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

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In stories of Prometheus giving fire to mankind, he is punished by having his liver eaten each day and regrown each night (because of his immortality). However, we now know that the liver does actually regenerate, from as little as 25% of its mass. Did the ancient Greeks know this?

1911 upvotes

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How was the Summer of Love financed?

248 upvotes

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Are there any surnames that originated in the United States (or colonies)?

195 upvotes

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How did idol worship actually work in the ancient world? Were idols considered to be gods themselves and contain their own power, or were they conduits of heavenly gods' power?

94 upvotes

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The Bronze Age always makes me think of weapons and armor, but how common were tools and household objects made of bronze? Spades, sickles, ploughs, spoons, combs, razors?

72 upvotes

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Did John the Baptist "invent" the practice of baptism?

63 upvotes

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How did Pizarro explore the Pacific coast of South America after crossing Panama overland?

49 upvotes

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Would Hebrews/Canaanites have looked noticeably different from Egyptians at the time of the Exodus? Could they pass as Egyptian?

39 upvotes

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Was claiming demonic possession a viable legal defense at any time? Has it ever been successfully used to escape murder charges, or something similar?

36 upvotes

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According to wiki, when Christianity was first introduced to the German peoples (including Scandinavians), Jesus Christ was portrayed as a powerful warrior figure. If true, when and how did this conception of Christ change in Northern Europe?

31 upvotes

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Title	Upvotes	Mark as read	Favorited	Rating	Add to a list
In stories of Prometheus giving fire to mankind, he is punished by having his liver eaten each day and regrown each night (because of his immortality). However, we now know that the liver does actually regenerate, from as little as 25% of its mass. Did the ancient Greeks know this?	1911
How was the Summer of Love financed?	248
Are there any surnames that originated in the United States (or colonies)?	195
How did idol worship actually work in the ancient world? Were idols considered to be gods themselves and contain their own power, or were they conduits of heavenly gods' power?	94
The Bronze Age always makes me think of weapons and armor, but how common were tools and household objects made of bronze? Spades, sickles, ploughs, spoons, combs, razors?	72
Did John the Baptist "invent" the practice of baptism?	63
How did Pizarro explore the Pacific coast of South America after crossing Panama overland?	49
Would Hebrews/Canaanites have looked noticeably different from Egyptians at the time of the Exodus? Could they pass as Egyptian?	39
Was claiming demonic possession a viable legal defense at any time? Has it ever been successfully used to escape murder charges, or something similar?	36
According to wiki, when Christianity was first introduced to the German peoples (including Scandinavians), Jesus Christ was portrayed as a powerful warrior figure. If true, when and how did this conception of Christ change in Northern Europe?	31