The Crystal Skulls

Author: Randall Barron

The British Museum skull

Throughout the world there are many legends revolving around artifacts from ancient civilizations but one of these mysterious relics has baffled archeologists and scientists since their appearance. For decades, scientists and historians have tried to discover the true creator of the skulls with little success. No culture has ever referenced these skulls as being part of any of their traditions which has confused everyone who has researched the crystal skulls. Much of the confusion that surrounds the crystal skulls origins is due to the archeologist turned adventurer, Mitchell Hedges.

                The tales of the skulls magical properties were initially started by Mitchell Hedges when he “supposedly” discovered a crystal skull in some Mayan ruins in the 1920s. Mitchell Hedges originally displayed the crystal skull he obtained at dinner parties he hosted where he told stories of his adventures.   Since Mitchell did not reveal the skull he found until nearly twenty years later, his credibility is highly questionable. After his death, Mitchell’s adoptive daughter Anna inherited the skull and lived till 2007, still believing her father tales of the crystal skull. During Anna’s life, she speculated that her near perfect health and longevity was due to her proximity to the crystal skull. While scientists have concluded that the skulls do not have any special properties associated with the quartz used in creating them, there have been no attempts to test the skulls potential psychic abilities.

While the crystal skulls are believed to have been created by the Aztecs fur usage in religious ceremonies, an examination of the crystal skull at the British Museum has found evidence against these rumors. After the British museum observed their skull at high magnification, the quartz used in making their crystal skull had shown iron-rich chlorite deposits within the crystal that could not have been found within the quartz deposits of Mexico and South America in Mesoamerican times during the Aztecs reign.  Marks along the teeth of the skull also indicate that a nineteenth century cutting wheel was used to refine the engravings along the teeth of the skull. Since cutting wheels were not available in Mexico till 1521, we can determine that the crystal skulls were obviously created in post-Columbian times.

The most probable explanation for the crystal skulls existence is that they were created in response to the sudden flow of tourists into Mexico after they achieved independence. With so many people looking for artifacts in Mexico to send to the museums, we can understand why the macabre appearance of these items was so appealing to people. In conclusion, while the history of skulls has been controversial, they have sparked interest in ancient civilizations around the world for decades and will continue to do so for many more.

 Works Cited:

“Crystal Skull at the British Museum”. British Museum, London. Photograph. 17 January 2009. Web. 24 October 2012.

Edwards, Owen. “The Smithsonian's Crystal Skull”. Smithsonian, 30 May 2012. Web. 23 October 2012.

Hoffman, Scot. Lovett, Richard A. “Crystal Skulls Fuel Controversy, Fascination”. National Geographic. Web. 15 October 2012.

Meeks, Nigel D. Sax, Margaret. “Study of two large crystal skulls in the collections of the British Museum and the Smithsonian Institution”. British Museum. Web. 15 October 2012.

Morton, Chris. Thomas, Ceri Louise. “The Mystery of the Crystal Skulls”. thecrystalskulls.info. Sacred Hoop Magazine, 1998. 23 October 2012.

Walsh, Jane MacLaren. “Legend of the Crystal Skulls”. Archeological Institute of America. Web. 23 October 2012.

          Links for Further Research:

STRANGE ARTIFACTS - Crystal Skulls

http://www.world-mysteries.com/sar_6_1.htm

A website containing details on the each of the well-known popular crystal skulls

How Crystal Skulls Work

http://science.howstuffworks.com/science-vs-myth/unexplained-phenomena/crystal-skull.htm

An overview of information regarding the crystal skulls

The Eerie Crystal Skulls

http://www.unmuseum.org/cryskull.htm

A blog about the crystal skulls

The Yonaguni Monument

Author: Jake Corbin

Still today, scientist are trying to discover what this structure really is.

The Yonaguni Monument, first discovered in 1987 by local Yonaguni diver Kihachiro Aratake, is located just off the coast of Yonaguni, Japan, in the Ryukyu Islands in the East China Sea (Knight-Jadcyzk).  Many scientists and historians question how the large underwater structure was developed.  It appears to some as a lost city, another Atlantis  in Japanese waters that sank during an earthquake about two thousand years ago (Ryall).  There have already been stories and legends created by many about how the structure came to be.  However, no one has yet to discover what it really is.

            The structure seems very unnatural.  It has precisely cut ridges and holes, which inspires the belief of it being an underwater manmade structure.  Those who believe this, believe that either the structure was used as a resource for building materials, or as an actual above water structure.  It is huge and has a certain look to it that resembles a pyramid. 

The mysterious structure expands 250 feet long, 90 feet wide, and measures 45 feet high.  The top, barely reaches the surface of the ocean by about 16 feet (Kenyon 173).  The unique thing about the Yonaguni monument, which is why it resembles a man-made structure, is that it is cut into precise geometric terraces, which nearly proves that the structure had to have been shaped by man.  According to some researchers, the Yonaguni Monument was last above sea level around 6000 to 8000 B.C. (Schoch and McNally).

            The Yonaguni Monument appears as part of a step pyramid.  The steps on the monument range in size from a foot to a foot and a half, which seems like a staircase that only a giant could climb.   Supposedly, the steps are natural works from the water breaking down the structure over time during underwater erosion (Danver).

According to Dr. Robert Schoch, the geometric figure could not have been created by man due to one reason: it is a large single piece.  If it had been made by man, it would have been built from several small pieces.  The only thing that can prove this wrong is the thousands of years of the water melting the sandstone and mudstone pieces together.  To Schoch, this structure is like nothing ever seen before.  He ponders whether or not it is a natural formation, how was it formed, and what could it be?  (Schoch and McNally)

To some, the Yonaguni Monument resembles a tomb.  Others believe that it may have been the “go to” object, used to cut blocks from to build other structures with.  The controversial subject of whether or not the Yonaguni Monument is a natural formation or was man-made, will never end.  The questions still remain today: Why is this significant structure sitting in the East China Sea, and how did it come to be?

Works Cited:

Daichi, Shun. Yonaguni Monument: Underwater Ruins off Yonaguni Island in Japan. DiveJapan.com, 20 may 2011. Web. 22 Oct 2012.

Danver, Steven L. Popular Controversies in World History: Investigating History's Intriguing Questions. Broomfield, United States: ABC-CLIO, 2010. Google Books. Web. 10 Oct 2012.

Kenyon, J. Douglas. Forbidden History: Prehistoric Technologies, Extraterrestrial Intervention, And The Suppressed Origins Of Civilization. Rochester, United States: Inner Traditions - Bear & Company, 2005. Google Books. Web. 13 Oct 2012.

Knight-Jadczyk, Laura. The Secret History of the World and How to Get Out Alive. Grande Prairie, Canada: Red Pill Press, 2005. Google Books. Web. 14 Oct 2012.

Ryall, Julian. Japan's Ancient Underwater "Pyramid” Mystifies Scholars. 19 Sep 2007. NationalGeographic.com. Web. 14 Oct 2012.

Schoch, Robert M and McNally, Robert Aquinas.  Voyages of the Pyramid Builders. New York, United States: Penguin, 2004. Google Books. Web. 14 Oct 2012.

Links for further research:

Yonaguni

http://www.toriitraining.com/read_about.htm

Explains Kihachiro Aratake’s discovery of the Yonaguni Monument.

Yonaguni Monument: The Japanese Atlantis

http://skeptoid.com/episodes/4220

Describes the Yonaguni Monument.

The Official Website of Robert M. Schoch: Yonaguni, Japan

http://www.robertschoch.com/yonagunicontent.html

Describes Robert M. Schoch’s opinion of the Yonaguni Monument.

How Were the Egyptian Pyramids Built?

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/03/080328104302.htm

Explains how the Egyptian pyramids were built.

Pod Houses in San Zhi

Author: Jackson Jones

 Map of Taiwan. The tip all the way north is the location of the pod houses.

Along the north coast of Taiwan, between Tamsui and Keelung in the San Zhi   district of Taiwan, lie fascinating pod houses. The pod houses are brightly colored and possess a strong resemblance to UFOs. Many of San Zhi’s local residents avoid the pod houses due to a lingering suspicion of paranormal activities. Prior to the rumors, photographers because of their unique characteristics often visited the homes. The pod houses were designed in such a way to allow the builder to continuously expand vertically. Originally, the homes were built with the purpose of providing the wealthy with an appropriate neighborhood for a weekend retreat. (Turnbull) However, these plans were cut short when construction suddenly ceased and the site was abandoned. This unexpected event sparked rumors of the area being haunted. The belief of ghostly event occurring in San Zhi was so powerful and overwhelming to the natives, the Taipei County Government's wanted the area destroyed. However, due to the Taipei County Government’s lack of ownership to the land, the desired actions could not be taken. 

Taiwan Pod Houses by yeowatzup

Chuang’s article in the Taipei Time provides evidence from first-hand encounters with the pod houses. In the article Lin states, “The site is definitely not haunted,” in which she references to the rumors of ghost sightings and high numbers of traffic accidents on the nearby highway. Also, rumors have swirled that over 20,000 skeletons were found when construction first began. The true reason behind the construction’s halt lies in financial issues. The construction had supposedly resumed; however, the site is still unpleasing to look at. In Chuang’s article, Lin states Hung Kuo, who runs Taipei's Hilton Hotel, is interesting in finishing construction. Hung Kuo plans to do so by finishing the buildings, and adding other aesthetical attributes around the UFOs; ultimately, making the site a tourist attraction. His plan is to make San Zhi a location where people will flock to in hopes to admire the strange houses. (Chuang)

Contrarily, many others believe the San Zhi site is possessed because a large number of deaths occurred while construction was still in progress. Many of the deaths followed the construction workers moving a dragon. Very little information is publicly available regarding the pod houses; it is believed that the government is attempting to hide the activity occurring on site. If you have the desire to see for yourself if the site is really haunted or not, take a weekend trip to Taiwan and then make your decision.

Works Cited:

Chuang, Jimmy. "FEATURE: Taipei County Looks to Rebuild Site of Weird UFO Houses." Taipei Times. N.p., 29 Jan. 2009. Web. 15 Oct. 2012.

yeowatzup. “Sanzhi.” Photograph. Justin Delany. Gadling. Aol Travel, 27 April 2011. Web. 23 October 2012.

"San Zhi." San Zhi. StatmyWeb., n.d. Web. 16 Oct. 2012.

"Sometimes Interesting." Abandoned Resort: Sanzhi, Taiwan. N.p., 11 July 2011. Web. 16 Oct. 2012.

“Taiwan.” Photograph. Haunted. WordPress. 10 October 2012. Web. 23 October 2012

Tom. "Urban Ghosts." 7 Eerie Abandoned Resorts and Holiday Destinations. N.p., 25 Aug. 2011. Web. 16 Oct. 2012.

Turnbull, Alex. "Google Sightseeing." The Mysterious Abandoned Pod City of San Zhi. WordPress, 4 Jan. 2008. Web. 15 Oct. 2012. 

Links for further research:

Youtube

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TpPKXr9sp_0

A video of all the pod houses in San Zhi, and gives you what they think they could look like if they were in outer space.

Luxury Home Decorating

http://luxuryhomedecorating.com/modern-and-beautiful-exterior-design-by-san-zhi-taiwan-a-futuristic-resort/

Information and pictures about the exterior design of the pod houses.

CrassTalk

http://crasstalk.com/2011/12/five-interesting-abandoned-places-3/

Information on the abandoned pod houses, and other abandoned places.

Mokele-Mbembe

Author: Lauren Faircloth

by  Nik Petsev, 2002

Mokele-mbembe is Lingala , and can mean a variety of things. The word is commonly defined as "one that stops the flow of rivers," but can also mean "one who eats the tops of palm trees," "monstrous animal," or even "half-God, half-beast." Mokele-mbembe is also used as a generic term to refer to other animals like Emela-ntouka, Mbielu-mbielu-mbielu, and Nguma-monene. Mokele-mbembe has been described as an animal with a long neck, tail, and rounded shaped tracks with three claws. The closest known animal that has these characteristics is a Sauropod dinosaur. 

The body size of each specimen is said to be somewhere between the size of a hippopotamus and an elephant. Its length is reportedly between 16 to 32 feet (5 to 10 meters). The length of the neck, according to various descriptions, is between 5 to 10 feet (1.6 to 3.3 meters). The length of the tail is somewhere between 5 to 10 feet as well.

             The pygmies, natives of the Likouala Swamp region, report that the essential diet of Mokele-Mbembe consists primarily of the Malombo plant. Since it only eats plants, it is classified as an herbivore. The Malombo plant actually describes two plants: Landolphia mannii and Landolphia owariensis.

Mokele-mbembe lives in the pools and swamps adjacent to the rivers of the Likouala swamp region of The People's Republic of Congo on the continent of Africa. It is said to use the lakes as a crossing path to go from one river to another. Mokele-Mbembe lives underwater most of the time except when it eats or travels to other parts of the swamp. It has been reported that it does not like hippopotamuses and will kill them on sight, though it does not eat them. According to the pygmies, Hippopotamuses cannot be found where Mokele-Mbembe lives.

            Expeditions in search of the mokele-mbembe primarily began in the 1880s. In 1913, a German explorer reported stories of, what the natives called, "Mokele-mbembe," which he had heard while in the Congo. Hearing the reports, a few scientists noticed that the descriptions of the creatures made them sound much like sauropod dinosaurs. Sauropods were the giants of the dinosaurs world, averaging about 70 feet (21 meters) long and standing 12-15 feet (3.7 to 4.8 m) tall at the hips.

In 1932, a British scientist, exploring near the Likouala region where the creatures are said to live, came across some abnormally huge footprints. Later, when he went down one of the rivers in a canoe, he heard strange sounds, but did not see anything. Coincidentally, that same year the world famous zoologist and biologist, Ivan T. Sanderson, along with animal-trader Gerald Russel, were paddling up the Mainyu River in the heart of western Africa when, according to Sanderson's report:

"The most terrifying sound I have ever heard, which sounded like an on-coming earthquake or an exploding, nearby robot, suddenly greeted us from a large underwater cave."

While the water of the river was boiling and foaming directly in front of their canoe, a “darkish, shining lizard-like head” suddenly rose from the dark water. They described the head as nearly the size of the head of a fully grown hippo, which sat on a thick, swan-like neck. The enormous neck was turned towards the two men, and for just a few seconds, although it seemed like an eternity, the monster simply stared at Sanderson and Russel. Mr. Sanderson summed up his thoughts with these words:

"I don't know what we saw, but the animal, the monster, burned itself into my retinas. It looked like something that ought to have been dead millions of years ago. As a scientist, I should have been happy, of course, but this encounter was so frightening, so nasty that I never want to see it again."

 

Works Cited:

Gibbons, William J. "In Search Of the Congo Dinosaur." In Search Of the Congo Dinosaur. ICR, July 2002. Web. 22 Oct. 2012. http://www.icr.org/article/306/

"Lingala." Dictionary.com. Dictionary.com, n.d. Web. 23 Oct. 2012. http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/lingala?s=t.

"Mokele Mbembe!." Skeptic 17.3 (2012): 63. Science Reference Center. Web. 22 Oct. 2012.

Petsev, Nick. "Cryptids - Mokele-mbembe." Cryptozoology.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Oct. 2012. http://www.cryptozoology.com/cryptids/mokele.php.

"Sauropod." Dictionary.com. Dictionary.com, n.d. Web. 23 Oct. 2012. http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/sauropod?o=100505.

Wilford, John Noble. "'Dinosaur' Eludes Six-Week Search in Africa." New York Times (1923-Current file): 1. Dec 10 1981. ProQuest Historical Newspapers: The New York Times (1851-2008). Web. 22 Oct. 2012.

Links for further research:

Mokele-Mbembe: The Living Dinosaur

http://www.mokelembembe.com/

Articles and information compiled by Scott Norman

Was a Mokele-mbembe killed at Lake Tele?

http://www.anomalist.com/reports/mokele.html

An account of an encountering with a mokele-mbembe

'Mokele-Mbembe' The Last Dinosaur Documentary Part 1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MBZrZNy2LU8

A documentary of the search for Mokele-Mbembe from The History Channel

Paranormal Activities and Other Creepy Things on "The Year of Halloween"

If any of our readers were inspired by our current posts on creepy, mysterious and odd things from the Can of Mystery, then you might consider also reading The Year of Halloween .

The articles on The Year of Halloween range from a series of "31 Scary Things," to tutorials on Halloween make-up, to horror movie reviews. Right now they are sponsoring a Halloween Contest with prizes ranging from gift certificates to a hand-made vampire hunting kit (pictured below).



Hand-made vampire hunting kit from
www.theyearofhalloween.com

 Who knows when a vampire hunting kit might come in handy? After all, maybe running into the Vampire Beast of Bladenboro seems unlikely, but Vlad the Impaler and Lady Elizabeth Bathory (aka "The Blood Countess") were real historical figures. 

Better safe than sorry (and drained of blood)!
Happy Halloween!

The Forest of Suicide

Author: Julia Stuart

The Forest of Suicide

            Near the base of Mount Fuji lays the Aokigahara forest, which according to John on Tofugu.com, is “also known as the Sea of Trees, Suicide Forest, and Japan’s Demon Forest...”  John also mentions that “Aokigahara is the world’s second most popular place for suicide.”  Why would people come to this forest just to commit suicide?  Well, after researching Aokigahara, I have found that the forest became a suicide hot-spot soon after a novel called Kuroi Kaiju by Seicho Matsumoto was published.  In the novel Kuroi Kaiju, which means Black Sea of Trees, two lovers commit suicide in the forest of Aokigahara.  Many believe that this book sparked the suicide frenzy because according to Lauren Sesana this book along with The Complete Manual of Suicide   has been found with the remains of the bodies. However, there were also suicides that predated the novel.  During times of famine in Japan, people would leave family members in the Sea of Trees so they would have fewer mouths to feed (Sesana).  It sounds gruesome, but Aokigahara has the perfect topography if you want to get rid of someone. 

            Aokigahara is known to be very still and quiet. Sesana notes, “The vegetation is extremely dense; the numerous trees block out most of the light, even in the middle of the day.  The trees also block the wind, and there is little wildlife to be seen or heard.”  She continues, “Perhaps for this reason Aokigahara has been thought to be the realm of demons.”  The name “Japan’s Demon Forest” has been given to Aokigahara because according to John the spiritualists of Japan believe that the ground and vegetation have been infused by the suicides, which then causes paranormal activity.  It is said that spirits can be spotted by visitors shifting between trees (John) as seen in the picture below.

Aokigahara is a beautiful forest which has somewhat been corrupted by the mass suicides that occur in it.  The fact that demons are believed to live in the forest also makes the forest less appealing.  If someone doesn’t believe in demons, doesn’t mind seeing corpses, and has a good sense of direction, Aokigahara is a lovely place for sightseeing.

Works Cited:

John. “Aokigahara: Japan’s Haunted Forest of Death.” Tofugu.com. Tofugu. 2012. Web. 12 Oct. 2012.

Sesana, Laura. “Aokigahara, Japan’s Suicide Forest.”TheWashingtonTimes.com. The Washington Times, LLC. 19 Aug. 2012. Web. 10 Oct. 2012.

Image MILL. “Forest Butoh crawl.” Photograph. Flickriver. Image MILL, 18 June, 2009. Web. 19 Oct. 2012.

Links for Further Research:

The Washington Times Communities. 

http://communities.washingtontimes.com/neighborhood/world-our-backyard/2012/aug/19/aokigahara-japans-suicide-forest/

This site contains information from what people write since it’s a social journalism site.

Tofogu.

http://www.tofugu.com/2012/07/23/aokigahara-japans-haunted-forest-of-death/

This website provides allot of information that was taken from other websites.

Environmental graffiti.

http://www.environmentalgraffiti.com/news-aokigahara-forest-death

This website gives a somewhat broad summary about Aokigahara. 

The Living Life of Elizabeth Bathory

Author: Caysie Smith

            When you think of vampires, you probably do not think about the “Blood Countess” who began to lurk amongst the people in 1560 (Joshi 6). However, the people like Joshi who do know about Elizabeth Bathory acquaint her to be part of a very powerful family in Hungry (6). If you were to look up Elizabeth Bathory, you would not find anything about her being wise and adored by the people. In fact, you would be told Elizabeth was once a cruel aristocrat who, according to what you believe, may or may not have been a vampire. Although the decision to believe if vampires are real or not is up to the individual, it is known for certain that Elizabeth Bathory practiced being one (Joshi 6).  

Hungarian Countess Elizabeth Bathory

As Elizabeth grew up she found that she enjoyed watching other people suffer in pain. Even as a child she liked to torture her pets (Bullock 239). Some believe she liked watching and conducting such horrors because she grew up having to cope with seizures and severe outrages (Melton 41). Since Elizabeth was very wealthy, she possessed a great amount of servants. Elizabeth took a certain interest in the girls who she was in charge of. Unfortunately, this interest was used for supplying Elizabeth in what she enjoyed most, which was torturing (Joshi 6). Elizabeth loved to bestow great amounts of physical pain on these girls from slapping, biting, cutting, and other sadistic actions. Sometimes Elizabeth would even settle for death of the peasant girls.

Elizabeth’s pleasures were taken up a notch when she was told that drinking virgin’s blood would keep her from aging. So, being such a ruthless woman, Elizabeth not only murdered and drank the girls’ blood, but also bathed it. Since Elizabeth came from such a powerful family, servant girls’ blood became too “weak” for her she began devising a plan on how to get virgin’s blood from other wealthy families.

Elizabeth decided to open up a school for aristocrats’ daughters. However, Elizabeth had no intentions of teaching these little girls anything. When word got out that the families’ daughters were missing, Elizabeth’s school was raided and all horrors were exposed (Joshi 6). The Blood Countess’s accomplices went to trial and were murdered by the government. However, Elizabeth was convicted and pleaded innocent of her crimes even after a journal was found in her hand writing a list of more than 650 names of all the girls she tortured and murdered.

               

 Works cited:

Bullock, David L. “Bathory, Elizabeth (1560-1614).” Women in World History: A Biographical Encyclopdeia. Ed. Anne Commire. Vol. 2. Detroit: Yorkin Publications, 2000. 239-244. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Web. 21 Oct. 2012.

“Elizabeth Bathory.” Angelfire.com. N.p, n.d. Web. 23 Oct. 2012.

“Elizabeth Bathory.” Photograph. Evilladies. Evil Ladies, n.d. Web. 22 Oct. 2012.

Joshi, S.T. Encyclopedia of the Vampire: The Living Dead in Myth, Legend, and Popular Culture. Santa Barbara, California. Greenwood, 2011. Ebook.

Melton, J. Gordon. The Vampire Book: The Encyclopdeia of the Undead. Canton, Missiouri: Visible Ink Press, 2011. Print.

Sheppard, R.Z. “Gothic Whoopee.” Time 146.7 (August 1995): 70. Academic Search Premier. Web. 16 Oct. 2012.

“Vampire.” Encyclopedia of Occultism and Parapsychology. Ed. J. Gordon Melton. 5^th ed. Vol. 2. Detroit: Gale Group, 2001. 1620-1623. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Web. 21 Oct. 2012.

Links for further research:

Evil Ladies
http://evilladies.com/serial-killers/countess-of-blood-elizabeth-bathory/ 
Articles and information about evil women in history

Weird Encyclopedia
http://www.weird-encyclopedia.com/Bathory-Elizabeth.php
 Articles and stories about many unsolved legends and myths

How Stuff Works
 http://history.howstuffworks.com/history-vs-myth/hungarian-countess-serial-killer1.htm
Research by Josh Clark about the life of Elizabeth Bathory as one of the world’s most brutal murderer

Paris’ Underground Catacombs

Author: Niko Simmons

The Catacombs of Paris are an underground cemetery located in Paris, France. The catacombs contain the remains of over six million people. Skulls and bones are aligned along the walls of the underground tunnel as it is a tourist attraction to the public.

            The catacombs for the dead were built in the late 1700’s from various cemeteries around Paris. The Cemetery of the Innocents, now the Great Central Market, was the first cemetery evacuated into the catacombs. People protested that this cemetery constituted a public health danger. The soil of the cemetery of the Innocents was said to be “flesh-eating.” It wasn’t until 1785 authorities demolished the cemetery and removed the contents to an old stone quarry in Paris. This was an underground system of tunnels and passages. The transferring of skeletons from other cemeteries took around 15 months, along with the bodies that were demolished during the French Revolution.

            The presence of increased humidity and accelerated decay on the bones would most likely dissatisfy some visitors. However, the remains present themselves as part of a vast coral reef. They are a slow accretion of minerals in a tideless sea of time. Many of these bones have been studied for leprosy, a disease in which causes skin sores, nerve damage, and muscle weakness. After being observed, none had any signs of Leprosy.

The catacombs may seem as a site of disregard and desecration, but it was never intended as such. Almost 200,000 people a year come to see the view of the underworld and grasp an idea of mortality in the catacombs. The entrance into the statured cemetery begins with a spiral stairway which consists of 130 steps. After reaching the level of tunnels and walking through long passages, there is a giant iron door detailed with an inscription. Only by light can it be seen and it says, “Arrềte! C’est ici l’empire de la mort.” It means ‘Halt! This is the empire of the dead.’ On the other side are the remains of the six million dead. 

A boy having fun with creative lighting in the catacombs

The catacombs have been the site of celebrated activities. In April 1897, a secret concert was held for over hundreds of scholars, artists, writers, and members of the Parisian government. This was the first of many festivities in the underground graveyard. Every first week in December, students from Ecole de Mines, a prestigious engineering school in France, are given a key to the catacombs and they are allowed to throw a party. Their only rule is to clean up afterwards.

The catacombs may seem as if it is a haunted chamber filled with human remains but it’s a great tourist attraction for the city of Paris. There is a meaning behind why people would want to come visit the remains of those they have never met but yet, find some kind of amusement from doing so.      

Works Cited:

Alvarez, Stephen. “Under Paris.” Photograph. National Geographic Magazine. February 2011. Web. 22 October 2012

“Catacombs.” The Columbia Encyclopedia. New York: Columbia University Press, 2008. Credo Reference. Web. 15 October 2012

“The Catacombs of Paris.” New York Times (1857-1922): 18 November 1857. Web. 11 October 2012

Gup, Ted. “Empire of the Dead.” Smithsonian. April 2000: 106 Gale World History In Context. Web. 13 October 2012

Jopling, W.H. Christenen, V. Moller. “An Examination of the Skulls in the Catacombs of Paris.” Medical History. 8 April 1964: 187-188. Web. 11 October 2012

Russell, Kenneth. “Skulls of the Dead- Paris Catacombs” Photograph. National Geographic Magazine. 1996-2012. Web. 22 October 2012

Shea, Neil. “Paris Catacombs.” National Geographic Magazine. February 2011. Web. 15 October 2012

Links for Further Research:

History of the Catacombs of Paris

http://www.catacombes-de-paris.fr/english.htm

Gives general information on the catacombs

Catacombs of Paris and Rome

http://www.oldandsold.com/articles13/catacombs.shtml

Compares and contrasts the two underground cemeteries

Loving Life In Paris’ Empire of the Dead

http://www.cnn.com/2012/08/02/world/europe/wus-france-catacombs/index.html

Some ways of how people enjoy the “underground” lifestyle

            

Triskaidekaphobia

Author: Jonathan Scotten

Triskaidekaphobia (tris·kai·dek·a·pho·bi·a), better known as the fear of the number 13, is a phobia that has caused airlines not to have a thirteenth row, tall buildings not to have a thirteenth floor, and people to never have a party with only thirteen guests. Why are people so worried about a simple little number? The answer, as best as I can find, is that no one really knows. There are several theories, and ideas as to where this fear started; Norse mythology, Christianity, and other historical places.

             The fear of the number thirteen may have started in Norse mythology. At one point in Norse mythology twelve gods came together for a feast, and Loki, the god of evil, arrived uninvited, making thirteen guests. Loki then orchestrated the murder of the god of light, starting the tradition that if thirteen people sit down to dinner one will die within a year. In France people would often hire themselves out to be fourteenth members of a dinner party, they were called “quatorziens” or “fourteeners” President Franklin Roosevelt would often invite his secretary to dinner parties, if only thirteen guests would be there.

            Other people say that the fear of the number thirteen started in Christian history. At the last supper there were thirteen dinner guests, Jesus and his twelve disciples, after the dinner Jesus was betrayed. In some pagan religions the number thirteen is actually considered to mean good luck, and another possible starting point for the idea that 13 is unlucky,  is that the Pope declared the number thirteen unlucky to discourage paganism. However, the number thirteen is not considered all bad in Christianity. The thirteen Attributes of God, found in Exodus 34: 6-7, have to be labeled a good thing because God is good.

            The number thirteen by itself is considered bad, but it gets worse when a “Friday” comes before it in a sentence. Friday the thirteenth is considered to be the unluckiest day of the year. According to Donald Dossey, founder of the Stress Management Center and Phobia Institute in Asheville, North Carolina, every Friday the thirteenth, $800 to $900 million dollars are lost in business, because people don’t fly or make business transactions, because of this it has been nicknamed the Billion Dollar Phobia. This tradition is rumored to have begun in medieval France. It was suggested, in the book Born in Blood: The Lost Secrets of Freemasonry by John J. Robinson that on October 13, 1307, a Friday, King Philip IV of France ordered the mass arrest of the Knights of the Templar. Before becoming king, Philip attempted to become a member of the Knights, but was turned down. So in 1307 He ordered their arrest, and that they all be charged with heresy. Those who denied any heresy were tortured until they admitted to it, and were then put to death. Friday the thirteenth normally happens around twice a year in our calendar, but for everyone who thinks the world is ending in 2012; this is a fact that is interesting. In 2012 Friday the thirteenth has occurred 3 times, each thirteen weeks apart. If thirteen is unlucky, and Friday the thirteenths are bad, then when three Friday the thirteenths happen thirteen weeks apart, something bad might happen.

            The fear of the number thirteen has many possible origins, including: Norse mythology, Christian history, and medieval history. No one is completely sure where it started, but Triskaidekaphobia is a real thing, and whether it is unlucky or not, the number 13 is a number people will talk about for a long time.

Works Cited:

Adams, Cecil. “Why is 13 unlucky.” The Straight Dope, 6 Nov. 1992. Web. 15 Oct. 2012.  

Fritscher, Lisa. “Triskaidekaphobia Fear of the Number 13.” Phobias.about.com, 22 Oct. 2012. Web. 17 Feb. 2012.

Roach, John. “Friday the 13th: Why We Fear It; Why It Can't Strike Again in 2012.” NationalGeographic.com, 22Oct. 2012. Web. 24 July 2012.

Robinson, John J. “Born in Blood: The Lost Secrets of Freemasonry” New York: M. Evans and Company, Inc.,  1989. Print.

Unknown. “Unlucky number?  The story behind dreadful 13 (and 12 other superstitions).” Today.msnbc, 22 Oct. 2012. Web. 22 Oct 2012.

Fergerson, Alex. “Unlucky 13.” Photograph. Math2033.uark.edu. 23 Oct. 2012. Web. 1 Mar. 2011    

      

Links for further research:

Friday the 13th: Why We Fear It; Why It Can't Strike Again in 2012

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2011/05/110513-friday-the-13th-superstitions-triskaidekaphobia/

This was a really helpful article, from National Geographic.

Unlucky number?  The story behind dreadful 13 (and 12 other superstitions)

http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/41378602/ns/today-weather/t/unlucky-numberthe-story-behind-dreadful-other-superstitions/

This article was posted by the news program Today so it should be very reliable.

Triskaidekaphobia Fear of the Number 13

http://phobias.about.com/od/phobiaslist/a/triskaidekaphob.htm

This site will tell you a lot about triskaidekaphobia, and was really helpful.

Legendary Bloody Mary

Author: Khadijih Robinson 

When I was little, many young girls liked to play games like “Bloody Mary”. The girls would stand in front of a mirror with the lights turned off repeating the name “Bloody Mary” over again. After you call Bloody Mary, she is supposed to appear in the mirror and claw your face, steal your soul, or just appear with blood all over. The game Bloody Mary has been played throughout time and there is no true story of Bloody Mary.  The legend has multiple stories to be told, and the game is played in different ways. The story of Bloody Mary ranges from history of a tyrannical queen, to myths of the witch in the woods, as well as, a drink for a recovering hangover.

Written on American Folklore, There was a witch in the woods, by the name of Bloody Mary. No one went near her home, but when little girls started going missing, everyone was questioned in the village even the witch. When the townspeople went to the witch’s home to question her, but the people noticed she appeared younger and more beautiful. One day a little girl left her home in the middle of the night. The little girl’s parents tried to stop her, but the little girl kept going. Her parents started calling on the townspeople for help. The people saw a low glow light and ran towards it. The light was the witch holding a wand chanting a spell, but Bloody Mary ran as she seen the people yelling after her and one of the men shot her in the hip. The townspeople grabbed her and took her to a field where they had made a bonfire and threw her in it and as the witch burned she casted a spell on anyone that chanted her name in a mirror. The townspeople went to the witch’s home and found the graves of the missing girls in her backyard.

            The tyrannical Queen Mary I, “Bloody Mary” started out being nothing but the same name. The Queen killed many people that tried to dethrone her. Many of the people killed were based on religious persecution. There are similar references connecting the Queen Mary I to the Elizabeth Bathory story. Elizabeth Bathory is known to be the “Blood Countess,” which she killed many young girls,  but still no one knows the story of the Legendary Bloody Mary. Neither of the stories connects to the legend of the lady standing in the mirror, clawing your face out.

            There is a cocktail drink called “Bloody Mary,” that people drink occasionally. A bartender by the name of Fernand Petiot started out putting a twist to an already known drink called the “the Red Snapper.” When Petiot put the twist to the old cocktail it became the “Bloody Mary.” Fernand made this drink in the 1920’s working at a bar in Paris; he then brought the new refined drink to New York. It is said that the drink is known for drinking when one is attempting to sober up.

             As stated before, I once played the game Bloody Mary, but I never followed through with the game. I have always been the scared one, so while writing this article I was scared to research this topic, or look at any pictures. I have never known anyone to see the infamous “Bloody Mary,” but this could be because this is a story you tell a slumber party of girls to scare them to sleep or dare them to be the courageous one. Bloody Mary Stories, Here is a few stories that real young girls have told about their Bloody Mary experience.

Works Cited:

Curtis, Wayne. “Behind the Drink: The Bloody Mary.” Liquor.com.17. Dec. 2010. Web. 23.Oct.2012

Dube, Ryan. “Bloody Mary Legend.” Love To Know. Love To Know Corp. Web. 12 October 2012.

Dundes, Alan. Bloody Mary in the Mirror: Essays in Psychoanalytic Folkloristic. Jackson: University Press of Mississippi,  2002. Print.

“I Believe in Mary Worth”. Encyclopedia of Urban Legends. Santa Barbara: ABC-CLIO, 2001. Credo Reference. Web. 12 October 2012

Paramore_riot. “Bloody Mary.” Photograph. Fanpop, 2009. Web. 23.Oct. 2012

Ramsland , Katherine. “Lady of Blood: Countess Bathory .” Crime Library. Tuner, A Time Warner Company, ND. Web. 13 October 2012.

Ridley, Jasper. Bloody Mary’s Martyrs: The Story of England’s Terror. New York. Carroll &

Graf  Publishers, 2001. Print.

Schlosser, S E. “Bloody Mary.” American Folklore.  S.E. Schlosser 1997-2020, 18.Oct. 2012. Spooky Pennsylvania . Web. 13 October 2012.

Links for Further Research:

Queen “Bloody” Mary

http://www.greatsite.com/timeline-english-bible-history/queen-mary.html

There is information on Queen Mary I telling the story with details on her life.

Bloody Mary

http://americanfolklore.net/folklore/2009/10/bloody_mary.html

More information on Bloody Mary legend and the game.

Lady of Blood: Countess Bathory

http://www.trutv.com/library/crime/serial_killers/predators/bathory/countess_1.html

There is a website on crime stories and unsolved mysteries.