Discover the Past: Top 10 Entertaining and Surprising Fun Facts from History You Never Knew!

1. Jefferson's Tweeting Mockingbird

You won't find a "Hail to the Bird" anthem in American history, but one former president truly knew how to "tweet" his heart out: Thomas Jefferson was greatly fond of mockingbirds, keeping several as pets and even allowing his favorite, named Dick, to roam freely in his office among roses and geraniums, relishing in its melodious tunes and affectionate nature.
Source => presidentialpetmuseum.com

2. Lysippos: Alexander the Great's Sculptor Sidekick

Forget 'Alexander and his sculpt-tastic adventures': Lysippos, the official sculptor for Alexander the Great, didn't follow him around like an artsy sidekick, crafting statues amidst battlegrounds. No sirree, Bob: Lysippos was known for his naturalistic style and attention to detail with works like the Farnese Hercules and the Eros Stringing the Bow, and had a large workshop and many disciples who replicated his art during his lifetime and beyond.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

Did you know that the iconic Boston Tea Party was led by Samuel Adams and 60 determined rebels, who threw 342 tea chests worth $18,000 into the harbor as a stand against British monopoly? Discover more intriguing facts about this pivotal event!

=> Fun Facts about The-Boston-Tea-Party

3. The Settling and Empowering Vikings

Whoever called Vikings the "smashing" party guests of history clearly left out some RSVP details: Contrary to popular belief, many Vikings were not just vengeful warriors, but also settlers who founded cities like Dublin and York, and empowered women, placing them in significant roles as property custodians and military leaders.
Source => historyextra.com

4. Abraham "The Wrestler" Lincoln

Before Hulk Hogan and Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, there was "The Great Emancip-abler": Abraham Lincoln stood proudly at 6-feet-4, dominating wrestling challenges and even protecting his stepbrother's river barge from water-bound bandits by hurling them into a watery abyss. The tall-taled president wasn't all politics and top hats: He amassed only one recorded defeat in a decade of wrestling matches and bested local tough guy Jack Armstrong in a test of grit, skill, and showmanship, showcasing his undeniable physical prowess.
Source => nwhof.org

5. Not-So-Petit Napoleon

Guess who was never short of laughter at those little Napoleon jokes? Napoleon himself! That's right, people: Napoleon Bonaparte actually stood taller than the average French man of his era, measuring in at 5 feet 7 inches compared to the typical 5 feet 4 inches. His cheeky nickname "Le Petit Caporal" (The Little Corporal) was less about his stature and more in reference to his mighty military leadership.
Source => britannica.com

6. Henry Ford's Soybean Car

Before soy lattes were even a thing, Ford was busy cooking up a plant-based ride: Henry Ford actually developed a plastic car made of soybeans and other agricultural products, with 14 plastic panels, a tubular steel frame, an engine fueled by hemp, and spun off discoveries of new plastics, insecticides, solvents, and imitation meat!
Source => thedetroitbureau.com

7. Victorian Flower Tinder

Before Tinder and emojis made romance so straightforward, Victorians swiped right and left the classy way – with flowers and secret codes: During the Victorian era, floriography allowed individuals to communicate their feelings of love, grief, rejection, and luck through the careful selection of specific flower types and colors, a practice still used today by artists to convey deeper meanings in their work.
Source => invaluable.com

8. Queen Victoria's White Wedding Fashion

Before bridezillas roamed the earth in search of the whitest wedding dress to exude purity and innocence, there was a clever queen who was "lace" maker's best friend: Queen Victoria chose a white gown for her nuptials not just to set a trend, but to strategically flaunt and support the English-made Honiton lace on her dress, giving birth to the ever-popular "Queen V approved" white wedding fashion.
Source => townandcountrymag.com

9. Oedipus: An Unfortunate Tyrant

How's this for a classic Greek soap opera: daddy issues, mommy issues, and that pesky plague? But hold onto your togas, here's the real kicker: In Sophocles' tragedy, Oedipus Rex, the term "tyrant" actually just meant a ruler with no legitimate claim to rule, without the negative baggage we associate with it today. That's right, Oedipus, the guy fated to kill his father and marry his mother, was considered a misguided ruler rather than an outright despot from the outset. So, maybe don't judge a tyrant by its label?
Source => en.wikipedia.org

10. Ancient Chinese Matchmaking Shenanigans

Did you know that the ancient Chinese version of Tinder involved tea leaves, gossip, and social climbing? Matchmaking back then prioritized family names, matchmakers' opinions, and even household reputations over eating pineapple on pizza: Nowadays, the Chinese matchmaking experience involves seniors gathering in parks to promote their offspring's eligibility with cardboard ads showcasing their vitals, assets, and hukou, all while boasting a success rate that barely scratches 1%.
Source => sixthtone.com