We know that men of science in the Middle Ages, life was not easy and... not for long. As a rule, all incomprehensible declared devils, and the scientist declared a witch and was taken to the torture chambers of the Inquisition, which did not promise him a long life or good health.
That is why the ubiquitous ignorance flourished, and many scientific facts that are now known to every schoolboy, a person of that era would have caused a natural shock. And, on the contrary, completely ridiculous statements are taken at face value.
The sperm little men sitting
So scientists thought until the 18th century. They believed that in the male seed sitting small, a fully formed man, who will grow up as soon as he gets into the mother's womb.
Babies do not feel pain
It was believed that their brains are not developed enough for this. And because it hurt anything can not, and crying is just a whim.
Witches steal male genitals
And keep them as pets: they make the nest and feed them. A description of such examples mentioned in treatise "Hammer of Witches." This crazy idea has arisen on the basis of Koro syndrome - a mental disorder when a person thinks that he has lost some authority. And as was the custom in the Middle Ages - all the fault of witches.
Demons live in Brussels sprouts
European housewives today before cooking Brussels sprouts make her cross-cut, allegedly because she cooks better. Went to this tradition from the Middle Ages it was believed that live among the leaves small demons and if this eat, it can cause stomach upset. Now we call them germs and easily washed off with water vegetables.
Certain strains of music can cause the devil
Listening to some contemporary songs with this difficult not to agree. At the same time it was believed that cause impure capable tritone interval (when three pitch between notes). And if someone accuses in the performance of such compositions, can be accused of witchcraft and executed.
Some animals appear by themselves
Mold, worms, mice and other pests may appear by themselves, at the command of the evil forces. They do not reproduce in a familiar way, and are formed from dirt and dust. And, of course, this, too, were to blame witches.
Bees - a bird
According to the medieval bestiary, the bees were classified as birds that can not only make honey, but also are civil wars with other hives. It was also believed that if the bee violates the principle of loyalty to the hive, because of the guilt was killing himself with his own sting.
Beavers - a fish
Therefore, beaver meat could be eaten in the post. Also of great medical value of used beaver testicles, so at this animal I had a lot of hunters. It was felt that if the crafty beaver realized that he can not escape from his pursuers, he bit off the testicles themselves, and leave them to hunters, and he flees.
Animals could subpoena
In all seriousness. While criminals could announce not only human but also animal and arrange, for example, the court to the judge and the lawyer of the caterpillars that ate leaves in the garden. The culprit could convict, jailed and even executed. Very often battered cats, which announced the minions of the devil. And because they were exterminated very active, Europe flooded rodents raznesshie plague.
The heart was buried separately from human
This happened in the case, if the deceased to be buried in some distant, his beloved place. transporting the body would not be able to implement, since it would not have survived the long journey, but then there were no planes and trains, so bury carried only the heart of the deceased. only the wealthy or famous people could afford such a luxury. So it was buried, for example, Anne Boleyn, Richard I and Frederick Chopin.
Titivillus
Before the invention of printing technology books manually copied by monks and, of course, sometimes copyists made mistakes. In order to absolve themselves of responsibility, they came up with the demon Titivilusa. He allegedly pushed the monk to the fact that he made a mistake, collected his mistakes in the bag to present them at the Last Judgment, and the poor fellow could not get after death to paradise.
Gladiator Blood helps with epilepsy
As the gladiators in the arena showed resilience and courage, as well as before the fight bloody sacrifices to the gods, what should was to strengthen these qualities, it was thought that their blood can give strength to those who drink it and get rid of epileptic seizures. This ancient Roman writer Pliny wrote: "Epileptics drink the blood of gladiators as if it is the cup of life. They believe that it is best to drink the blood of warm, until the man was still breathing. "
And be sure to ask, some 10 popular fallacies refuted by modern science.
