The longest word in literature is the fictional dish described in Aristophanes’ comedy Assemblywomen, written in around 391 BC. λοπαδοτεμαχοσελαχογαλεοκρανιολειψανοδριμυποτριμματοσιλφιοκαραβομελιτοκατακεχυμενοκιχλεπικοσσυφοφαττοπεριστεραλεκτρυονοπτοκεφαλλιοκιγκλοπελειολαγῳοσιραιοβαφητραγανοπτερύγων which is the name of a dish compounded of all kinds of dainties, fish, flesh, fowl, and sauces. which, in the Roman alphabet is written as: Lopadotemachoselachogaleokranioleipsanodrimhypotrimmatosilphioparaomelitokatakechymenokichlepikossyphophattoperisteralektryonoptekephalliokigklopeleiolagoiosiraiobaphetraganopterygo with a rough English Continue Reading
Greece
Draconian Death
In the 7th Century BC, Draco became the first legislator of Athens in Ancient Greece. His written laws were particularly harsh and it is from this that the adjective Draconian (referring to severe laws or rules) comes from. It is alleged he died after being suffocated by hats and cloaks Continue Reading
Ancient Engine
The first recorded steam engine was designed by Heron of Alexandria in the first century AD and was known as an aeolipile. The Roman author Vitruvius describes one: “Æolipylæ are hollow brazen vessels, which have an opening or mouth of small size, by means of which they can be filled Continue Reading