The story of the Trojan Wars was told in a poem by the Greek poet Homer, the Iliad. The Greeks and Trojans were at war for some years. In about 1200 BC the Greeks stopped besieging the city of Troy and apparently disappeared, leaving behind them a huge wooden horse. At night, while the Trojans slept, Greek soldiers who had …
Read More »What was the name of first Panj Piare?
The Panj Piare, name given to the five Sikhs, Bhai Daya Singh, Bhai Dharam Singh, Bhai Himmat Singh, Bhai Mohkam Singh and Bhai Sahib Singh, who were so designated by Guru Gobind Singh at the historic divan at Anandpur Sahib on 30 March 1699 and who formed the nucleus of the Khalsa as the first batch to receive at his …
Read More »What was Mothering Sunday?
Mothering Sunday is a Christian festival celebrated throughout Europe that falls on the 4th Sunday in Lent. Secularly it became a celebration of motherhood. It is increasingly being called Mother’s Day, although in countries other than the UK and Ireland that holiday has other origins. In the UK it is considered synonymous with Mother’s Day as celebrated in other countries. …
Read More »What was Austria’s currency before the euro was introduced?
From 1924 to 1938 and between 1945 to 1999, Austria’s currency was the schilling, which was divided into 100 groschen. Thereafter, the euro replaced the schilling.
Read More »What was Alfred Nobel’s achievement?
You’ve probably heard of the six famous Noble prizes, awarded every year to the people who have made outstanding contributions to medicine, physics, chemistry, literature, economics and peace. Alfred Noble was made famous because he invented dynamite in 1867. It seems a little odd, doesn’t it? A peace prize bearing the name of the inventor of dynamite!
Read More »What should one do if a snake bites him (or a friend)?
Try to identify the snake and seek medical attention. Even if you are not bitten by a venomous snake the bite may become infected. You should never suck on the wound! By the time you start sucking, the venom has entered the bloodstream, so your effect on the situation will be minimal. If you can, wrap from the wound toward …
Read More »What makes Skunk smell?
The grisly spray is the skunk’s best defense. No Creature, human or animal, can stand being near a skunk with that odour. It comes from a fluid called musk which is produced and stored in a pair of glands under the animal’s tail. A skunk can propel the spray about 10 feet.
Read More »What makes jumping beans jump?
Jumping beans are made to jump by the action of little insects inside them. The beans are the long seed of certain Maxican shrubs and contain the larvae or caterpillars of a small species of moth with the large scientific name of Bats. The second of these two Latin words means jumping. The larvae are stirred into movement by warmth, …
Read More »What makes a glow-worm glow?
The female glow-worm is equipped with one of the most marvelous lighting systems in the world. A wingless beetle, she crawls about a night eating small insects. But on the lower side of her abdomen she possesses a “lantern” which she uses to signal to her winged mate flying above. This “lantern” has a transparent layer of skin, like the …
Read More »What language is spoken in Minsk?
Minsk has been a city of many languages over time. Initially it was Ruthenian (later developed into modern Belarusian). After 1569, Polish became the official language. Belarusian national revival increased the use of Belarusian language but after World War II (by mid 1980s), Minsk was almost exclusively Russian-speaking. Most residents now use Russian in day-to-day life. Belarusian is understood as …
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