/u/ichthi's posts in /r/askhistorians

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Roughly 2000 years ago, Paul the Apostle identified himself as a member of the Tribe of Benjamin. As far as I know, none of my Israeli or friends of Hebraic origins identify with any particular tribe of Israel. When and how did persons of Hebraic heritage lose their knowledge of tribal descent?

1733 upvotes

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The Book of Genesis in the Hebrew Bible describes many individuals as living well past the age of 100, with Noah living till 950 years old and Abraham living till 175 years old. Do other cultures and civilizations have ancient texts describing their forefathers as living till such unbelievable ages?

265 upvotes

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Christian ascetics in Syria would dwell on top of pillars alone for decades without ever leaving their post. How did they manage their daily affairs like defecating, staying warm, or even paying for/acquiring food?

44 upvotes

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Ancient Greek and Roman culture tend to marry men in their early thirties with women in their mid-teens. Many other ancient cultures had similar practices with similar age gaps. When, why, and how did modern civilizations push eighteen as the acceptable age of marriage for women?

17 upvotes

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When and how did sitting on chairs with four legs become a cultural norm for Japanese people?

12 upvotes

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Title	Upvotes	Mark as read	Favorited	Rating	Add to a list
Roughly 2000 years ago, Paul the Apostle identified himself as a member of the Tribe of Benjamin. As far as I know, none of my Israeli or friends of Hebraic origins identify with any particular tribe of Israel. When and how did persons of Hebraic heritage lose their knowledge of tribal descent?	1733
The Book of Genesis in the Hebrew Bible describes many individuals as living well past the age of 100, with Noah living till 950 years old and Abraham living till 175 years old. Do other cultures and civilizations have ancient texts describing their forefathers as living till such unbelievable ages?	265
Christian ascetics in Syria would dwell on top of pillars alone for decades without ever leaving their post. How did they manage their daily affairs like defecating, staying warm, or even paying for/acquiring food?	44
Ancient Greek and Roman culture tend to marry men in their early thirties with women in their mid-teens. Many other ancient cultures had similar practices with similar age gaps. When, why, and how did modern civilizations push eighteen as the acceptable age of marriage for women?	17
When and how did sitting on chairs with four legs become a cultural norm for Japanese people?	12