used barbed stingray spines to pierce their genitals.
Discover more
Carpocratians believed sinning was mandatory for heaven
They saw the body as a prison, so they believed the soul had to experience every possible sin to escape it.
Discover more
The sect that turned bodily fluids into sacraments
The Borborites reportedly treated bodily fluids as sacramental, believing their consumption could bring divine salvation.
Discover more
Sixty year old prophetess claimed she carried the messiah
At 64, Joanna Southcott announced she was miraculously pregnant with a new savior. She died soon afterward, leaving thousands of followers facing an empty…
Discover more
Early church members slept with ascetics to test resolve
Some early Christian ascetics shared a bed with women who had vowed virginity as a test of self-control, showing the congregation they could resist temptation.
Discover more
Radical sects conducted church services entirely nude
The Adamites believed original sin was a mistake and that nudity could restore the innocence of Eden, so they held their religious services without clothes.
Discover more
Thousands of recognized priests worship The Big Lebowski
Inspired by the slacker in a ’90s movie, the legally recognized Church of the Latter-Day Dude has hundreds of thousands of ordained priests. Its laid-back…
Discover more
Auguste Comte created a totally secular religion for humanity
He rejected traditional religion but built a godless “religion of humanity,” complete with secular cathedrals, scientific saints, and a calendar honoring…
Discover more
Ophites explicitly revered the serpent from Eden
They saw the serpent as defying a cruel oppressor and offering humanity knowledge.
Discover more
British sect kept a sealed box waiting for twenty bishops
The Panacea Society guarded a wooden box that prophetess Joanna Southcott said would help save the world. It could be opened only if exactly 24 Anglican…
Discover more
Thirteenth century French peasants worshipped a greyhound
Villagers revered Guinefort after he died protecting a baby from a snake, despite the local church's efforts to stop the practice.
Discover more
Early Christian sect venerated Cain as a misunderstood hero
The Cainites believed the creator of the physical world was evil, so they revered Cain—punished by that creator—as a spiritual hero.
Discover more
Caribbean worshippers regularly sacrifice chickens to Orishas
Some Santería ceremonies include animal offerings to the orishas, including chickens and other small livestock.
Discover more
Muggletonians insisted God was exactly six feet tall
The English sect described God as a physical man who created the universe and stood exactly six feet tall.
Discover more
Inspirationists confessed their deepest sins in public
Even minor infractions could require members to stand before the whole community and describe their failings until the elders thought they were sufficiently…
Discover more