History

2021-05-12 23:59:43 It may well have been made in reference to a local deity called Heil or Heilith. Since it was made so close to Cerne Abbey, around the time of its founding, it could also be mocking the attempts to convert local pagans. Again, however, at this time paganism was very limited. Many theories will be made in the future! Open / Comment

2021-05-12 23:57:44 It is possible, however, that the giant was renovated in the 17th century after being forgotten - certainly, it appears to have "modified". Open / Comment

2021-05-12 23:56:07 More information. Open / Comment

2021-05-12 23:54:02 More information. Open / Comment

2021-05-12 23:54:02 However, historians have recently started to question this narrative. Notably, there are no mentions of the giant before the 17th century.

It has instead been proposed, based on significant evidence, that the giant is actually an enormous piece of vulgar graffiti - drawn in protest against leader Oliver Cromwell. Cromwell was often portrayed as Hercules, which is who the giant resembles. Open / Comment

2021-05-12 23:54:02 The Cerne Abbas Giant, located in the village of Cerne Abbas, Dorset, England. It is made out of chalk.
Early theories posit the giant as a pagan fertility symbol for, uh, evident reasons. Open / Comment

2021-05-12 00:39:44 The imposing Matsumoto Castle (Matsumoto-jō), Nagano, Japan.
This castle was started in 1504, and after various expansions it was finished by about 1594. It is one of the few remaining tenshu castles.
The second image shows the castle in 1904. It had started leaning, and locals believed it was the curse of Tada Kasuke which was doing this. Kasuke had been a peasant rebel, who was perfidiously executed on the orders of officials in the castle. Fortunately, a local schoolteacher was able to overcome the curse through renovating the building. Open / Comment

2021-05-09 15:23:51 Though initially showing some enthusiasm for the promise of the Nazi regime, the Scholls gradually became disillusioned. In 1936 Hans vocally defended Hitler in front of his father and became a flagbearer at the annual Nuremburg Rally, but was disappointed by the restrictive attitude of his superiors.

Sophie, who had lost faith in the regime by 1939, was turned actively against it by her boyfriend, soldier Fritz Hartnagel, who told her of atrocities against civilians in the east.

Christoph wished for an honourable peace and joined the White Rose alongside Hans and Sophie.

Betrayed by caretaker Jakob Schmid, who received 3,000 marks, the trio were inevitably sentenced to death. The guards at their prison were taken aback by their courage and dignity, to the extent that they allowed the prisoners to have a final cigarette together, an unprecedented liberty.

They were executed by guillotine. Their friends Alexander Schmorell (25), Willi Graf (25), and Kurt Huber (49) were murdered later that year. Open / Comment

2021-05-09 15:23:50 22 February 1943: Sophie Scholl, Hans Scholl, and Christoph Probst are executed in Munich for distributing anti-war leaflets as part of the Weiße Rose (White Rose) group. They were aged 21, 25, and 23 respectively. Open / Comment

2021-05-09 15:23:20 https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-57008360 Open / Comment