Weird and wonderful history

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14th century miniature showing a child's baptism. (Photo by Getty Images)

Exclusive podcast What’s in a medieval name? . This is a premium piece of content available to subscribed users.

A medieval king dining

Pig-chickens, beavers’ tails and turtle soup: 8 fascinating foods through history

Magic stone in Laraibina village in New Ireland, Papua New Guinea on September 27, 2009. This magic stone is hidden in a tree in Laraibina village. It is very useful to call the rain or to make some magic actions on people. It is forbidden to touch it, only the witch doctor can hold it. The same kind of stones exists in Vanuatu. (Photo by Eric LAFFORGUE/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images)

A sweeping history of magic – from witchcraft to shamanism

What is history's greatest mystery?

What has been voted history’s greatest mystery?

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Stonehenge

History’s greatest mysteries Stonehenge . This is a premium piece of content available to subscribed users.

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A replica of Jesus' tomb. (Photo by Alamy)

History’s greatest mysteries The fate of Jesus's body . This is a premium piece of content available to subscribed users.

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A c1590 map of English settlers landing at Roanoke Island. (Photo by Alamy)

History’s greatest mysteries The lost colony of Roanoke Island . This is a premium piece of content available to subscribed users.

The arrival of Sir Walter Raleigh in Virginia

What happened to the lost colony of Roanoke Island?

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The Voynich Manuscript is written in a unique alphabet that has thus far defeated some of the world’s greatest codebreakers. (Photo by Alamy)

History’s greatest mysteries The Voynich Manuscript . This is a premium piece of content available to subscribed users.

What's History's Greatest Mystery?

General ancient history

What is history’s greatest mystery?

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A stone believed to have magical properties, including the ability to summon rain, from Laraibina village in New Ireland, Papua New Guinea. (Photo by Getty Images)

A history of magic . This is a premium piece of content available to subscribed users.

St Swithin (or Swithun). (Image by Alamy)

Q&A Who was St Swithin?

A miniature from the Codex Justinianus

Plague, famine and sudden death: 10 dangers of the medieval period

Illustration from Dante's ‘Inferno', depicting thieves tormented in hell by serpents.

General ancient history

A brief history of the afterlife

The bikini was showcased to the world for the first time in July 1946. (Photo by Keystone/Getty Images)

8 historical events that happened in July