American Civil War Fact Twenty One

Dr Mary Edwards Walker was the first female surgeon in U.S. military history and the only woman to date to receive the Medal of Honor. She graduated from Medical School in 1855 and when the war started she volunteered for the Union army. She was initially only allowed to serve as a nurse. In September of 1863 she was contracted as a civilian assistance surgeon by the Army of the Cumberland. Dr Walker was later appointed as an assistant surgeon to the 52nd Ohio Infantry. On April 10, 1864 she was captured by Confederate troops and arrested as a spy and remained imprisoned until August 12, 1864 when she was released as part of a prisoner exchange. 

American Civil War page

Ancient Egypt Fact Twenty One

Buto was an ancient city in the Nile Delta of Egypt that was 95 km or 59 miles east of Alexandria. Originally there were two cities called Pe and Dep which merged into one which the Egyptians called Per-Wadjet. Wadjet was a local goddess represented by a cobra and was the patron diety of Lower Egypt. The city was the primary site of cultural development for nearly ten thousand years until 3100 BC. It lost its standing after the unification of Lower and Upper Egypt. The name was changed to Buto when they were under Greek rule from 305 to 30 BC. Buto was the Greek name for the same goddess Wadjet.

Ancient Egypt page

Pirate Fact Twenty One

A privateer was an individual or ship that had the backing of their respective government to launch attacks on foreign vessels during times of war. They were given official papers called a letter of marque and reprisal. Within the letter it named the person who was allowed to pass their national borders with forces under their command, the specific nationalities they were to target, the authorization to destroy or seize assets of the target nationality, any seized assets would be split between the privateer and the government and any restrictions on the reprisal such as time, manner, place or amount.


Pirate page

St Anicetus 11th Pope

St Anicetus was the eleventh Pope from 154 to 168. He was born in Emesa, Syria. Around 162 he had a meeting with St Polycarp of Smyrna over the Pascal or Passover controversy. Those in the East that included Polycarp's Church of Smyrna celebrated on the feast on the 14th of the month of Nisan or the first month on the Assyrian calendar. The Roman Church celebrated the Passover on a week day before Easter Sunday. Jesus was celebrating Passover during the Last Supper which is associated with Holy Thursday. Anicetus and Polycarp did not reach an agreement over the issue but parted on friendly terms. Pope St Anicetus also spent much time countering other religious views growing in Rome such as Manichaeism. He is listed as a martyr but whether the Roman Emperor Lucius Verus actually had him put to death is unclear. His Feast day is celebrated on April 20.

Ancient Seven Wonders of the World Fact Twenty

Scopas was a Greek sculptor and architect who worked on two of the Ancient wonders: the temple of Artemis at Ephesus and the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus. 


Ancient Seven Wonders page

Knights Templar Fact Twenty

While the initial pilgrimages to the Holy Land were by land routes the Knights Templar took many groups via the sea on their own ships. From the port in Venice, Italy it took about six weeks to reach the Holy Land.


Knights Templar page

Viking Fact Twenty

Vikings made jewelry primarily out of bronze, gold, silver and bone. Bronze was most common while those of upper status favored the gold and silver jewelry. Goldsmiths made neck and arm rings which were high status objects. The jewelry makers, goldsmiths and silversmiths were looked upon with high favor in Viking society.


Viking page