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About History: Berserkers
The notion of Viking berserkers has captured the popular imagination but who were they?

Tastes Of History
Jun 4


Dispelling Some Myths: Medieval bathing
Dispelling some myths that Medieval people did not bathe.

Tastes Of History
Jun 4


Dispelling Some Myths: King Arthur
Dispelling some myths surrounding the legendary King Arthur.

Tastes Of History
Apr 23


Dispelling Some Myths: Witches
Challenging some of the common misconceptions about witches.

Tastes Of History
Apr 9


Dispelling Some Myths: Orgies…not what you might think
Orgies…your first thought is so wrong. Now find out why.

Tastes Of History
Jan 16


Dispelling Some Myths: the “two finger salute”
Dispelling the myth of the two-finger salute or V-sign originated in the Medieval period.

Tastes Of History
Oct 25, 2024


About History: “By hook or by crook”
In the September edition of BBC History magazine Anatoly Liberman, professor at the University of Minnesota and author of An Analytic...

Tastes Of History
Sep 25, 2024


About History: Press-ganging
Impressment, colloquially known as “ the press” or the “press gang” [1] , was a means by which European navies could forcibly compel men...

Tastes Of History
Jul 24, 2024


Dispelling Some Myths: Wreckers and smugglers
Wrecking Wrecking is the practice of taking valuables from a shipwreck which has foundered or run aground close to shore. Wrecks were...

Tastes Of History
May 29, 2024


Dispelling Some Myths: Upside down Union Flags
The Union Flag pictured hangs in an upper hall of a London school recently visited by Tastes Of History to deliver a “ Knight and...

Tastes Of History
Apr 23, 2024


About History: Named after a Battle
In an earlier article we explored the origin of the French dish Chicken à la Marengo which was named, according to a popular myth, after...

Tastes Of History
Mar 1, 2024


On This Day: Io Saturnalia!
On This Day , December 17th , the ancient Roman festival of Saturnalia began. Held in honour of the deity Saturnus , as its name...

Tastes Of History
Dec 17, 2023


Dispelling Some Myths: Was yellow the colour of prostitution?
Over the years we have periodically encountered claims that prostitutes in the Roman Iron Age and then later in the Mediæval period wore...

Tastes Of History
Nov 22, 2023


Dispelling Some Myths: Romans, Railways and NASA rockets
Yet another urban myth re-appeared on social media the other day, one which regularly does the rounds and has done so for many years...

Tastes Of History
Oct 14, 2023


Dispelling Some Myths: Robin Hood
The legend Robin Hood is a legendary heroic outlaw [1] originally depicted in English folklore and subsequently featuring in popular...

Tastes Of History
Oct 5, 2023


Horrible History: Social Status
What follows was inspired by the tweet on May 25th, 2022 by @HistoryFilmClub shown right. Like many who responded naming just one...

Tastes Of History
Aug 30, 2023


Boudica: Rebel, Freedom Fighter, Feminist Icon
The Known Knowns Since at least the 16th century, Boudica, Queen of the Iceni, has retained a compelling hold on the British imagination...

Tastes Of History
Aug 2, 2023


Dispelling Some Myths: Tintagel and King Arthur
A recent tweet described Tintagel Castle on the North coast of Cornwall as a ‘medieval fortification’, built in the 13th century, and...

Tastes Of History
Jul 26, 2023


Dispelling Some Myths: Divorce by combat
It is highly unlikely that Mediæval divorce was ever settled by combat. Yet a handful of sources do mention judicial duels fought between...

Tastes Of History
Jul 19, 2023


A Brief History of Food: Peacock
Birds have long been revered, feared and assumed to be capable of predicting weather, marriage partners, disaster and death. In ancient...

Tastes Of History
Jun 14, 2023
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