War is a grueling, emotionally and physically draining endeavor that saps you of your humanity. For some, though, it’s also a chance to show off how fantabulous they are. Here are 10 cases of people walking into combat in costumes that are the exact opposite of camouflage.

10 most fabulous battlefield fashion statements

10 Captain Richardson And His Jaguar Pants

Captain Samuel J. Richardson fought for the Confederacy during the American Civil War. We’d like to go into more detail about what exactly Richardson got up to during the war, but his pants have rather eclipsed the rest of his exploits. All we know for sure is that he led a volunteer company of soldiers called the W.P. Lane Rangers.

Captain Richardson rode into battle wearing a pair of jaguar‑hide pants, with a set of matching holsters, presumably made from either the same jaguar’s cubs or another, smaller jaguar. Though it’s commonly accepted that the pants are indeed genuine jaguar hide, it’s not known how Richardson came to own them. The best guess of historians is that they were hunted and killed somewhere near Texas. Whether Richardson hunted them personally or they just leaped onto his legs out of fear isn’t clear, but we’re going with the latter.

9 Milo Of Kroton And His Lion‑Skin Robe

Milo of Kroton (sometimes written as Croton) is regarded as one of the finest wrestlers to have ever lived. Throughout his life, he won five different Olympic championships and was so feared in the ring that one of the few people to ever best him in wrestling did so by running in a circle until he collapsed of exhaustion.

Milo was famed throughout the ancient world for his size and strength, and there are various stories from his time suggesting that he could carry a fully grown bull. However, we’re not here to talk about Milo’s wrestling days: we’re here to talk about the time his hometown, Kroton, was ransacked by a neighboring town.

While the rest of his town dashed to grab weapons and armor to defend themselves from the intruders, Milo donned all of his Olympic crowns at once, draped a lion skin across his naked body and picked up a wooden club, which he then used to beat the invading soldiers to death. It’s commonly accepted that Milo did this to fool the enemies into thinking he was Hercules (pictured), who also ran naked into battle wearing a lion‑skin robe. The only difference was that Hercules was a demigod, whereas Milo was just a really buff guy who liked wrestling.

8 Jack Churchill, The Kilt‑Wearing Nazi‑Killer

Jack Churchill (no relation to Winston), better known as “Mad Jack,” was a soldier who fought during World War II, famed for being the only soldier in the entire war who went into battle wielding a sword and a longbow—which he actually killed a few German officers with, making him the last person in recorded military history to kill an enemy with such a weapon.

If the image of a World War II–era soldier running into battle swinging around a claymore wasn’t cool enough, Churchill was also famous for doing so while wearing a kilt and playing bagpipes, both to confuse the enemy and rally his men. His enemies, remember, were armed with machine guns and tanks.

When Churchill became a commando, tasked with raiding factories in Norway in 1941, he upped the ante even further by adding to his battle dress of sword, bagpipes, and longbow some striking solid silver buttons he’d somehow gotten hold of.

7 Honda Tadakatsu, Samurai And Antler Aficionado

Honda Tadakatsu is known as one of the “Four Heavenly Kings of the Tokugawa,” a group of generals famous throughout Japan for their military and battlefield prowess. Tadakatsu himself was regarded as one of the finest warriors in Japan at the time, reportedly never once being injured in battle.

This is especially impressive when you realize that Tadakatsu was very easy to spot on the battlefield, due to his habit of wearing a kabuto with a comically huge set of papier‑mâché deer antlers attached to the top of them, supposedly so that his own men, and more importantly, the enemy would always be able to find him if they wanted some.

The weird part is, helmets like Tadakatsu’s weren’t actually that uncommon on the battlefields of Japan. So‑called “Kawari Kabutos” were a popular choice for samurai warriors who wished to stand out on the battlefield, and they were generally characterized by hugely impractical ornaments balanced precariously on top of them, like Tadakatsu’s antlers. Perhaps the most extreme example is this helmet belonging to an unknown samurai from the 17th or 18th century, which sports a several‑foot‑high metal “catfish tail,” or mohawk.

6 Roman Nose And His Oversized War Bonnet

Roman Nose was a Native American warrior revered by tribes across early America as a powerful and cunning warrior. He believed that his power came from an impractically huge, feather‑covered war bonnet that he would wear in every battle. The war bonnet was far more elaborate than most of the time, and Roman Nose claimed it was magical, supposedly making him untouchable in combat as long as he upheld a number of superstitions, including not shaking hands with someone and not eating any food prepared with iron. He rode a horse with lightning bolts painted across it. The war bonnet itself was a glorious sight to behold and was adorned with a bounty of feathers and even a buffalo horn. It was created by the medicine man White Bull, who made it at the bequest of Thunder itself.

One of his favored tactics in battle was to ride in front of soldiers on his horse, forcing them to waste bullets trying to shoot at him. Which everyone obviously did, because the sheer extravagance and size of the war bonnet made him an immediate target. Amazingly, Roman Nose was never injured while doing this.

In fact, when Roman Nose later died in battle while wearing his giant magic hat, it was rumored by his people that the only reason he’d been killed was because he’d accidentally eaten food prepared with an iron pan prior to the battle and was unable to perform a proper cleansing ritual in time. It’s believed Roman Nose was then shamed into entering the fray by an elder who saw him standing on the outskirts of combat looking menacing.

5 The White Tights, Legendary Female Snipers

The White Tights are supposedly a group of (all female) snipers who have been stalking the battlefields of Eastern Europe since the 1980s. Though the group is largely regarded as an urban myth, the Russian authorities insist they exist. Every now and again, stories will pop up that are oddly reminiscent of the legend.

The legend states that the White Tights are an exclusively female group of elite snipers who fought for Chechnya during the first and second Chechen War. Some versions of the tale claim the women were of Chechen descent, while others say they were mercenaries of Baltic or Ukrainian origins. One fact that is consistent across all versions of the legend is that the women are incredibly beautiful and clad head to toe in sparkling white snow suits.

As noted above, the Russian military continues to assert the existence of the White Tights, despite the fact that they are almost certainly not real. For example, in a terse note from Russian authorities to Estonian officials in 2000, the official Russian stance on the White Tights was: “They exist. Military intelligence says so, and they don’t make mistakes.” Make of that what you will.

4 Adolf Galland And His Swimming Trunks

Adolf Galland was a German pilot who served with the Luftwaffe during World War II. He is well known by military buffs as one of the finest aces in the sky at the time, though he should be known as one of the most fabulous.

You see, Galland was famous among his men for his incredibly unorthodox style while piloting his plane. He always flew with a cigar clenched between his teeth, which on its own is not that unusual, until you pair it with the fact that in hot weather he also refused to pilot his plane unless he was wearing a pair of swimming trunks. Because Galland understood the need to both look and feel cool.

Galland’s personal planes (for example, the Heinkel He 51 he flew during the Spanish Civil War) were usually decorated with a picture of Mickey Mouse holding an axe. Yes, we’re still talking about a German pilot here.

3 Ned Kelly’s Ploughshare Armor

Unlike everyone else on this list, Ned Kelly wasn’t a trained soldier or career mercenary, he was just a criminal (and folk hero) who built a suit of steampunk battle armor so that the police couldn’t shoot him in the face—truly a dream we can all get behind.

Kelly’s tale takes place in the small Australian town of Glenrowan, where he and three members of his gang fled in the winter of 1880. They had recently murdered Aaron Sherritt, a supposed traitor to their gang. The police, who knew where Kelly was located, were keen to make Glenrowan the last place the Kelly Gang would terrorize. They closed in, surrounding the Anne Jones Hotel where the gang was holed up.

Having planned ahead, Kelly and his men were each equipped with a set of plate armor, made from pieces of farm equipment. The suits, which made the men effectively bulletproof, turned what should have been an execution into one of the most famous last stands in criminal history. The armor was so effective that Kelly was able to brush off point‑blank shots to the chest, and when the armor was later investigated, it was discovered that Kelly had been hit in the face several times. However, the one part of his body the armor didn’t protect was his legs, and the police used this to their advantage by crippling the outlaw with a few well‑placed shots to the thighs and groin. His men were killed in the fight. Kelly survived but was hanged a few days later.

Today Kelly’s armor sits in the State Library of Victoria, serving as a permanent testament to the ingenuity of a cornered man with nothing to lose and only glory to gain.

2 The Mysterious Lion Armor

The Lion Armor is the name given to one of the most spectacular suits of armor currently housed in the Royal Armory in Leeds, England. The armor, which is regarded as one of the finest pieces in the museum’s entire collection, sports an intricate lion theme and gold detailing.

Curiously, who made the armor, and who wore it, is entirely unknown. The lion is the symbol of England, which doesn’t narrow it down much. This is made all the more odd when you realize that the armor has appeared in a number of paintings since the 17th century, being worn by kings and noblemen alike.

What we do know is that it was almost certainly worn in combat, due to the fact it sports many nicks and grazes, particularly to the helmet. This means that at one point in history, a guy walked into battle wearing gold armor covered in tiny lions worth more than a small country.

1 Carlos Hathcock And The White Feather

Compared to having a set of deer antlers welded to your head, or wearing half a jaguar around your waist, Carlos Hathcock simply tucking a single white feather into his hat as he walked into battle probably seems a little tame—until we inform you that Carlos Hathcock was a sniper. His job literally required him to be as hard to spot as possible, and he still chose to tuck a white feather into his hat.

Hathcock is known as one of the best snipers in US military history—so good that he was the sniper they called in to shoot other snipers during the Vietnam War. Despite often being asked to go up against men who’d spent their adult lives learning to spot anything out of the ordinary and shoot it, Hathcock still insisted on wearing the easy‑to‑spot feather while he was doing it.

Perhaps the most amazing part of this entire story is that the enemy knew all about the feather. When Hathcock started taking down Vietnamese snipers like poorly hung paintings, they actually sent counter‑snipers into the jungle just to kill him. When Hathcock’s men heard about this, they all started wearing feathers in their hats too, effectively drawing a bullseye on their backs, just so that the enemy couldn’t recognize him. Literally the only thing the Vietnamese knew about Hathcock, other than that he was a crack shot, was that he always wore a white feather in his hat.

In other words, Hathcock was so fabulous, he actually inspired a fashion trend during active combat. How’s that for a legacy?

They say money can’t buy happiness, but it certainly can buy spectacular spectacles. In this roundup of 10 ridiculously fabulous displays of wealth throughout history, we dive into the most outlandish, jaw‑dropping ways the ultra‑rich chose to flash their fortunes.

10 Ridiculously Fabulous Examples of Opulent Excess

10 E. Berry Wall And His Leather Boots

Evander Berry Wall, a true fashion maverick of late‑19th‑century New York, turned heads the moment he stepped onto the boulevard. Born in 1860, he amassed a fortune by eighteen and, by twenty‑two, was swimming in multimillion‑dollar riches after inheriting a million from his father and another million from his grandfather.

From the instant the cash hit his pocket, Wall went on a sartorial binge, snapping up 5,000 neckties and 300 pairs of gloves. He famously swore off any drink other than champagne, earned the dubious honor of being America’s first tuxedo wearer, and once altered his outfit forty times in a single morning just to win a wager.

His flamboyant wardrobe attracted the curious eye of reporter Blakely Hall, whose sensational columns amplified Wall’s ego and sparked a rivalry with actor Robert C. Hilliard. The two men locked horns in a series of bets to see who could out‑do the other with the most absurd ensembles.

After weeks of turning up in checked suits and full‑tweed outfits, Wall’s pièce de résistance arrived when he stormed a bar during a blizzard, striding in thigh‑high, gleaming black patent‑leather boots that stopped traffic.

9 Caligula Literally Swam In Gold

Emperor Caligula, notorious for his cruelty, also possessed a flamboyant penchant for gold that bordered on the insane. While his reign is remembered for depraved parties, his lesser‑known obsession involved using gold as a personal plaything.

He commanded his servants to heap his vast gold reserves into massive piles so he could roll around in the metal, relishing the sensation against his skin. Legend says he fed his prized horse oats laced with gold, served guests loaves of solid‑gold bread, and even tossed gold onto the floor just to stroll across it. He also delighted in wearing women’s garments glittering with jewels, flaunting a fashion sense that shocked Roman sensibilities.

Historical accounts estimate that during his brief rule Caligula squandered more than 27 million gold pieces on these extravagant whims.

8 Edward Hughes Ball Hughes And His Gambling Problem

Edward Hughes Ball Hughes, a dandy of the early 1800s, burst onto high society after inheriting £40,000 a year in 1819 at just twenty‑three. He paraded his newfound wealth by amassing an endless wardrobe and filling a sprawling house with the finest trappings.

Even when indulging in aristocratic pastimes such as hunting, Hughes was never without a retinue of servants bearing guns, wine, and provisions. His reputation for extravagance was eclipsed only by his insatiable love of gambling.

Hughes would wager thousands of pounds on the flip of a coin, shrugging off losses with a casual air. By 1824, local pamphleteers warned the gullible heir that his companions were siphoning his fortune, cautioning that he could lose everything.

Defying the warning, Hughes once lost £45,000 in a single evening—roughly £37 million in today’s terms. Fleeing the mounting debts, he escaped to Paris, where he spent his remaining days in quiet, albeit reduced, comfort.

7 The 5th Marquis Of Anglesey And His Dressing Gowns

Henry Cyril Paget, the 5th Marquis of Anglesey, became a legend in late‑Victorian England for his prodigious spending and eccentric fashion sense. He was often seen strolling with a toy poodle perched under his arm, all while sporting a diamond‑encrusted tiara for no discernible reason.

Paget’s annual allowance of £110,000 (about £8 million today) vanished almost entirely on clothing. He commissioned jewel‑studied costumes that he wore once before consigning them to the darkness of his wardrobe. When his finances finally collapsed, a liquidation revealed a cache of 100 unworn silk dressing gowns.

His most outlandish display of wealth manifested in a fleet of custom‑built automobiles whose exhausts emitted fragrant perfume, turning every drive into a scented parade.

6 Gordon Bennett And His Cow Yacht

James Gordon Bennett Jr., heir to the New York Herald founder, inherited a silver spoon and a taste for theatrical excess. While his father built a respectable publishing empire, Bennett Jr. pursued a life of flamboyant indulgence.

Estimates suggest he squandered around $40 million over his lifetime, engaging in stunts that would make a comic‑book billionaire blush. He famously tossed a roll of cash into a fire because it wouldn’t fit in his pocket, and later ordered an entire restaurant to be bought when a patron occupied his seat.

Bennett’s pièce de résistance was the private yacht Lysistrata, specially commissioned after he deemed his previous vessel insufficient. The yacht featured a dedicated cabin for a cow, ensuring fresh butter each morning. To keep the bovine comfortable, an electric fan blew gentle breezes in tropical waters, while a luxurious wool blanket warmed it in icy seas.

5 Howard Hughes And The Silver Slipper

When Howard Hughes was nineteen, his father’s death thrust him into control of a vast oil‑drilling empire. He swiftly secured legal adulthood, bought every share of his father’s company, and handed the reins to a more seasoned manager.

Never one to sit idle, Hughes ventured into Hollywood, producing hit films in the 1920s and 1930s, then bought an airline during World II, and later a film studio. By the early 1960s, his net worth had swelled into the billions.

In the mid‑1960s, as his health waned, Hughes declared a desire to dominate Las Vegas’s gambling scene. He arrived in pajamas, rented a room at the Desert Inn, and when the owner tried to evict him, Hughes purchased the hotel on the spot and ordered the proprietor to leave.

He then acquired several other casinos, including the Silver Slipper, solely to reposition its iconic neon sign. Later, bored by an empty television, he bought a local TV station just to broadcast movies for his personal amusement, despite owning a chain of theaters that could have served the same purpose.

4 Marie Antoinette And Her Boat Hair

Marie Antoinette’s legacy is riddled with controversy, yet her penchant for extravagance remains undeniable. While she never uttered the infamous “let them eat cake,” she did indulge in lavish habits that shocked the French populace.

She ordered 300 tailor‑made gowns each year, often discarding them after a single wear. Her obsession with appearance extended to her hair, where she once covered her towering pouf hairstyle in flour during a shortage, and on another occasion arrived at a soirée with an entire miniature boat perched atop her coiffure.

These flamboyant displays, though ridiculed, underscore a queen whose wealth enabled truly whimsical artistic expression.

3 Kim Jong Il And His Lobsters

During his tenure as North Korea’s Supreme Leader, Kim Jong Il leveraged his absolute authority to satisfy every extravagant craving. While ordinary citizens faced famine, the leader’s private wine cellar was stocked with thousands of bottles of cognac, and his dogs received finer fare than most staff.

According to a Japanese sushi chef who once cooked for him, each grain of rice was hand‑inspected, with any “defective” grain discarded. The ultimate testament to his opulence came from a Russian emissary who reported that live lobsters were air‑lifted onto the leader’s private train daily, where Kim dined on them using silver chopsticks.

2 Cleopatra And The Pearl

Cleopatra, the famed last Pharaoh of Egypt, wielded a fortune that placed her among the wealthiest individuals in recorded history—estimates suggest a personal net worth near $95 billion. Her riches funded a lifestyle of unrivaled luxury.

Among her most curious possessions was what is believed to be the world’s largest pearl. According to legend, Cleopatra dissolved this massive gem in vinegar to win a wager with Mark Antony, who had bet she could not spend a “small fortune” on a single meal.

Pliny the Elder recounts that she removed a pearl‑laden earring, placed the gem in a glass of vinegar, and drank the resulting mixture. The pearl’s value was said to equal 1,764 pounds of gold, and without the intervention of Lucius Munatius Plancus, she might have swallowed the equivalent of over 3,000 pounds of gold.

Modern researchers have verified that, when crushed, a pearl can indeed dissolve in vinegar within roughly ten minutes, lending credence to the ancient tale.

1 Pablo Escobar’s Whole Life

At the height of his power, Pablo Escobar’s Medellín cartel spent upwards of $2,500 merely on rubber bands to bind the endless piles of cash. The sheer volume of money was so massive that he paid locals to stash bundles within the walls of their homes, creating hundreds of hidden “caletas” each holding roughly $5 million.

Even while on the run, Escobar’s extravagance knew no bounds. His son recounts that the drug lord once burned millions of U.S. dollars simply to keep warm during a fugitive stint.

The pinnacle of his audacious generosity arrived when he offered to settle Colombia’s entire national debt—$10 billion—out of his own pocket in exchange for immunity. The proposal, as grand as it was, never materialized.

For more of Karl’s investigative pieces, follow his work on Man Cave Daily, Twitter, and Tumblr.

When you think of a cemetery, you probably picture uniform stone slabs with dates and tidy epitaphs. Yet the world of memorials is anything but ordinary. Below we unveil 10 fabulous graves that turn the final resting place into a stage for drama, mystery, and sheer eccentricity. Buckle up for a whirlwind tour of the most unforgettable tombstones ever erected.

10 Sir Jeffrey Hudson

Born in 1619, Sir Jeffrey Hudson earned a truly singular claim to fame during his lifetime, a claim that his memorial now cements for posterity. This diminutive court dwarf served Queen Henrietta Maria in a kaleidoscope of roles: court jester, explorer, soldier, and even a captive of pirates.

His most theatrical moment unfolded when he was concealed inside a pie presented to King Charles I. When the crust was cut, Hudson burst forth—presumably to a chorus of “Surprise!”—clad in a bespoke miniature suit of armor. Alongside a monkey and a giant, he formed a living oddity that delighted the royal household.

Beyond entertainment, Hudson acted as a messenger for the crown amid civil war, earning a promotion to Captain of Horse for his marksmanship and riding prowess.

In 1644, he challenged an opponent to a duel, ending the duel with a lethal shot—though the foe wielded only a water pistol. Sentenced to death, he was spared by the queen’s intercession and exiled instead.

His fortunes turned darker when Barbary pirates captured him, selling him into African slavery. Over 25 years, he grew 56 cm (22 in), attributing the increase to relentless “buggery.” Rescued, he returned home only to be imprisoned for his Catholic faith, where he languished another 14 years.

Despite a life replete with adventure, Hudson’s gravestone bears a single line: “A Dwarf presented in a pie to King Charles 1st.” That succinct epitaph captures the bizarre essence of his existence.

9 Jules Verne

The pioneering author Jules Verne, heralded as a founding father of modern science‑fiction, penned classics such as Around the World in 80 Days and 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. He coined the term “scientifiction” to describe his blend of imaginative storytelling with scientific fact.

It was only fitting that his final memorial would be both striking and imaginative. At first glance, his grave appears conventional, featuring a headstone with birth and death details.

Yet at the base, a naked figure emerges from the earth—perhaps representing Verne himself or a Christ‑like form breaking free from the stone, hand outstretched toward the heavens. Sculpted by Albert‑Dominique Roze, the piece bears the title Towards Immortality and Eternal Youth.

The statue certainly leaves an impression, challenging visitors’ imaginations while also possessing a slightly eerie quality that might spook those strolling the cemetery after dusk.

8 Charles Pigeon

Charles Pigeon took pride in two things: his family and his invention. He pioneered a gas lamp that would not explode—a handy breakthrough in 1884.

The lamp garnered a silver medal at the 1855 Paris Exposition. Pigeon sold his designs in various styles through his Parisian shop and patented the innovation. His financial success afforded him a sprawling plot capable of housing 18 family members.

The gravestone itself mimics a double‑bed, displaying effigies of his wife in evening dress and Pigeon in a business suit. He is shown reading a book while his wife listens, and an angel hovers above, cradling a Pigeon lamp.

7 Jerry Bibb Balisok

The memorial honoring Jerry Bibb Balisok is as bizarre as it is misleading. Its plaque claims Balisok was murdered in Guyana in 1978 and bears the defiant epitaph “Damn The State Dept.”

Balisok’s mother erected the stone after believing she had seen her son’s body on television following the Jonestown Massacre—a horrific event that claimed over 900 lives.

In reality, Balisok, a former professional wrestler known as Mr. X, fled the United States with his girlfriend after a check‑fraud charge. The bodies recovered at Jonestown were charred beyond recognition, yet Mrs. Balisok remained convinced her son had perished and placed the memorial over an empty plot.

She died in 1983, still asserting her son’s death. Yet in 1989 Balisok resurfaced, this time charged with attempted murder of his business partner. He had assumed a stolen identity after his initial disappearance and left a trail of criminal chaos in his wake.

6 Jonathan And Mary Reed

True love, they say, is a rarity. When Jonathan Reed’s wife, Mary, passed in 1893, he erected a mausoleum in Brooklyn that resembled a lavish living room, then placed an empty coffin beside it for himself.

The tomb features a stove, wall paintings, a clock, and even Mary’s half‑finished knitting. A pet parrot once perched there; after its death, Reed had it taxidermied and returned to its perch.

Reed visited his wife daily, arriving as the cemetery opened and departing only when the gates were locked at night. Over time, friends, visitors, and even seven Buddhist monks from Burma made pilgrimages to the site. Various ladies attempted, unsuccessfully, to cure him of his grief.

In 1905, Reed was discovered dead on the mausoleum floor, his arm outstretched toward Mary. He was finally interred beside her, completing their lifelong companionship.

5 Giles Corey

Giles Corey, a farmer in Salem, found himself accused of witchcraft in 1692. Already unpopular and once charged with beating a farmhand to death, Corey’s wife was initially also charged, and he even testified against her.

Villagers later alleged Corey himself practiced witchcraft. During the trial, his accusers appeared to suffer fits, prompting authorities to bind his hands to prevent any magical interference.

Refusing to enter a plea, Corey endured a brutal form of torture known as “pressing”—he was stripped, laid on a board, then weighted down with increasingly heavy stones until he finally succumbed.

He was buried in an unmarked grave on Gallows Hill. Two days later, his wife was hanged at the same site. A simple gravestone was later added, reading “Pressed to Death.”

4 Robert Clay Allison

Robert Clay Allison earned his reputation as a gunslinger of the Old West. After fighting for the Confederacy, he turned cattle herding. In 1870, he famously dragged Charles Kennedy—who was incarcerated—behind his horse, rope around his neck, across town until the captive was decapitated.

Allison’s own death was far less dramatic: a sack of grain fell from a moving wagon, and as he reached for it, the wagon’s wheel rolled over his head, ending his life abruptly.

He rests in Reeves County, Texas. Though famed for his violent deeds, Allison reportedly disliked the shootist label and sought to downplay his reputation. His headstone reads, “He never killed a man that did not need killing.”

3 Lilly E. Gray

Lilly E. Gray’s grave becomes noteworthy thanks to the enigmatic epitaph her husband, Elmer Gray, placed upon it. Born in 1880, Lilly led a relatively ordinary life until marrying Elmer, a man with multiple burglary convictions and a penchant for conspiracy theories—he once claimed to have been “kidnapped by five Democrat officials” during a parole hearing.

The couple wed when Lilly was 72 and Elmer a year younger; she died six years later of natural causes.

Elmer’s choice of inscription—”Lilly Edith Gray, Victim of the Beast 666″—has sparked countless theories, though none have been substantiated. Given Elmer’s later mental health struggles, the most plausible explanation is that he ordered the stone while experiencing delusions.

2 Rosalia Lombardo

Rosalia Lombardo, born in 1918 in Sicily, died at the tender age of two. Overcome with grief, her father commissioned famed embalmer Dr. Alfredo Salafia to preserve her forever. Her remains became one of the final corpses interred in the Capuchin Catacombs of Palermo.

Salafia’s embalming technique was so masterful that Rosalia appears to be merely sleeping. Her body resides in a glass‑enclosed tomb within a small chapel at the catacombs’ end, earning the nickname “Sleeping Beauty” as locals once mistook her for a lifelike doll.

Although her preservation has begun to deteriorate in recent years, Salafia’s skill remains legendary, and the secret of his embalming method is still closely guarded.

1 Timothy Clark Smith

Timothy Clark Smith was a man of caution, the sort who double‑checked before crossing a street. In the 17th century, many people narrowly avoided burial alive, though the exact number remains unknown.Smith’s career spanned teaching, mercantile work, clerical duties, and finally, surgery as a staff doctor for the Russian army—exposing him to countless close calls with premature burial.

Frightened of waking in his own grave, Smith designed an elaborate safety system when he died in 1893: a viewing window set at the bottom of a cement tube that led to the surface, a hammer and chisel placed beside him, and a bell clutched in his hand to summon help.

His grave, still visible in a Vermont cemetery, retains the window, though condensation over time has rendered the view nearly opaque, making it difficult to discern what lies below.

Herodotus, the so‑called Father of History, packed his historia with a mix of fact, folklore, and outright marvels. Here are 10 fabulous tales that showcase his flair for the dramatic, from royal intrigue to bizarre beasts.

10 Fabulous Tales Overview

10 Gyges Usurps The Throne

Before Herodotus can spin the saga of King Croesus, he first drags us into the shadowy ascent of Gyges, the guard who seized the Lydian throne. The former ruler, Candaules, was oddly proud of his wife, flaunting her beauty like a trophy. He forced his bodyguard, Gyges, to admire the queen’s charms, insisting he prove his sight by catching a glimpse of her naked.

Gyges, reluctant yet bound by the king’s command, slipped into the queen’s chambers and beheld her in the nude. The queen, catching the intruder, confronted Gyges with a grim choice: slay the king or meet his own death. Gyges chose the murderous path, killing Candaules, marrying the queen, and claiming the throne for himself.

The tale ends with Gyges firmly on the throne, a stark reminder that ambition and voyeurism can reshape kingdoms in a single night.

9 Croesus And The Oracle

From Gyges’ line sprang a dynasty that culminated in Croesus, whose wealth birthed the phrase “rich as Croesus.” He may have been the first to mint gold coins, and his riches made him a pivotal figure in Herodotus’s narrative, especially as Persia eyed Lydia for conquest.

Facing the Persian threat, Croesus dispatched envoys to the world’s most renowned oracles, asking each the same question: “What is King Croesus doing right now?” He set a tough test—cooking a tortoise and a lamb in a bronze pot. The Delphic oracle nailed the answer, earning Croesus’s trust. When he inquired about war with Persia, the oracle warned, “If Croesus goes to war he will destroy a great empire.” Croesus misread this as a promise of victory.

His armies fell, his empire crumbled, and the great empire the oracle mentioned turned out to be his own, illustrating the peril of overconfidence.

8 Mummification

To the ancient Greeks, Egypt seemed a timeless enigma. Herodotus, ever eager to dazzle his listeners, detailed the Egyptian art of mummification, breaking it into three distinct practices based on wealth.

For the elite, a meticulous ritual unfolded: an iron hook extracted the brain through the nose, a sharp stone opened the abdomen, and all internal organs were removed. Aromatic herbs, spices, and perfumes filled the cavities, after which the body was dried in salt to stave off decay. Those less affluent received a simpler treatment—embalming fluids injected into the corpse. The poorest endured a basic method: their intestines were cleared, and the body lay in salt for seventy days.

Herodotus adds a startling note: wealthy women’s bodies were deliberately left to rot a few days before embalming, a precaution to deter embalmers from taking “liberties” with them—an early hint at necrophilia.

7 Digging Ants

When Herodotus surveys the Persian realm, he encounters the fantastical gold‑digging ants of India. Supposedly the size of dogs, these ants burrow through desert sands, tossing up piles laden with gold dust. Hunters on camels chase the ants, loading their mounts with the glittering sand before the insects can retreat.

Some scholars suggest a kernel of truth: Himalayan marmots, known to hoard gold‑rich soil, may have inspired the myth, their behavior exaggerated into giant, gold‑spewing insects.

6 Polycrates And The Ring

Polycrates, tyrant of Samos, rode a wave of unbroken luck—victorious wars, wise policies, even favorable weather. Yet the Egyptian pharaoh Amasis warned him that the gods would not tolerate perpetual fortune. To break the spell, Amasis advised Polycrates to relinquish his most prized possession to the sea.

He obeyed, flinging a gold‑and‑emerald ring into the ocean. Days later, a fisherman hauled in a massive fish and presented its bounty to Polycrates. While the cooks sliced the catch, the ring fell from the fish’s belly, returning to its owner.

The omen proved too much good fortune; Amasis cut ties, and eventually Polycrates met a grim fate—captured by the Persians and possibly impaled on a cross—showing that even the luckiest can fall.

5 Would You Eat Your Parents?

The Greeks prized philosophical puzzles, probing the line between natural law (physis) and social convention (nomos). Darius, the Persian king, convened Greek guests and posed a shocking query: “What would compel you to eat your father’s dead body?” The Greeks recoiled, deeming the act abhorrent regardless of reward.

Darius then turned to Indian interlocutors, asking what would force them not to eat their fathers but instead burn them. The Indians found the notion equally horrific, revealing cultural divides in moral reasoning.

4 Darius Demands Tribute

Darius, unwilling to linger on philosophical games, pressed the Greek city‑states to acknowledge Persian supremacy. He demanded each city present his messengers with a token of earth and water, a symbolic gesture of submission.

Many cities, recognizing Persia’s might, complied. Athens, however, met the envoys with scorn, casting them into a pit where criminals were usually tossed. Themistocles argued they should be executed for polluting the Greek tongue with “barbarian” demands.

Sparta responded even more bluntly: when asked for earth and water, the Spartans hurled the Persian envoys into a well, declaring they would find water there.

3 Dressing Assassins

Not all Greeks were hostile. Amyntas, king of Macedon, gladly offered Darius earth and water, even hosting a lavish banquet. The Persians, adhering to their custom, requested that married women and concubines join the festivities.

Amyntas explained that Macedonian women traditionally sat apart, but he obliged, allowing them to mingle with the Persians. The Persians, unable to resist, began to fondle the women. Alexander, Amyntas’s son (not the Great), was outraged and urged his father to retire to bed so he could handle the situation.

When the Persians relaxed, Alexander gathered all beardless men, dressed them as women, and handed them daggers. As the Persians attempted to embrace the “women,” the hidden blades were revealed, and the attackers were slain on the spot.

2 Thermopylae

The Battle of Thermopylae stands as a hallmark of heroism. The massive Persian army, the largest the world had seen, met a narrow coastal pass defended by 300 Spartans and allied troops. The geography forced the Persians into a bottleneck, preventing them from outflanking the Greeks.

Spartans, aware of their likely demise, spent their final hours polishing their hair and repairing a crumbling wall to bolster defenses—an odd but telling preparation.

King Xerxes, expecting the Spartans to flee, watched as they held firm. Frustrated, he learned from a local of a secret mountain path that could outmaneuver the Greeks. The Spartans discovered the plan in time, yet chose to stay and fight, buying time for their allies to escape.

Their sacrifice became legend, illustrating courage against overwhelming odds.

1 Whipping The Sea

After Darius’s failed Greek campaign, his son Xerxes vowed to finish the conquest. He commissioned a massive bridge of boats across the Hellespont, linking Europe and Asia. The vessels were bound together with papyrus ropes to accommodate the water’s motion.

A storm scattered the fleet just as the army approached. Enraged, Xerxes ordered the Hellespont to receive three hundred lashes, symbolically whipping the sea for its defiance. He also cast fetters into the water to demonstrate his command, and plunged red‑hot iron brands into the waves.

While the sea escaped severe punishment, the bridge‑builders paid the ultimate price—beheaded for daring to challenge the king’s wrath.

If you’re hunting for the ultimate bucket‑list, you’ve just landed on a guide packed with 10 fabulous things you can chase before the final curtain falls. From sipping daring drinks to soaring above clouds, each adventure is a blend of thrill, creativity, and a pinch of mischief.

1 Cocktail Tasting Adventure

Who doesn’t love a good cocktail? The world of spirits offers a dizzying array of flavors, from smoky mezcal to sweet liqueurs. Head to your local liquor store, stock up on a rainbow of bottles, and turn your kitchen into a mini‑mixology lab. Experiment with classic recipes, then go rogue—add a dash of something unexpected and watch the magic happen. By the end of the night, you’ll have a personal catalog of liquid masterpieces to flaunt at the next party. Pro tip: keep a sturdy bucket nearby for those inevitable spills and a reminder that the best memories often come with a little mess.

2 Flash Mob Extravaganza

Flash mobs turned ordinary streets into spontaneous stages, and you can be part of the next wave. Imagine dozens of strangers converging at a train station, each pulling out a tiny iPod, and suddenly the platform erupts in synchronized dance. The phenomenon began in Manhattan in 2003, and by 2006, a London Underground line was overrun by 4,000 silent dancers. Organize a meetup, pick a public spot, rehearse a short routine, and watch bewildered commuters become your audience. The thrill of shared anonymity and collective performance makes this one of the most exhilarating 10 fabulous things you can try.

3 Film Premiere Spectacle

If you’re lucky enough to snag a ticket to a major film premiere, you’ve earned a golden spot on the list. Picture yourself strolling the red carpet for a blockbuster like a Lord of the Rings installment, the flash of cameras, the rustle of designer gowns, and the palpable buzz of Hollywood magic. It’s not just about the movie; it’s the whole experience—meeting fellow fans, sipping champagne, and maybe even catching a glimpse of a star who might, just maybe, notice you. Even if you’re not from California, a short flight can land you at the most glamorous opening you’ve ever attended, solidifying this as a standout 10 fabulous things adventure.

4 Graffiti Canvas Challenge

Ever felt the urge to leave a mark that lasts longer than a selfie? Grab a can of spray paint and find a clean, legal surface—perhaps a designated graffiti wall or an abandoned fence. The thrill lies in the act of creation, the hiss of the nozzle, and the burst of color. For extra street‑cred, aim for a hard‑to‑reach spot; the higher the risk, the more unforgettable the imprint. Just remember to respect local laws and clean up any mess you create. This bold expression of art is a perfect addition to your 10 fabulous things repertoire, especially if you love the idea of turning ordinary concrete into a personal masterpiece.

5 Restaurant Runner Heist

Imagine slipping into a swanky restaurant, dressed to the nines, ordering a multi‑course tasting menu that would make any food lover swoon, then making a graceful exit without paying. It’s a high‑stakes game of culinary cat‑and‑mouse. While we don’t endorse theft, the notion of a “runner”—a daring diner who vanishes with the bill unpaid—adds an adrenaline‑pumped twist to the dining experience. If you attempt this, pick an upscale venue that can afford the loss and make sure you’re not robbing a family‑run eatery that depends on every tip. The sheer audacity of this act lands it squarely among the most mischievous 10 fabulous things you could attempt.

6 Learn to Fly a Plane

Skip the sky‑diving and bungee‑jumping hype; instead, enroll in a pilot’s course and earn your wings. Flying a plane demands dedication, a hefty savings plan, and a willingness to shave off any long facial hair that might interfere with the headset. Lessons can be pricey, but the reward—taking off from a runway and feeling the world shrink beneath you—is unparalleled. Whether you aim for a private pilot’s license or just a few introductory flights, the sensation of steering a metal bird through clouds is a bucket‑list staple that earns its place among the 10 fabulous things you’ll never forget.

7 Hang Your Art in a Gallery

Got a paintbrush? Even if your artistic talent leans more toward abstract splatters than realism, you can still claim a spot on a gallery wall. Create a piece—any style works, because modern art often thrives on mystery. Once it dries, slip it into the most prestigious gallery you can locate and tape it up discreetly. Add a hand‑crafted plaque and a cheeky price tag for extra flair. The risk of getting caught adds an electric buzz, but the payoff—seeing strangers admire your work as if it were a masterpiece—makes this daring stunt a perfect entry in your list of 10 fabulous things.

8 Splurge on a Luxury Hotel Suite

Reserve a night in the most opulent hotel your city offers, and don’t settle for anything less than the top‑tier suite. Think marble bathrooms, panoramic city views, a private butler, and a minibar stocked with premium spirits. Indulge in a lavish breakfast, a rejuvenating spa treatment, and perhaps a late‑night dip in the rooftop pool. Wake up feeling like royalty, even if a hangover greets you. Just remember: stealing the plush bathrobe might land a surprise charge on your credit card later. This decadent escape is undeniably one of the most indulgent 10 fabulous things you can treat yourself to.

9 Participate in a Police Lineup

Volunteer at your local precinct and you might be invited to stand in an actual police lineup. Picture yourself in a room with a row of suspects, each looking as nervous as the next, while you sport a tee‑shirt that reads “I Did It.” If you’re lucky, the department throws in a free lunch or even a modest cash reward. Just make sure you’re not actually being investigated—otherwise you’ll be the one behind the glass. This quirky, slightly risky experience adds a dash of courtroom drama to your 10 fabulous things collection.

10 Invent Something Groundbreaking

When gadgets fail to meet a need, become the creator yourself. Spend months—or even years—researching, prototyping, and refining an invention that solves a real problem. Once you’ve nailed the concept, protect it with a patent and give it a catchy name that sticks in people’s minds. Whether it’s a kitchen gadget, a tech accessory, or a novel piece of art, the journey from spark to market can be as thrilling as any extreme sport. This entrepreneurial venture tops off your roster of 10 fabulous things, proving that imagination can be just as exhilarating as any adrenaline‑pumping activity.

Why These 10 Fabulous Things Matter

Each of these experiences pushes you out of the ordinary, urging you to taste, see, create, and even break a few rules (responsibly). By tackling them, you’ll collect stories that outshine any vacation photo album and give you bragging rights at every gathering.

“Seize the moment. Remember all those women on the ‘Titanic’ who waved off the dessert cart.”? Erma Bombeck

Traveling is the perfect excuse to hunt down culinary adventures that are as out‑of‑the‑ordinary as the destinations themselves. In fact, there are 10 unique restaurants around the globe that turn a simple meal into a story you’ll be retelling for years. From subterranean cellars to sky‑high tree pods, each spot delivers a one‑of‑a‑kind atmosphere that makes the food taste even better.

Why These 10 Unique Restaurants Deserve a Spot on Your Bucket List

10 The Catacombs

If you can keep your cool when the walls close in, The Catacombs tucked beneath Bube’s Brewery in Pennsylvania is your next dining dare. After a guided tour of the historic brewery, guests descend a 43‑foot staircase into a dimly lit cellar that serves up gourmet dishes and prime‑cut steaks, all while the scent of malt and hops lingers in the air.

Adding a supernatural twist, the brewery is rumored to be haunted. Ghost hunters have logged eerie phenomena, prompting the owners to enlist a paranormal investigation team that spins spooky tales for diners, making each bite feel a little more otherworldly.

9 Soneva (Treepod Dining)

Craving a bird’s‑eye view while you chew? Soneva’s Treepod Dining in Thailand hoists guests into the canopy of Koh Kood’s rainforest, where they sit inside woven bamboo pods that look like oversized nests. Each pod accommodates up to four diners and was handcrafted by a local artisan, ensuring an authentic, eco‑friendly vibe.

Once settled, a personal waiter zips your meal up on a dedicated line, delivering food and drinks against a backdrop of turquoise ocean and distant boulders. The snug pod design also eases any fear of heights, letting you focus on the flavors and the spectacular scenery.

8 El Diablo

At El Diablo in Spain, the phrase “cooking over fire” takes on a literal meaning. Perched on nine layers of basalt rock on Lanzarote, the restaurant features a massive grill that straddles a hole leading straight into a dormant volcano. Six feet below, molten lava churns at a blistering 400 °C, providing the perfect heat source for sizzling steaks and seared seafood.

While you wait for your plate, the view of Timanfaya National Park’s volcanic landscape stretches out, reminding you that you’re dining in one of the world’s most dramatic natural settings.

7 The Great Viking Feast

Open only from June to September, The Great Viking Feast Dinner Theatre in St. Anthony, Canada, invites you to step back into the age of Norse explorers. Housed inside a 100‑seat sod‑hut, the venue serves a buffet inspired by the meals Vikings might have savored centuries ago.

The experience goes beyond food: guests can present a mock court case to the Lawspeaker, argue the fate of fellow diners, and earn an honorary Viking certificate by night’s end—making the evening as theatrical as it is tasty.

6 Mermaid Lounge

Off the Las Vegas Strip, the Mermaid Lounge blends fine dining with an aquatic wonderland. The venue boasts a 117,000‑gallon aquarium teeming with 4,000 tropical fish and, on select evenings, live mermaids who glide through the water, posing for photos and entertaining guests.

Mermaids perform Thursday through Sunday, each session lasting about two hours. Saturdays feature a Mermaid School where kids aged 7‑12 learn to swim in mermaid tails, turning a night out into a splashy family adventure.

5 The Lockup

The Lockup in Japan is an izakaya with a twist: diners are ushered into a faux‑dungeon where the menu is secondary to the theatrics. After walking through a corridor of jump‑scares, a police‑uniformed server “arrests” you, handcuffs you, and leads you to a table in a cell‑like setting.

Throughout the meal, sirens blare, lights flash, and actors playing escaped prisoners dash through the space, prompting “officers” to chase and recapture them—all while you enjoy your food and drinks.

You can choose à la carte items at full price or opt for a bundled eat‑drink package that includes the full prison‑theater experience, making every visit feel like a scene from an action movie.

4 New Lucky Restaurant

For those who love a dash of the macabre with their meals, Ahmedabad’s New Lucky Restaurant is built right around a historic cemetery. The establishment encircles twelve green coffins belonging to 16th‑century Sufi followers, each protected by steel bars and tended to daily with fresh flowers.

Owner Krishnan Kutti believes that dining among the departed brings good fortune, a claim that has drawn crowds seeking both the eerie ambience and the promise of luck.

The restaurant’s popularity soars, especially among locals who appreciate the blend of reverence and novelty, making it a truly unforgettable dining destination.

3 Redwoods Treehouse

New Zealand’s Redwoods Treehouse began as a clever marketing stunt for the Yellow Pages. Constructed entirely from services listed in the directory, the restaurant originally opened as the Yellow Treehouse in 2008, offering casual dining before rebranding under new ownership.

Designed to resemble a chrysalis, the structure clings to a towering redwood ten metres above ground. Guests reach it via a treetop walkway, and the intimate space accommodates just 30 diners, now primarily reserved for private events like corporate gatherings and celebrations.

2 Dans le Noir

Paris‑born and now thriving in London, Dans le Noir offers a dining experience shrouded in total darkness. Guests are led into a pitch‑black room where they can’t see their own hands, while the waitstaff—who are visually impaired—guide them through the meal.

Patrons are asked to lock away phones and lighters, then line up shoulder‑to‑shoulder, feeling their way forward with the help of staff. Inside, the lack of sight heightens the other senses, letting diners savor flavors and textures in a whole new way.

Many reviewers love the freedom to eat with their hands, sip straight from the bottle, and discard conventional table manners, all while supporting employment opportunities for the blind.

1 Cabbages and Condoms

Bangkok’s Cabbages and Condoms blends dining with public‑health advocacy. The quirky décor features a Santa Claus sporting a condom beard, a Christmas tree decked out in condom ornaments, and staff wearing inflatable‑condom hats.

The restaurant was founded by the Population and Community Development Association, which channels profits into HIV/AIDS outreach and safe‑sex education. Every guest leaves with a complimentary condom, and a free vasectomy is offered at the adjacent family‑planning clinic for any interested male diners.