Although the word “horror” only entered the lexicon in the 1930s, its roots stretch back to the silent trick movies of the 19th century. Those early gimmick pictures employed experimental camera tricks to create special effects and frequently dabbled in the supernatural—ghosts, witches, even vampires.

A great many of those pioneering horror experiments have vanished over time, whether through degradation or outright loss. Yet a handful of the most influential silent horror titles have survived and can still be streamed today.

10 Oldest Surviving Silent Horror Films

10 Le Manoir du Diable

Georges Méliès is practically a household name when it comes to silent cinema. Best remembered for his 1902 masterpiece A Trip to the Moon (Le Voyage dans la Lune), Méliès was a trailblazer in camera tricks, special effects, and horror imagery that continue to influence filmmakers.

Méliès kicked off his filmmaking journey in 1896, and that same year he produced Le Manoir du Diable (“The House of the Devil”), which American audiences knew as The Haunted Castle.

Clocking in at roughly three minutes, the short kicks off with a bat swooping around a castle before morphing into the demon Mephistopheles. A bubbling cauldron materializes, from which he conjures a gorgeous lady. Two knights then barge in, prompting the demon to unleash a skeleton, phantoms, and a host of antique witches. Ultimately, a knight brandishing a crucifix forces the fiend to retreat.

Even with its slapstick touches, Le Manoir du Diable is broadly hailed as the inaugural horror picture—and perhaps the earliest on‑screen vampire. The film was thought lost for decades until a fortuitous shopper unearthed a dusty copy in a Christchurch, New Zealand junk store in 1988.

Méliès continued churning out silent fantasy and trick shorts that featured nascent horror motifs. Among them were Une Nuit Terrible, in which a giant insect crawls up a sleeper’s wall, and The Astronomer’s Dream, where an oversized Moon devours a telescope and a parade of figures tumble in and out of its maw.

9 Bluebeard

In 1901 Méliès pressed on with his horror forays, delivering Bluebeard—arguably cinema’s first serial‑killer tale. The picture adapts Charles Perrault’s French fairy tale “Bluebeard,” the same author behind “Cinderella,” “Sleeping Beauty,” and “Little Red Riding Hood.”

Spanning roughly nine minutes, the story follows a sinister elderly man hunting for a fresh bride after his seven previous spouses vanished mysteriously. A father consents to his daughter’s marriage to the old man, who then relocates her to his castle. She receives a single rule: she may roam any chamber except one.

Predictably, the moment she’s alone she slips into the forbidden room. She pushes the door, gropes through the gloom, draws aside the curtains to admit a sliver of light, and spins around to discover seven corpses hanging from hooks, each oozing blood.

The short showcases impressive technical prowess and demonstrates how a concise narrative can translate powerfully to the screen.

8 The Haunted Curiosity Shop

In 1901, British filmmaker W.R. Booth helmed The Haunted Curiosity Shop, a tale about an antiquities dealer whose wares inexplicably spring to life.

He encounters a levitating head, a skeletal figure, a spectral apparition, and a disembodied woman who reassembles her bifurcated body. As with many early silent pictures, the film peppers horror motifs without aiming to genuinely terrify viewers.

Prior to his cinematic career, Booth was a stage magician, and he leveraged The Haunted Curiosity Shop to showcase his premier tricks and techniques. By 1906 he founded a garden‑based studio, where he created Britain’s inaugural animated work, The Hand of the Artist.

7 The Infernal Cauldron

In 1903 Méliès revisited his horror playground with The Infernal Cauldron (Le Chaudron Infernal).

The short depicts a verdant demon hurling three victims into a bubbling cauldron. Each plunge triggers a massive jet of flame. Moments later the trio reappear as specters, morph into fireballs, and pursue the demon until he himself leaps into the cauldron.

Le Chaudron Infernal belongs to a series of Méliès works hand‑tinted frame by frame. Hand‑coloring prints was among the earliest film jobs open to women, and Méliès frequently collaborated with a French firm that employed more than 200 female colorists.

During this period Méliès wrestled with piracy—yes, film piracy dates back to 1903. A particularly infamous offender was American pioneer Siegmund Lubin, who peddled unauthorized copies of Méliès’s pictures.

In retaliation, Méliès engineered a dual‑lens camera, allowing him to produce two negatives simultaneously—one for home markets, another for abroad. Contemporary scholars have uncovered that this two‑lens system readily converts his films into 3‑D formats.

6 Frankenstein

At the turn of the 20th century, studios turned to literature for stories. Many novels received cinematic adaptations, and among the earliest literary horror pictures was Thomas Edison and J. Searle Dawley’s Frankenstein.

The 1910 version drew fierce backlash from religious factions and critics questioning the industry’s ethics. Edison countered by excising any potentially shocking material and prefaced the film with a disclaimer noting its loose fidelity to the novel.

The silent picture was believed lost until the 1980s, when Wisconsin resident Alois Felix Dettlaff revealed he possessed a print. The 1980s seemed destined for rediscovering forgotten silents. In 1993 Dettlaff screened the film at Milwaukee’s Avalon Theater, and today it’s accessible to all online.

5 L’Inferno

Released in 1911, L’Inferno marked Italy’s inaugural full‑length feature. As cinema shifted toward lengthier, narrative‑driven works, L’Inferno emerged as a blockbuster, grossing $2 million solely in the United States.

Running 68 minutes, this Dante’s Inferno adaptation starkly contrasted the brief reels of the late 1800s that rarely exceeded a few minutes. Critics lauded its opulent sets and costumes that seemed painted onto screen. In 2004 the film received a DVD release featuring a fresh Tangerine Dream soundtrack.

4 Dr. Jekyll And Mr. Hyde

Perhaps studios faced a creative drought, or perhaps they were fixated on this macabre story. Over ten film versions of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde—plus numerous spoofs—emerged between 1900 and 1920. The inaugural 1908 production is considered America’s first horror picture, though it’s now lost. The earliest extant versions are Lucius Henderson’s 1912 film and Herbert Brenon’s 1913 adaptation.

Brenon’s rendition was released by The Universal Film Manufacturing Company, Inc., the future Universal Studios. It represented Universal’s debut horror effort, paving the way for the studio’s iconic monster catalog, including 1930s classics like Frankenstein and Dracula.

The most celebrated silent take is the 1920 version starring John Barrymore, who earned high praise for his astonishing Jekyll‑to‑Hyde metamorphosis achieved without makeup—relying purely on contorting his facial features to embody the two personas.

3 The Student Of Prague

The Student of Prague, a 1913 German horror picture, is regarded as the first independent film. Its storyline intertwines elements from Edgar Allan Poe’s “William Wilson,” Oscar Wilde’s The Picture of Dorian Gray, Alfred de Musset’s “The December Night,” and the German Faust legend.

The narrative follows Balduin, a young man smitten with a countess but unable to court her due to poverty. A sorcerer called Scapinelli offers 100,000 gold pieces in exchange for an item in Balduin’s chamber. Desperate, Balduin consents, only to watch in terror as Scapinelli extracts his mirror reflection.

The picture heavily influenced the German Expressionist wave. Upon debut, critics lauded its camera tricks—particularly those crafting a doppelgänger—its thematic depth, and artistic style. It also sparked renewed fascination with psychoanalysis, notably Freud’s concept of “the uncanny.”

2 The Avenging Conscience

Similar to several entries here, The Avenging Conscience (aka “Thou Shall Not Kill”) drew from literary sources, blending elements of Edgar Allan Poe’s “Annabel Lee” with “The Tell‑Tale Heart.”

The plot follows a young man enamored with a woman, only to have his uncle forbid the romance. Tormented by morbid thoughts, he murders his uncle and conceals the corpse behind a wall. Persistent apparitions of the uncle’s ghost plunge the protagonist into hallucinations and madness.

Directed by the controversial D.W. Griffith—later famed for the notorious 1915 epic The Birth of a Nation, which featured blackface actors and depicted the Ku Klux Klan as post‑war Southern saviors—the film sparked intense protest, yet Griffith’s storytelling and cinematic skill shone through.

1 The Cabinet Of Dr. Caligari

Arguably the most iconic silent picture ever made, The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (1920) stands as a cornerstone of contemporary horror. Alongside The Student of Prague, it belongs to the German Expressionist school, celebrated for its avant‑garde use of distorted shapes and twisted shadows that conjure nightmarish visuals. Critic Roger Ebert even dubbed it “the first true horror film.”

The story follows a visitor to a traveling fair who discovers an attraction titled “The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari,” featuring Cesare—a man who has lain dormant for 23 years, resting in a coffin while the doctor stands beside him. When a murder and a kidnapping occur, suspicion falls on the doctor and his somnolent assistant.

The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari delves into psychological themes and has become a staple in film curricula worldwide. Its profound influence on film noir as well as horror and science‑fiction genres remains evident in contemporary cinema.

Beyond my passion for horror, I harbor a fondness for poetry, which I share on Instagram and Twitter @writingdrea.

When you think about the 10 oldest animals still roaming our planet, you might picture dinosaurs, but many living creatures have been around for centuries, outliving wars, empires, and even the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

Meet the 10 Oldest Animals Still Alive

10 Charlie The Parrot

Charlie, a vivid macaw born in 1899, boasts an astonishing age of 119 years as of 2018. The bird resides with Peter Oram, who first bought him for a pet shop back in 1965. After a few years, Oram decided to keep the bird at home because Charlie had a peculiar habit of swearing and chanting anti‑Nazi slogans, a talent that allegedly traced back to the wartime residence of British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, who supposedly acquired the parrot in 1937.

Churchill’s daughter has publicly disputed any ownership, stating that exhaustive searches of family photographs and records turned up no evidence of a macaw. She did confirm that her father owned an African grey parrot during the 1930s, but not a macaw. This contradiction fuels the ongoing debate about the bird’s alleged connection to the former prime minister.

Some observers argue that the Churchill family may be deliberately denying the macaw’s link to Winston because the bird’s vulgar behavior casts an unflattering light on the historic figure. Whether fact or folklore, Charlie’s longevity and colorful backstory keep him perched firmly in the spotlight of animal history.

9 Sized Sea Sponge

Imagine a sea sponge that stretches 3.7 metres (12 ft) across and reaches 2.1 metres (7 ft) in length – that’s the size of a compact minivan and the largest sponge ever documented. Researchers discovered this colossal organism at a depth of roughly 2,100 metres (7,000 ft) between Hawaii and Midway Atoll. While scientists haven’t nailed down its exact birth year, the sheer magnitude of the sponge suggests it could be several millennia old.

For context, smaller sponges inhabiting comparable shallow waters have been dated to over 2,300 years, meaning this behemoth may be of a similar or even greater age. Some marine biologists have even floated the idea that this gargantuan sponge could claim the title of the oldest living animal on Earth.

Adding to the mystery, researchers were unable to assign the sponge to any known genus, leaving its taxonomic identity as enigmatic as its age. The creature’s massive, unclassified presence continues to intrigue scientists and ocean lovers alike.

8 George The Lobster

In 2009, a lobster named George was estimated to be 140 years old, earning him the distinction of the oldest lobster ever recorded. He was hauled from the cold waters off Newfoundland, Canada, and promptly sold to the City Crab and Seafood restaurant in New York City, where he became a living mascot. Children flocked to snap photos with the venerable crustacean, until two diners recognized the need for his freedom and alerted PETA.

Following the animal‑rights group’s appeal, the restaurant agreed to release George back into the Atlantic. Ten days after his capture, he was set adrift, his age having been approximated from his massive weight. George’s story sparked interest in other long‑lived lobsters, notably a 132‑year‑old specimen named Louie, who spent two decades in a New York eatery’s aquarium before his own sea‑bound release.

Louie’s caretaker, Butch Yamali, famously declined numerous offers to serve the crustacean, even turning down a $1,000 proposal to prepare him for Father’s Day. These anecdotes highlight the deep respect some humans hold for these ancient marine veterans.

7 Unnamed Greenland Shark

An unnamed female Greenland shark currently holds the record for the world’s oldest vertebrate. Scientists estimate her birth occurred sometime between 1501 and 1744, which would make her anywhere from 274 to 517 years old as of 2018. Even at the low end of that range, she surpasses the previous champion, a 211‑year‑old bowhead whale.

Greenland sharks are notorious for their sluggish growth—approximately one centimetre per year—and they don’t reach sexual maturity until around 150 years of age. Fully grown adults can stretch up to five metres (16 ft) in length, making them both massive and long‑lived.

Researchers cracked the age‑estimation code by analysing the chemical composition of eye‑lens proteins, a method applied to 28 sharks caught in trawler nets. The unnamed female was among those sampled, and while many of her counterparts perished after capture, there’s no record of this particular shark meeting a similar fate, suggesting she may still be swimming the deep.

6 Muja The Alligator

Muja, an American alligator residing at Belgrade Zoo in Serbia, is believed to be at least 80 years old, making him the oldest captive alligator on record. He arrived at the zoo from Germany in 1937 as a fully grown adult, merely two years before the outbreak of World War II.

His longevity is nothing short of legendary: Muja survived two wartime bombings of Belgrade in 1941 and 1944 that wiped out every other animal in the zoo, as well as the tumultuous Balkan crises of the 1990s. In 2012, he faced a serious health issue when gangrene forced veterinarians to amputate his right front foot, yet he continued to thrive.

Before Muja claimed the title, the record belonged to Cabulitis, a Latvian alligator who died at 75 in Riga Zoo in 2007. Muja’s enduring presence offers a living window into a century of European history.

5 Jonathan The Tortoise

Jonathan, a giant tortoise estimated to have hatched in 1832, would be 186 years old as of 2018—though his veterinarian, Joe Hollins, insists he is no younger than 160. This age dwarfs the average tortoise lifespan of roughly 150 years.

He calls the remote island of St. Helena his home, a British Overseas Territory in the South Atlantic. Transported there in 1882, Jonathan has been photographed as early as 1902, and now resides at Plantation House—the official governor’s residence—alongside five other tortoises.

In 1991, the French consul presented a female tortoise named Frederica to the governor, hoping she would become Jonathan’s mate. While Jonathan never fully embraced the partnership, he did pay occasional visits. A later veterinary exam revealed Frederica was, in fact, male—a humorous twist that added another layer to the island’s tortoise lore.

4 Dakshayani The Elephant

While Lin Wang, an Asian elephant who passed away in 2003 at the age of 86, currently holds the Guinness World Record for the oldest elephant ever, the living contender for the title among the 10 oldest animals is Dakshayani. This matriarch resides under the care of the Travancore Devaswom Board, which manages several Indian temples.

In 2016, the board announced that Dakshayani was also 86 years old and had applied to Guinness for official recognition, though no formal award has been recorded. Her life mirrors that of Lin Wang, who served the Japanese military as a supply carrier during World II before being captured by Chinese forces in 1943 and later transferred to a Taiwanese zoo in 1954.

Some experts argue that an even older Asian elephant, Indria, who lived in an Indian sanctuary and was believed to be between 85 and 90 at the time of her death, might contest the record. Nonetheless, Dakshayani remains a celebrated elder among the world’s longest‑lived mammals.

3 An Unnamed Brandt’s Myotis

A male Brandt’s myotis bat from Siberia, now unnamed, has been documented as 41 years old—the oldest known bat still alive. Remarkably, this tiny mammal reached that age while living in the wild. Researchers first captured the bat in 2005 for tagging and discovered an older band attached during an earlier capture in 1964.

Typically, larger mammals enjoy longer lifespans, while smaller ones age more quickly—a relationship known as the “longevity quotient.” Yet Brandt’s myotis boasts a quotient of 9.8, the highest among mammals, eclipsing the human figure of 4.5 and the maximum human lifespan of 122 years.

Scientists attribute the bat’s extraordinary endurance to its hibernation habits—spending nine months a year in torpor—and a scarcity of predators in its Siberian habitat. These factors, combined with ample food supplies, enable these diminutive creatures to outlive many larger species.

2 Wisdom The Albatross

Wisdom, a Laysan albatross estimated to be 67 years old, holds the record as the world’s oldest wild bird. The average lifespan for her species hovers around 50 years, making her a true outlier. Scientists first learned her age when she was captured for tagging in 2002, only to discover an earlier tag dating back to 1956.

Based on that tag, researchers concluded Wisdom was six years old in 1956; any younger and the tag would have registered below five. Since her 2002 recapture, she has been sighted annually, always returning to the same nesting site on Midway Atoll, where she has consistently used the same nest for decades.

Perhaps most astonishing is her reproductive record: Wisdom has laid an egg each year, producing 39 chicks over her lifetime. While many albatrosses skip breeding seasons, Wisdom’s steadfastness underscores her remarkable vitality, even outlasting at least one long‑term mate.

1 Granny The Orca

J2, affectionately known as “Granny,” is the oldest‑known killer whale, with an estimated birth year of 1911, placing her at 107 years old as of 2018. She leads the J pod that frequents the waters of Puget Sound and the Strait of Georgia. For context, female killer whales typically live around 50 years in the wild, though some reach 80.

Granny bears a distinctive notch on her dorsal fin, the primary identifier used by researchers, as she never received a formal tag. She was initially captured in Puget Sound during the 1960s alongside several other whales destined for a marine aquarium, but officials recognized her advanced age and released her back into the ocean.

Recent observations suggest Granny may have passed away; her last confirmed sighting was in the fall of 2016, swimming beside an orphaned calf she had adopted. That calf has since been seen alone, raising questions about Granny’s fate. Moreover, chemical analysis of her tissues has produced age estimates ranging from the mid‑sixties to the eighties, fueling ongoing debate over her true age.

When you stroll down the aisles of a store, do you hunt for name‑brand labels? The 10 oldest brands still on the market often carry a sense of trust that only time can build. Even if we can’t prove it, a company that has survived for centuries must be doing something right – or at least has managed to stay relevant enough to keep its doors open. Whether that longevity guarantees quality is beside the point; it certainly adds a layer of prestige. With that in mind, let’s dive into a lineup of the world’s most time‑tested brands that you can still purchase today.

10 Oldest Brands You Can Still Find Today

Picture a savvy marketing guru in the early ’70s who realized the magic of pairing a product with a hit TV program. By hitching a cereal’s fate to a beloved cartoon, they essentially secured a ready‑made audience. In this case, the connection was between the stone‑age family sitcom The Flintstones and a new, brightly colored breakfast option – thus Fruity Pebbles burst onto the scene.

If you’ve never cracked open a bowl, imagine tiny, fruit‑flavored, sugar‑laden morsels that sparkle with every hue of the rainbow, all proudly sporting the Flintstones crew on the packaging. The name “Pebbles” even nods to the show’s little daughter, which makes the snack feel oddly personal – as if you’re munching on a cartoon’s offspring. It’s a quirky bit of branding that sticks in the mind.

What truly set Fruity Pebbles apart was being the first cereal ever promoted as a direct tie‑in to a television series, a strategy that debuted back in 1971. Post, the maker, reports that roughly 1.4 billion bowls are consumed annually – a staggering number that proves the Flintstones’ appeal endures far beyond the show’s original run, which ended in 1966. Even half a century later, fans still line up for a sugary spoonful of nostalgia.

9 Buick Is America’s Oldest Car Company Still in Operation

Automotive marques rise and fall like the tides. While brands such as Pontiac, Oldsmobile, or the iconic DeLorean have faded into automotive history, a few stalwarts still cruise the highways. Everyone knows Chevrolet (since 1911) and Ford (since June 1903), but the title of America’s oldest continuously operating car brand actually belongs to Buick, which slipped into the market a few weeks before Ford, founded in May 1903.

If you crave an even deeper historical pedigree, look across the Atlantic. Peugeot, for instance, traces its roots back to the 1890s, making it the world’s longest‑running automobile manufacturer still in business. Both marques showcase how a legacy of engineering can survive the relentless churn of the auto industry.

8 Fry’s Chocolate Cream Is the World’s Oldest Still‑Available Chocolate Bar

Got a sweet tooth that craves a taste of history? While the confectionery world is littered with famous names like Hershey, Nestlé, and Cadbury, none can claim the crown for the longest‑standing chocolate bar still sold today. That honor belongs to Fry’s Chocolate Cream, a bar whose very name sounds like a relic from a bygone era.

The bar first appeared in 1866, when Joseph Fry patented the recipe that combined a smooth chocolate coating with a luscious, creamy fondant center. It’s a classic that has survived more than a century and a half, maintaining its original charm while adapting to modern tastes.

Fry’s company itself dates back to 1728, making it one of the oldest chocolate enterprises on record. Although the original firm ceased operations in 2011, Cadbury took the reins, continuing to produce the iconic Chocolate Cream bar alongside its famous Creme Eggs. The result? A timeless treat that still delights confectionery lovers worldwide.

7 Vernors Is the Oldest Soda Brand

The global soft‑drink arena is a multi‑billion‑dollar juggernaut, with brands like Pepsi, Coca‑Cola, and Dr. Pepper tracing their roots to the 1800s. Dr. Pepper, launched in 1885, often gets the nod for being the earliest soda still around. Yet a deeper dive reveals an even older contender: Vernors ginger ale.

Vernors was born in Detroit in 1866, crafted by pharmacist James Vernor, who originally marketed his brew as a medicinal tonic. The drink’s longevity is remarkable; it has survived more than a century and a half, outlasting many rivals and remaining a staple on grocery shelves.

Some historians argue the exact birth year might be 1880, but even that date still places Vernors ahead of its competitors. While the formula has seen tweaks over the years, the brand’s heritage remains a key selling point, cementing its status as the oldest continuously available soda brand today.

6 Good & Plenty Is the Oldest Candy Still Available

If Fry’s claims the chocolate crown, what about the broader candy world? In the realm of non‑chocolate sweets, Good & Plenty holds the distinction of being the longest‑standing confection still sold in stores.

These tiny, pink‑and‑white coated strips of black licorice first hit the market in 1893. Despite the fact that black licorice is often listed among the most polarizing flavors, Good & Plenty has endured, proving that even the most divisive tastes can carve out a lasting niche.

5 Beretta Has Been Making Guns Since the 1500s

In the United States alone, over 600 companies manufacture firearms and ammunition. While many have impressive histories, none can rival the Italian powerhouse Beretta, which began its gun‑making journey in 1526.

Beretta remains a family‑owned enterprise, passing the craft from generation to generation. The firm even supplied arms to Napoleon’s forces, weaving its legacy into the very fabric of European history. Today, the brand continues to produce iconic weapons, keeping centuries‑old craftsmanship alive.

4 Zildjian Has Been Making Cymbals Since 1623

If you’ve never paid much attention to percussion gear, you might not know that Zildjian cymbals have been striking drums since 1623. The brand’s name is emblazoned on countless drum kits, a testament to its unrivaled heritage.

The story begins in 1618 when Avedis Zildjian, an Ottoman‑era alchemist, attempted to create gold. Instead, he stumbled upon a secret alloy that produced superbly resonant cymbals. The exact composition—an enigmatic blend of copper, tin, and silver—remains a closely guarded family secret, preserving the mystique of the brand.

3 White Castle Is the Oldest Fast‑Food Burger You Can Get

The fast‑food universe is massive, worth nearly $650 billion in 2021, with over half a million eateries worldwide. While giants like McDonald’s, KFC, and Burger King dominate the scene, the true pioneer of the burger‑chain format is White Castle.

Founded in 1921, White Castle introduced the iconic 5‑cent slider, predating the McDonald brothers by 19 years, KFC by 31 years, and Burger King by 33 years. It was the first true fast‑food chain, setting the template for the assembly‑line approach that would later define the industry.

While A&W, established in 1919, started as a roadside root‑beer stand and only became a restaurant in 1923, White Castle’s early focus on quick, affordable burgers cemented its place as the oldest continuously operating fast‑food burger brand.

2 Conciato Romano Seems to Be the Oldest Kind of Cheese Still Produced in the World

With roughly 1,800 to 2,000 distinct varieties worldwide, cheese lovers have a dizzying array of options. Cheese‑making itself stretches back about 4,000 years, giving ample time for ancient recipes to evolve into modern staples.

Among this vast landscape, Conciato Romano stands out as the oldest cheese still crafted today. Its origins trace back to the Roman Empire and the Samnite civilization of the 4th century BC, making it a living link to antiquity.

Producing Conciato Romano today is a labor‑intensive art. The cheese must be made from goat or sheep milk, washed in a special water used to cook dough, then aged in beech‑wood structures. Its rarity is reflected in price: a 200‑gram wheel can cost close to €60.

1 Weihenstephan Is a 1,000‑Year‑Old Brewery

In the realm of alcoholic beverages, age often equates to expertise. While many breweries boast centuries of history, none can match the millennial pedigree of Weihenstephan.

Founded in 1040 as a Benedictine monastery in Bavaria, this brewery has been producing beer continuously for nearly a thousand years. Its monastic origins underscore a dedication to quality that has endured through the ages.

Today, Weihenstephan remains a benchmark of brewing excellence, marrying ancient traditions with modern techniques to create beers that stand the test of time.

We all dream of adding a few extra candles to our birthday cake, but only if we can still think, walk, and enjoy life. The debate over what fuels a long, vibrant existence rages on, with countless theories tossed around. Yet history shows that some individuals have shattered the norm, reaching ages far beyond the century mark while indulging in smoking, chocolate, wine, and other habits most of us would deem unhealthy.

Top 10 Oldest People: Why They Captivate Us

10 Kamato Hongo

Kamato Hongo, a Japanese super‑centenarian, was believed to be the world’s oldest living person from March 2002 until her passing in 2003. Born on the tiny island of Tokunoshima, she later settled in Kagoshima, where she celebrated her 116th birthday just a month before succumbing to pneumonia.

During her later years, Hongo became a minor celebrity, spawning a wave of novelty items—wash‑cloths, key‑rings, phone cards, and the like—featuring her likeness (imagine the fashion statement of a shirt emblazoned with a wrinkled great‑grandmother!). She was 58 when World War II ended, and the Kyushu region, home to Kagoshima, boasts several other longevity record‑holders, making it a veritable island of long life much like Okinawa.

9 Carrie C. White

Carrie C. White earned a Guinness World Record nod as the oldest person on Earth around her 114th birthday in 1988. Residing in a Palatka, Florida nursing home, she wasn’t there because of frailty but due to a nervous breakdown in 1909 that led to a lifetime of institutional care. While some dispute her age, the documentation appears solid enough for her to hold the title of world’s oldest from 11 January 1988 until her death on 14 February 1991.

8 Elizabeth Bolden

Elizabeth Bolden’s records are indisputable, with all paperwork in perfect order. She hails from the United States, which, despite having the most super‑centenarians in absolute numbers, isn’t considered a longevity hotspot on a per‑capita basis. She was one of only seven people worldwide to reach age 116, and her birth in August 1890 marks the last documented birth of that year.

Born Elizabeth Jones in Somerville, Tennessee, she was the daughter of freed slaves. She married Lewis Bolden around 1908, and their first child, son Ezell, arrived on 21 September 1909. Over her lifetime she bore seven children, though only two survived her. Her lineage exploded into a staggering 40 grandchildren, 75 great‑grandchildren, 150 great‑great‑grandchildren, 220 great‑great‑great‑grandchildren, and 75 great‑great‑great‑great‑grandchildren—imagine the family reunions! No detailed lifestyle records were found, but later entries on this list hint at the habits of other super‑centenarians.

7 Tane Ikai

Tane Ikai holds the distinction of being Japan’s oldest female ever recorded, and the first undisputed super‑centenarian whose age is verifiable under the Koseki system introduced in 1879. She outlived her daughter and three sons, moving into a retirement home at 93 where she enjoyed sewing and pottery until a stroke at 99, followed by another at 113 that left her bedridden.

Her daily diet consisted of three meals of rice gruel—a far cry from the more elaborate super‑centenarian diets highlighted later on this list. She ultimately passed away at 116 years and 175 days due to kidney failure. Notably, her body was the first super‑centenarian ever to undergo an autopsy, providing valuable scientific insight.

6 Maria Esther Heredia de Capovilla

Born in Ecuador, Maria Esther Heredia de Capovilla was recognized as the world’s oldest living person until her death, making her the first documented individual to live across three centuries. The daughter of a colonel, she grew up amid elite society, attending social gatherings and art classes, and notably never smoked or consumed hard liquor.

At age 100, she nearly died and was given last rites, yet she remained relatively healthy thereafter. By 116, she could still watch television, read newspapers, and walk unaided. However, by March 2006, her health declined: she could no longer read, stopped speaking, and required assistance from two people to walk, though she could sit upright. She ultimately succumbed to pneumonia just 18 days shy of her 117th birthday.

5 Marie‑Louise Meilleur

Marie‑Louise Meilleur, a French‑Canadian, became the oldest living person after Jeanne Calment’s death and remains Canada’s longest‑lived individual. She died of a blood clot at 117, with her son already residing in the same nursing home and her eldest daughter aged 90—a truly multigenerational household.

She reportedly followed a vegetarian diet while also being described as an “avid cigarette smoker,” a paradoxical combination that adds intrigue to her longevity story.

4 Lucy Hannah

Lucy Hannah, an American super‑centenarian, ranks fourth on this list thanks to her age. She holds the distinction of being the oldest African‑American ever recorded and, at the time of her death, the oldest American overall. Interestingly, she never held the title of world’s oldest living person because her lifespan overlapped with Jeanne Calment’s record‑breaking years.

3 Sarah Knauss

Sarah Knauss stands as the longest‑lived American ever, passing away just 33 hours before the millennium turned. Born in Hollywood, Pennsylvania—a coal‑mining town—she spent her life as a homemaker and insurance office manager. Her daughter, who was 96 at Sarah’s death and lived to 101, remembered her mother as serene and unfazed by anything.

When asked in 1995 why she enjoyed her long life, Sarah replied simply that good health allowed her to keep doing things she loved, such as needlepoint, watching televised golf, and indulging in chocolate turtles, cashews, and potato chips. She died peacefully at the Phoebe‑Devitt Home Foundation Facility, with doctors noting she was in good health and showed no signs of illness—she just quietly “expired.”

2 Shigechiyo Izumi

Shigechiyo Izumi, a Japanese male, is one of the few disputed super‑centenarians whose record remains on the Guinness World Records list. His longevity is notable because most super‑centenarians are women, possibly due to historically harsher, more stressful lives for men.

Izumi’s life was extraordinary: recorded in Japan’s first census of 1871, he worked an astonishing 98 years, retiring only at age 105. He enjoyed brown‑sugar shochu, an alcoholic drink distilled from barley or rice, and surprisingly began smoking at age 70. He claimed his long life resulted from the gods, Buddha, and the sun, having lived through 71 Japanese prime ministers. He died of pneumonia on 21 February 1986, the same day as Jeanne Calment’s 111th birthday. Some researchers suggest his true age may have been 105, but the debate persists.

1 Jeanne Calment

Jeanne Calment, a French super‑centenarian from Arles, holds the crown as the oldest verified human, living to 122 years and 164 days—a span close to the theorized maximum human lifespan of 123‑125 years. She outlived both her daughter and grandson, and at age 113 she famously met Vincent Van Gogh’s centenary, recalling his visit to her father’s shop in 1888.

Calment’s lifestyle was delightfully eccentric: she smoked until age 117, drank port wine, and consumed roughly a kilogram of chocolate each week. She swore by olive oil—rubbing it on her skin, drinking it, and cooking with it—as the secret to her youthful appearance. She took up fencing at 85, rode a bicycle at 100, and remained active well into her 110s. After a cooking accident near her 110th birthday, she moved into a nursing home, where she stayed until a fall at 114 fractured her femur, leading to wheelchair use. She later succumbed to flu just before turning 116.

+ Shirali Muslimov

Shirali Muslimov, a Talysh shepherd from Barzavu in Azerbaijan’s Lerik region, is a controversial figure claiming an astonishing 168 years of life (1805‑1973). The only evidence is a passport stating his 1805 birth year. Some argue he may have been confused with a relative, perhaps his father or grandfather, but the tale remains a captivating legend of extreme longevity.

When we talk about the ten oldest known sculptures, we’re diving into a world where early humans turned bone, ivory, stone and antler into works of art that still amaze us today. These miniature marvels, often no larger than a palm, were crafted with painstaking skill using stone tools, and each carries its own slice of mystery and cultural significance.

Why These Ten Oldest Known Sculptures Matter

From the tiniest carved heads to imposing hybrid figures, these pieces reveal how our ancestors expressed identity, spirituality, and a deep connection to the animals that surrounded them. Their creation required techniques like gouging, drilling, and chiseling, followed by polishing with abrasive materials to achieve a smooth finish. Some were even found far from the raw material sources, hinting at early forms of trade or exchange.

10 Venus of Brassempouy (23,000 BC)

A singular example of prehistoric art, the Venus of Brassempouy, is the remaining remnant of an ivory sculpture (fractured in ancient times) that was uncovered in Brassempouy in 1892, in the southwest of France. The Venus of Brassempouy—consisting of the remaining neck and head of the original sculpture—was crafted from mammoth ivory. It is approximately 3.5 centimeters (1.4 inches) high, 1.9 centimeters (0.75 inches) wide, and 2.2 centimeters (0.86 inches) deep.

Unlike all other venuses discovered throughout Europe to date, this unique sculpture contains distinct facial features such as a nose, eyes, a browline, and forehead—but no mouth. On the top and sides of the sculpture’s head, representations of braided hair or possibly even a headdress have been incised. The incredible facial features make this a remarkable piece of art, even though we may never know how the rest of the body appeared or what ultimately happened to it. This Stone Age sculpture, dated to about 23,000 BC, is one of only a few that features detailed representations of the human face and could possibly be the oldest one in existence.

9 Moravia Lion Head (24,000 BC)

Shortly after the digging at the Dolni Vestonice archaeological site in the Czech Republic began in 1924, the site’s importance became evident. In addition to being the site of several prehistoric burials, hundreds of fired clay and ceramic relics were unearthed. One of these was the 26,000-year-old Moravia Lion Head.

Formed from fired clay, the Lion Head is 4.5 centimeters (1.75 inches) wide, 2.8 centimeters (1.1 inches) high, and 1.5 centimeters (0.6 inches) deep. Its eyes, ears, and snout were modeled with incredible detail. Whether it’s a lion or lioness can’t be determined as the lions of the Ice Age didn’t have manes. Holes in one of its eyes and above one ear could possibly represent wounds.

The findings gave scientists insights into the importance of carnivores in the daily lives of the ancient inhabitants of the area. Although the acquisition of animal hides may have been their main reason for hunting carnivores, other body parts, such as bones, were used to create weapons and tools. In addition, fox and wolf teeth were used to make a variety of personal ornaments, including jewelry.

8 Water Bird in Flight (28,000 BC)

The Water Bird in Flight, chiseled from mammoth ivory, was uncovered in the famous Hohle Fels Cave in the southwest of Germany. It is just one of several flawlessly exquisite representations of animal designs. It’s around 30,000 years old and measures 4.7 centimeters (1.85 inches) from the tip of its beak to its rear tailpiece. The tiny sculpture was discovered in two separate parts at the archaeological site—close to the town of Schelklingen in 2002. Relics like this one show us that animals were not only seen as forms of meat, leather, or horn in the imaginations of early human beings but that they also might have been viewed as promises or messengers.

Although it is hard to determine for certain which specific hominid species created this particular sculpture, it is widely believed that the artists were modern humans (Homo sapiens).

7 The Vogelhead Horse (31,000 BC)

The Vogelherd Cave is located on the eastern side of the Swabian Jura in southwest Germany. After the discovery of the Upper Paleolithic Vogelherd figurines in 1931—attributed to the Aurignacian culture—this incredible cave received widespread scientific and public attention. The petite sculptures crafted from mammoth ivory are some of the longest surviving undisputed works of art in the world.

Among its most famous is the 33,000-year-old carving of a horse, the oldest sculpture of a horse in the world, which may have been used as a totem or pendant. Its features were worn down by frequent human handling, but it remains extraordinarily shaped, beautifully proportioned, and strikingly expressive. It is typically assumed to be a stallion with an assertive or imposing bearing due to its contoured neck. Unfortunately, only its head was completely preserved. As the external ivory layers have a tendency to flake, the width of the sculpture was significantly decreased, and the legs were destroyed. The sculpture also features numerous engraved symbols on the nape of the head as well as on its back and the left side of its chest, the significance of which may never be understood or known.

6 The Tolbaga Bear Head (33,000 BC)

Apart from Israel, Siberia is the only area in Asia where Pleistocene art has historically captivated a satisfactory amount of attention, albeit limited. Compelling examples of paleoart have been identified at over 20 individual archaeological sites so far. While a lot of the artwork can be contributed to the Pleistocene era, most of it belongs to the Upper Paleolithic era. The archaeological site of Tolbaga is near the bank of the Khilok River in Siberia and was uncovered in the 1970s by the well-known Soviet archaeologist and historian Alexey Pavlovich Okladnikov.

The intricately carved head of an animal—commonly thought to be the head of a bear—chiseled from the second vertebra of the now‑extinct woolly rhinoceros—was one of the site’s most important discoveries. Microscopic examination of the tool marks found on the sculpture managed to prove that it was etched and chiseled with a variety of different stone tools. Although the outcome of the sculpture on the artist’s side certainly took a lot of time and effort, it remains incredibly detailed and contains remarkably natural features.

5 Woolly Mammoth Figurine (33,000 BC)

In 2007, the first intact woolly mammoth sculpture was recovered by archaeologists from the University of Tübingen from the Swabian Jura in Germany. It is widely acknowledged that the find, which included several other figurines, was created by the first modern humans at least 35,000 years ago. Not only was the find rare due to the intact state of the mammoth, but it is also believed to be the oldest ivory sculpture discovered to date.

The woolly mammoth sculpture itself is quite small, measuring only 3.7 centimeters (1.5 inches) in length and weighing just 7.5 grams (0.25 ounces). However, it also displays masterfully detailed engravings, complete with a slim shape, pointy tail, strong legs, and a beautifully arched trunk that makes it truly unique. The mini‑sculpture is adorned with short lacerations, and a crosshatch sequence is shown on the soles of its feet.

Collectively, a total of five ivory mammoth sculptures from the Upper Paleolithic era were discovered at the Vogelherd Cave archaeological site, made famous by the Tübingen archaeologist Gustav Reik, during its first excavation in 1931.

4 Venus of Hohle Fels (38,000 BC)

Sculpted during the Aurignacian culture of the Stone Age, the modest ivory sculpture of a feminine figure widely recognized as the Venus of Hohle Fels was uncovered during archaeological digs in 2008 at the previously mentioned Hohle Fels Cave in southwest Germany. It dates back to between 38,000‑and 33,000 BC, officially making it the oldest among all the known Venus figurines and the oldest indisputable example of figurativism known to archaeology.

The Venus of Hohle Fels has a number of singular characteristics that are standard fare when looking at later female figurines, like the Venus of Willendorf. Its outrageous age, however, shines a spotlight on the early history of Upper Paleolithic art, proving that the Aurignacian culture was much more sophisticated than previously thought.

A large number of other equally important samples of portable art were also located in the vicinity of the Hohlenstein Mountain, but none of them had their own exhibition. The tiny figurine was one of the highlights of the Ice Age Art and Culture exhibition held in Stuttgart between 2009 and 2010.

3 Lion Man of the Hohlenstein Stadel (38,000 BC)

The Lion Man of Hohlenstein Stadel is the world’s oldest anthropomorphous figurine. Discovered in 1939 by archaeologist Robert Wetzel, the magnificent sculpture was unearthed within the Hohlenstein Stadel in Germany, a system of caves that continues to produce important archaeological and historically significant finds. The 40,000‑year‑old sculpture, created with flint and stone cutting tools, is also the first artwork ever discovered in Europe that represents a male figure.

The Lion Man was not found intact, and several pieces from the front of its body remain missing to this day. It measures 31 centimeters (12.2 inches). Its posture and physique seem to suggest that he is standing on the tips of his toes with his arms by his sides. The upper part of the left arm is crisscrossed with incisions that may represent tattoo designs or disfigurement. The Lion Man was uncovered with plenty of other artifacts but continues to stand out as a truly remarkable example of prehistoric human art from the Stone Age.

2 500,000 BC)

The Tan‑Tan Venus was discovered during an excavation on the northern edge of the Draa River by state archaeologist Lutz Fiedler from Germany. The sculpture was located between the two undisturbed soil layers: the lower layer consisting of objects and sediment from the Early Acheulian era (around 500 000 BC) and the upper layer from the Middle Acheulian era (about 200,000 BC). Exactly in line with its excavation site, the Venus of Tan‑Tan dates back to between 200,000‑500,000 BC, placing it on the same timeline as the Golan Venus of Berekhat Ram and effectively dating it as the oldest art ever found in Africa.

The dating also effectively discounts Homo neanderthalensis as its creators and places the artwork firmly in front of the more primitive Homo erectus. Created from metamorphosed quartzite, the figurine is approximately 6 centimeters (2.5 inches) long, 2.6 centimeters (1 inch) wide, and 1.2 centimeters (0.5 inches) deep, weighing around 10 grams (0.3 ounces). Twenty tiny specks of a vibrant red waxy substance, recognized as iron and manganese, were discovered on its surface, the subject of which is still being hotly debated as it is not 100% clear if this was some form of ochre paint.

As with its equally controversial Golan sister, the Venus of Berekhat Ram, its anthropomorphous design is implied by particular ridges intricately carved into the figurine. Many of these markings have been attributed to nature, while others have been confirmed to be the result of the artifact being struck.

1 800,000 BC)

Our final item on the list, although highly controversial, has managed to earn a strong case for its legitimacy. The Venus of Berekhat Ram was uncovered in the Golan Heights in Israel. The object was found between two distinct layers of volcanic sediment and stone and is believed to be between 233,000 and 800,000 years old. Quite a few historians have come to believe that the relic was adapted to depict a feminine human figure, classifying it as a probable relic made by Homo erectus in the early Middle Paleolithic era.

Most of the debate surrounding the find was sidelined after a microscopic analysis by Alexander Marshack clearly indicated that human interference was involved in the object’s shaping. It is widely believed that the figurine was already somewhat humanoid in appearance when it was discovered and that it was then shaped and polished with early human tools. Its base provides evidence that it was chiseled flat to enable the sculpture to stand upright.

The case for the artifact was further reinforced by comparable findings in the neighboring regions, such as the Tan‑Tan Venus of Morrocco. For the time being, it has been concluded that the two figures may have been used for ritualistic or ceremonial purposes and that they might, in fact, be real.

When you pull out your phone to check the weather or tie your shoes, you’re using inventions that have roots stretching back millennia. In this top‑10 roundup we’ll travel through time to meet the top 10 oldest versions of everyday things that still echo in our lives today. Buckle up for a fun, fact‑filled ride through ancient coins, prehistoric footwear, early recipes, and more – all presented with a wink and a nod to the clever humans who first dreamed them up.

10 The Oldest Known Coin

The champion of ancient currency is the Lydian stater, a dazzling electrum piece that first struck the metal around 600 BC in what we now call western Turkey. Electrum – a naturally occurring gold‑silver alloy – gave the coin a honeyed glow, and its design featured a proud lion’s head on the obverse while the reverse bore the hammer‑mark where artisans punched the blank.

Archaeologists uncovered this treasure in the ruins of Ephesus, a bustling Hellenic port that later became the modern Turkish town of Selçuk. Though the Lydian stater claims the title of oldest surviving coin, the concept of money predates it by centuries. The earliest recorded monetary system stems from Mesopotamia, where the shekel emerged as a weight measure around 3000 BC before evolving into silver bars and eventually minted coins.

Before metal money, early societies relied on commodity money – objects like cowry shells that held intrinsic value. These shells floated across trade routes in places like ancient India, proving that the human urge to assign value to objects is as old as civilization itself.

9 The Oldest Shoe Ever Found

Footwear may seem modern, but archaeologists have unearthed a 5,500‑year‑old leather shoe in the depths of a cave in Armenia’s Vayots Dzor province. Known as the Areni‑1 shoe, this single‑piece, laced sandal was discovered in 2008 and has survived remarkably well, thanks to a protective blanket of sheep dung that created a cool, dry environment.

The shoe’s companion never turned up, but the lone specimen tells a vivid story. Inside the cavity, researchers found remnants of grass, likely used as insulation or to help the shoe retain its shape when not worn. Alongside the shoe, they recovered sealed containers holding wheat, apricots, and barley, offering a snapshot of everyday life in the Bronze Age.

Its design—a simple leather upper tied with laces—mirrors the Opanci, a traditional Balkan shoe still worn today. The Areni‑1 shoe demonstrates that even in prehistoric times, people valued comfort, protection, and style for their feet.

8 The Oldest Known Recipe For A Drink (Yes, It’s Beer)

Beer may be the world’s most beloved fermented beverage, but its roots plunge deep into pre‑history. Archaeologists trace the earliest brewing activity to around 10,000 BC in Mesopotamia, where pottery shards reveal remnants of grain‑based fermentation.

The first written mention of beer appears in the Epic of Gilgamesh, dated somewhere between 3500 and 2500 BC. The Sumerians, keen brewers, documented at least eight barley‑based recipes and an equal number made from wheat, showcasing a sophisticated understanding of fermentation.

The oldest surviving beer recipe comes from a 1800 BC hymn to Ninkasi, the Sumerian goddess of beer. This poetic hymn doubled as a brewing manual, guiding apprentices through the steps of malting, mashing, and fermenting. Though techniques have modernized, the core ingredients and processes remain strikingly similar to those ancient brewers.

7 The Oldest Recipe For Food

While beer’s ancient recipe dazzles, the world’s oldest known culinary formula predates it by a solid 2,000 years. Researchers at the University of Wales Institute in Cardiff uncovered a recipe for nettle pudding dating back to roughly 6,000 BC, making it the earliest documented food preparation.

The recipe calls for a garden‑fresh medley: sorrel, watercress, dandelion leaves, young nettle leaves, chives, barley flour, and a pinch of salt. All of these ingredients grow wild or can be cultivated today, meaning you could recreate this prehistoric delicacy in your own kitchen.

To prepare, the greens are layered and bound in linen or muslin cloth, then tied with a long string. The bundle is boiled for at least two hours, often with a joint of boar or venison for added richness. Once cooked, the pudding is sliced and served alongside barley bread, offering a taste of ancient nutrition and flavor.

6 Oldest Musical Instrument

Music is a universal language, and its earliest notes echo from a time over 42,000 years ago. In Germany’s Swabian Jura, archaeologists uncovered two flutes inside the Geissenkloesterle Cave – one carved from a bird bone, the other from mammoth ivory – offering a glimpse into Upper‑Paleolithic soundscapes.

These instruments were found in a region once thought to be a key corridor for human migration and technological exchange between 40,000 and 45,000 years ago. The flutes predate the previously held record, a 35,000‑year‑old vulture‑wing bone flute discovered in the Hohle Fels cavern, also in southern Germany.

Both sets of flutes demonstrate that early humans possessed both the skill to shape delicate materials and the creative impulse to produce music, laying the foundation for the rich musical traditions we enjoy today.

5 The Oldest Prosthetic Device

Even ancient societies faced limb loss, and they responded with ingenuity. In 1997, a wooden and leather prosthetic toe was discovered in a tomb near Luxor, Egypt, and now resides in the Cairo Museum. Radiocarbon dating places the artifact around 1000 BC.

Analysis shows the prosthetic belonged to a woman and bore clear signs of long‑term use. The toe was refitted multiple times, suggesting a sophisticated approach to comfort and function. Such craftsmanship implies that other Egyptians likely employed similar devices, although no other examples have survived.

This early prosthetic illustrates how the desire to restore mobility and independence is a timeless human concern, echoing modern advances in biomedical engineering.

4 The Oldest (Reusable) Condom

Modern condoms are made from latex, but the quest for contraception stretches back far earlier. The oldest known reusable condom, dated to 1640, was excavated in Lund, Sweden, and fashioned from pig intestine – a material similar to the lambskin still used for those with latex allergies today.

Accompanying the artifact was a Latin owner’s manual that advised washing the condom in warm milk to maintain hygiene, acknowledging its limited disease‑prevention capabilities. Though this specimen is the oldest physically recovered condom, depictions of condom‑like devices appear in French cave paintings dating to around 11,000 BC.

This find underscores humanity’s long‑standing ingenuity in protecting reproductive health, even before the advent of modern manufacturing techniques.

3 The Oldest Recorded Tune

Music’s ancient roots are evident in artifacts, yet only a handful of actual notations have survived. The oldest known fragment is a 4,000‑year‑old Sumerian clay tablet bearing a hymn to ruler Lipit‑Ishtar – though incomplete, it reveals early melodic structure.

The earliest complete composition is the Hurrian Hymn No. 6, an ode to the goddess Nikkal, inscribed in cuneiform around the 14th century BC. The tablet includes musical notation that enables modern scholars to reconstruct the melody on a lyre, offering a rare auditory window into Bronze‑Age culture.

While the lyrics remain partially obscured, the music itself has been interpreted and performed, allowing us to hear a piece of art that resonated over three millennia ago.

2 Oldest Map Ever Found

Maps are the ancient ancestors of today’s GPS, and the oldest surviving world representation is the Imago Mundi, a Babylonian clay carving dating between 500 and 700 BC. This schematic places Babylon at the centre, surrounded by Assyria, Elam, and a “Salt Sea” rim, all annotated in cuneiform mythological text.

The earliest known geographic map, however, is the Turin Papyrus Map from around 1150 BC. Created by the Egyptian scribe Amennakhte, it details a quarry expedition ordered by Pharaoh Ramses IV, providing a remarkably accurate top‑down view of the terrain.

The oldest surviving terrestrial globe, the Erdapfel, was crafted by Martin Behaim in 1492. Though it omits the Americas and includes mythical lands, it marks a pivotal moment in cartographic history, bridging medieval maps and modern globes.

1 The Oldest Phallus Known To Exist

Sexual expression has ancient origins, and the oldest known dildo dates back roughly 30,000 years. Archaeologists dubbed this stone phallus the “Ice‑Age baton.” It was discovered alongside other artifacts in a German cave, suggesting both erotic and utilitarian uses, possibly even as a hammerstone.

A more refined example, found in the same region, is a polished siltstone phallus from Hohle Fels Cave, showcasing sophisticated carving techniques. Additional finds include a stag‑antler phallus dated between 4,000 and 6,000 BC, measuring 10.5 cm in length and 2 cm in diameter, illustrating the continuity of sexual symbolism across millennia.

These artifacts remind us that human curiosity about pleasure is as ancient as our earliest tools, weaving a thread through the tapestry of cultural evolution.

The Guinness World Record title of Oldest Manatee (in captivity) was given to Snooty, a 69-year-old resident of Bradenton, Florida. He seemed to defy the odds as manatees in the wild typically only live for 10 to 15 years. However, this title is not what made Snooty truly special.

The 1,300-pound (590-kilogram) manatee spent his lifetime helping scientists unlock the mysteries of manatees, showing beyond doubt just how intelligent and magnificent these marine mammals are. From birth to death, the circumstances surrounding his life and achievements were truly remarkable.

From being the official mascot of Manatee County, Florida, to appearing on the Captain Kangaroo show, as well as having his own line of stuffed animals, Snooty demonstrated that he was a celebrity in his own right. He charmed his way into millions of hearts, both young and old, and proved that he was anything but a simple sea cow. Here are 10 fascinating facts about Snooty, the world’s oldest manatee.

Related: 10 Ageless Animals That Do Not Grow Old

10 Given Away by His Owner

Snooty’s mother, Lady, was rescued in 1947 by Samuel Stout, who ran the Miami Aquarium and Tackle Company, after she had been hit by a boat in Biscayne Bay, an estuary located near Miami, Florida. It was later discovered that she was pregnant, and Snooty was born on July 21, 1948.

Then, in 1949, the residents of Manatee County, Florida, were preparing to hold “The De Soto Celebration” to commemorate Spanish conquistador Hernando de Soto’s arrival on land in 1536. However, seeing that the county was named after the manatee, the organizers were desperately searching for a manatee to put on display during the celebration.

Stout stepped up to the challenge and obtained a permit from the city of Miami to transport Snooty all the way to the city of Bradenton, Florida (Link 1), which was 242 miles (390 kilometers) away. While everyone in attendance, especially the children, fell in love with Snooty, a rumor was spread that Stout was using harpoons to capture manatees.

In light of these allegations, both the Humane Society and the Audobon Society protested Stout’s supposed “cruelty” to the Florida state board. Unfortunately for Stout, when official records were reviewed, it was discovered that Stout only had a permit to own one Manatee, Snooty’s mother. So he was ordered to let Snooty go. Knowing that Snooty would never survive in the wild, he gave him to Manatee County, specifically the city of Bradenton. He was transferred to the South Florida Museum, where he remained all his life.^[1]

9 Born on a Danish Warship

The Prins Valdemar was built in Helsingør, Denmark, in 1892, and throughout its 60-year existence, it was used for several purposes. The ship was used for gun running during the Mexican Revolution, a blockade runner during World War I, and later used to transport coconuts between Nicaragua and New York.

Richard Walters, a U.S. Army Hot Air Balloon commander, and George Risen, a hotel owner in New York City, purchased the Prins Valdemar in 1922 and planned to convert the ship into a floating cabaret that would provide hotel rooms, a restaurant, and entertainment to the rapidly-growing city of Miami.

However, on January 10, 1926, receding tides and strong winds caused the ship to capsize in the basin. Although it took six weeks, the vessel was eventually able to be recovered from the waters. Regardless of the ship’s previous fate, Walter would not give up his vision of remodeling the boat to make money. After working for two years to raise funds, the Prins Valdemar aquarium opened on May 1, 1928. The ship would later become the Miami Aquarium and Tackle Company, Snooty’s birthplace.^[2]

8 His Name Wasn’t Always Snooty

When Snooty was born in 1948, he had a much different name. Samuel Stout had initially given him the name “Baby.” Original, right? However, when “Baby” was given to the city of Bradenton, he was given the name “Baby Snoots,” which was a play on words and a reference to the bratty theater character played by Fanny Brice in 1912.

When “Baby Snoots” was in his 20s, he outgrew what was deemed a childish name and was simply called Snooty.^[3]

7 No One Knows What Happened to His Mother

While Samuel Stout was forced to give up Snooty, Lady, Snooty’s mother, remained with Stout at the Miami Aquarium and Tackle Company.

However, in 1949, the city of Miami deemed the 21-year-old aquarium “outdated” and decided not to renew the lease. The aquarium was given 90 days to cease operations, which was not much time to relocate the 2,500 animals that called the aquarium home. Given the time crunch and the inability to sell or rehome the animals within such a short period of time, all the animals, including an 8-foot (2.4-meter) nurse shark and Lady, were released into the Biscayne Bay and never seen again.^[4]

6 More Human Than Manatee

Even though Snooty was a manatee, he had particular characteristics, tastes, and behaviors that made him seem much more human than manatee. He had his own taste in food, music, and even women and was a “mother figure” to rehabilitated manatees that shared his home during the course of his lifetime. He was often even seen sleeping on his back with his flippers across his chest, the way a human would.

While manatees in the wild are known for eating fruit such as oranges or melons that have fallen into the water, Snooty was picky about the fruits he ate. He loved pineapples and strawberries but would specifically turn down bananas.

Snooty also had particular tastes in music. An informal study was conducted to see if and how manatees would respond to music. When Micheal Buble and Elvis Presley songs were played, Snooty would come to the surface of his tank, rest on his flippers, and attentively listen to the duration of the entire song. However, when other genres of music, such as rock and rap, were played, Snooty paid them no mind.

Snooty’s preferences did not stop with his food or his choice of music. He also had specific taste in women, which was intriguing because manatees naturally have poor eyesight. However, Snooty easily recognized his trainers by sight, not by the sound of their voice, and also demonstrated a fondness for blonde women, especially actress Tippi Hedren—of Hitchcock’s The Birds—who made several visits to see Snooty.

While Snooty was a male, he had “motherly” qualities that proved to be beneficial to the South Florida Museum and other manatees who would call the facility home. Over the course of his lifetime, 33 other manatees were brought in that needed rehabilitation, and they would be placed in Snooty’s tank. As with any infant or juvenile animal, being placed into a strange environment is very difficult, and they often need an adult figure to guide them. For the other manatees brought to the South Florida Museum, Snooty was that figure, and he provided a sense of comfort which helped them acclimate to their new home.^[5]

5 Large (and Famous) Fanbase

The city of Bradenton, Florida, is not considered “large,” with its most current population listed as 55,905. However, millions of people from all over the country, and the world, were drawn there to visit its most famous resident—Snooty. Over 6,000 people visited the South Florida Museum in July 2013 to join in on Snooty’s 65th birthday celebration.

In addition to the number of visitors who came to see Snooty each year, he also received numerous visits from celebrities. Aside from Tippi Hedren, he was visited by Robert Ripley and former first lady Eleanor Roosevelt. His fanbase was also not limited to the state of Florida, or even the United States, as Snooty also had a large following in Germany, which is a vast 4,787 miles (7,705 kilometers) from his home.^[6]

4 Invaluable Information to Scientists

Not much scientific research had previously been done on manatees because they were considered unintelligent. However, Snooty proved those misconceptions to be completely false as he participated in studies related to manatee brain activity, reproduction, and reaction to environmental stimulation.

A manatee’s brain is the size of a softball, smooth, and does not have the “nooks and crannies” similar to those found in a human brain. Therefore, manatees were often thought to have very little brain activity. This theory was put to rest after Snooty participated in several research studies. Scientists learned that he, in fact, remembered the voices of his former trainers and also the training methods he was taught by them. In a separate test, Snooty was able to successfully complete experimental tasks the way dolphins could. In a third test, Snooty, along with two other manatees from the Lowry Park Zoo in Tampa, Florida, was placed in a paddle-tapping project that would test their cognitive and long-term memory. The manatees from Lowry Park Zoo took six weeks to complete the testing requirements, but Snooty finished in a mere two weeks.

Snooty also helped the University of Florida prove their theories on how male manatees are able to locate females in heat. Their theory stated that female manatees were believed to release hormones within their urine that males could sense. When researchers released samples of female manatee urine into his tank, Snooty went wild. He did barrel rolls and began swimming much faster, clearly showing excitement for the female scent.

Perhaps one of the most important studies Snooty participated in was one that would test his ability to hear and see if there was a connection between manatees’ auditory ability and their reaction to stimulation in the water. Given that injuries and deaths from boats are unfortunately common to manatees in the wild, the results of this test could help boaters better understand how to avoid manatees while in the waterways. Snooty confirmed that manatees are indeed able to hear boat motors and that they have a tendency to go left when stimulated with the sound.^[7]

3 Victim of Death Hoaxes

While Snooty was well-loved by so many, there were naturally naysayers who could not fathom the possibility of him living as long as he did and even went so far as to accuse the South Florida Museum of secretly replacing Snooty with other manatees without public knowledge.

In October 2014, someone used a fan-created Facebook page to share a post that was supposedly from the South Florida Museum stating Snooty had passed away. Given the speed that information travels across the internet, the hoax spread like wildfire, and the museum was inundated with calls from people wanting to clarify. Thankfully, at that time, the post was nothing more than a cruel rumor. Similar incidents occurred in 2015 and again two days before his actual death in 2017.^[8]

2 Dies Day after His 69th Birthday

Since 1993, Snooty’s birthday had been an annual celebration at the South Florida Museum that never failed to draw in a large crowd. Snooty’s 69th birthday was no different. He spent the day eating cake (well, a tower of pineapple, strawberries, and carrots shaped like a cake) with hundreds of loving fans who sang him “Happy Birthday.” However, just one short day later, the celebration quickly turned into mourning as museum officials announced his tragic death.

Sadly, Snooty had been found in the part of his tank that was solely used to house plumbing for the life-support system in his exhibit. When an access panel that is normally bolted shut came loose, Snooty was able to swim in but was unable to escape the area. The museum ceased operations for the remainder of the day to give both staff and Snooty fans time to mourn the loss and also to allow an investigation regarding the circumstances surrounding his death.^[9]

1 Honored with a Living Memorial

After the sorrowful news broke of Snooty’s death, fans across the globe and Bradenton city officials alike sent an outpouring of tributes to the museum. Some left posts via social media, while others flocked to the museum leaving cards, flowers, and lettuce outside.

A living memorial was created on the South Florida Museum website, given that Snooty had spent nearly seven decades assisting in vital scientific research and manatee conservation programs. The memorial included a specific timeline of Snooty’s life and accomplishments and also allowed those who loved him to share photos and heartfelt words.

In addition to the memorial, the South Florida Museum also hosted a Snooty Memorial Open House on September 24, 2017, which allowed guests to watch a visual tribute to the famous manatee. It also provided the opportunity for those in attendance to create memorial projects that would honor Snooty’s legacy.^[10]

The past two years have seen many establishments having to close their doors either temporarily or permanently. Whether it has been learning institutions, entertainment venues, or places to eat, their value is appreciated now more than ever.

With the recent closure announcement of a pub—Ye Olde Fighting Cocks in St. Albans, just north of London—that had been in business for 1,000 years, it is time to take a look at some of the oldest establishments of their kind that have stood the test of time and are still operational as of this writing.

Related: Top 10 Most Talked-About Hotels In The World

10 Airport

College Park Airport—Opened in 1909

The world’s oldest airport still in operation is located in Maryland, USA. The airport was established after the Wright brothers managed to convince the U.S. Army to purchase one of their planes. The brothers were then required to train two army officers to be able to fly it. They needed a space large enough to ensure a level of safety, and College Park had the area they required for Wilbur Wright to train the two officers.

Today, College Park Airport is used for civilian pilots and also boasts a museum. Due to the airport being so close to Washington, DC, there are restrictions around who can land at the airport, and background checks are protocol. In aviation history, College Park Airport also holds the title for having the first female passenger in a plane in the United States and for being the location of the first controlled helicopter flight.^[1]

9 Movie Theater

State Theater—Opened on May 14, 1897

Grab a big box of popcorn for this one. In 2016, the State Theater in Washington, Iowa, was given the official title of being the world’s oldest, continuously operating movie theater. When it opened in 1897, many of the films screened there were brought in from France, and ticket prices were between 15 and 35 cents.

Unfortunately, in 2010, a fire broke out in the projection room, and the theater had to close for refurbishments temporarily. The theater has kept up to date with technology where they even screen 3D movies; however, the classic, old-fashioned feel that the locals love is still there for everyone to go and experience. If only the ticket prices could have stayed the same…^[2]

8 Shopping Mall

Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II—Opened in 1877

Of course, the oldest, continuously operating shopping mall is in one of the fashion capitals of the world—Milan. The Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, which took 12 years to build, is an architectural masterpiece, and many high-end clothing stores can be found there, including Gucci and Prada. You can walk around and look at the magnificent mosaics inspired by Africa, Europe, Asia, and the Americas. The mosaic garnering the most attraction is the Turin Coat of Arms, which features a bull. It is believed that if one spins their heel three times over the bull’s testicles, it will bring good luck.

If you get hungry, then you can stop by Café Biffi, which has been operating since 1867, 10 years before the mall officially opened. And if you are broke after shopping at Prada, there is a McDonald’s decorated in black and gold—because it has to blend in somehow. It is a requirement that the store signs have their company names in gold font on a black background. Even without spending a cent, the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II is worth visiting for its beauty alone.^[3]

7 Zoo

Tiergarten Schönbrunn—Opened in 1752

Located in Vienna, Austria, the Tiergarten Schönbrunn opened to the public in 1779. This was 27 years after Franz Stephan I of Lorrain, a Holy Roman Emperor, decided to move his private menagerie to his summer residence, the Schönbrunn Palace, in 1752. He ordered a man by the name of Adrian van Stekhoven to build him a place to keep all of his animals. Keeping private collections of animals, mostly brought back from foreign expeditions, was very much the norm in Europe among royals. After Franz’s death, his son, Joseph II, brought in different types of animals that his father had not previously had in his collection, such as carnivores. Franz was not a fan of their odors, apparently.

Joseph II decided to open the park to the public in 1779 and made a promise that the zoo would be “A place of recreation dedicated to all the people by their Esteemer,” a quote that is still a feature in the zoo for everyone to read. Today, the zoo focuses on conservation and education and boasts a variety of animals from around the world. It also includes an aquarium, polarium, and simulated Amazon rainforest. The Tiergarten Schönbrunn survived through World Wars and a financial crisis and still stands today as the world’s oldest operating zoo—as well as a UNESCO World Heritage site.^[4]

6 Restaurant

Restaurante Botín—Opened in 1725

Remember to reserve your table for this entry as the world’s oldest restaurant still in operation is situated in Madrid, Spain. It can definitely be argued that there are many older restaurants still in business; however, Restaurante Botín takes the title as it has remained in the same building and has kept its 18th-century interior since it opened in 1725. It continuously ran until it had to close temporarily due to the pandemic and reopened on July 1, 2020. It had even stayed open during the Spanish Civil War. Luckily, the temporary pandemic closure will not change the title given to them by Guinness World Records.

In 1725, Jean Botín and his wife established a small inn. Guests would have to bring their own food to be cooked there as, at the time, selling food in such an establishment was banned as it could have interfered with other businesses.As the couple had no children, the restaurant was left to their nephew upon their deaths, who renamed it Sobrino de Botín, which translates to Nephew of Botín. It was run by generations of the Botín family until 1930, when the González family took over. Since then, the restaurant has maintained its interior and even has the original fire oven that is still used to roast their famous menu item—suckling pig.^[5]

5 Theater

Teatro Olimpico—Opened in 1585

Located in Vicenza, a town in Italy, the Teatro Olimpico is not only the oldest operating indoor theater in the world but also a UNESCO World Heritage site. It could be said that the star of this show is the Roman architecture and sculptures. Andrea Palladio, a famous Renaissance architect, designed the theater inside of a pre-existing, abandoned fortress in order to create a space for entertainment that was greatly inspired by Roman theaters.

Unfortunately, he died before the theater opened, and his son, Silla, saw to the completion of the theater. The first production shown at the theater was the play Oedipus the King. Vincenzo Scamozzi designed the stage to replicate the seven streets in the city of Thebes. This structure has remained to this day as a part of the theater. The theater, which seats 400 people, puts on a variety of shows every year, including plays and concerts.^[6]

4 Amusement Park

Bakken—Opened in 1583

The Bakken amusement park, located in Copenhagen, Denmark, is a fun day out for the whole family. At first, during the summertime, people were drawn to the healing springs found in the area. Eventually, people started to provide entertainment and sell products for everyone visiting the springs. From there, it continued to develop into an amusement park. Along with the modern rides found today, one can also ride a wooden roller coaster that is over 80 years old! Entrance is free, and you pay for the rides you want to experience.

Once you are inside, you can take your pick of the 31 rides available or choose from some of the other 78 attractions, including a gaming arcade. On a hot summer’s day, you can grab an ice cream or enjoy some delicious Danish treats. For the past 200 years, a clown called Pjerrot has brought laughter to many children visiting the park. Despite its age, the park is bright, colorful, and welcoming to all of its visitors. Instead of using big brands/companies for stalls, small businesses operate within the park in order to preserve the historical value of Bakken.^[7]

3 Museum

Musei Capitolini—Opened in 1471

Situated in Rome, the Musei Capitolini’s history started when Pope Sixtus IV donated a large number of bronze artifacts to the Roman people in 1471. They were displayed on Capitoline Hill, which today is a museum made up of three buildings. Over the years, many different items were added to the exhibit, including jewelry, statues, coins, artworks, and many other kinds of artifacts.

Various popes were involved in the growth of the museum. Popes Pius V and Paul III donated pieces to the growing collection, Pope Clement XII took part in the opening of the Palazzo Nuovo building for the public to visit, and Pope Benedict XIV helped open the art gallery. The art gallery, Pinacoteca, is the oldest public display of paintings. Michelangelo—you might have heard of him—had a hand in the redesign and renovation of parts of the museum but, unfortunately, died before he could complete his vision. Today, the museum is home to many ancient and medieval artifacts, including the famous statue of Emperor Marcus Aurelius on his horse.^[8]

2 University

The University of al-Qarawiyyin—Opened in 859

The University of al-Qarawiyyin has an incredible history. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, holds the Guinness World Record for the oldest, continuously operating university in the world, and it was also the first education institution to award a degree. Founded in Fez, Morocco, the university’s focus has been on Islamic studies.

A woman named Fatima al-Fihri used money that she had inherited to open a mosque for her community. It also had a school called a madrasa, an Islamic college focusing on the teachings of the religion. The school developed into a university where both men and women have studied many subjects, including medicine, astronomy, and music, along with Islamic studies. It was in the mid-1900s that the university adapted to the state education system and introduced chemistry, physics, and foreign languages.^[9]

1 Hotel

Nishiyama Onsen Keiunkan—Opened in 705

Book a relaxing stay at the world’s oldest, continuously operating hotel that, up until today, has been run by an astonishing 52 generations of the same family. The hotel was built during the Keiun era, and therefore the inn, founded by Fujiwara Mahito, was named after it. It has kept up to date with modern amenities but maintains the elegance of Japanese architecture and offers peace and tranquility.

The hotel is famous for its free-flowing hot springs that pump around 1,630 liters (430 gallons) of water a minute. Along with the breathtaking views, the hotel offers a restaurant that serves meals made from seasonal ingredients and top-quality Koshu beef.^[10]

There’s something about monsters that just won’t die. No matter how many times they’re debunked or disproven, these mythical creatures continue to capture our imaginations. Perhaps it’s because we all have a little bit of monster inside of us, just waiting to come out. Or maybe it’s because these stories have been passed down for generations, becoming a part of our collective consciousness.

Whatever the reason, there’s no denying that monsters are here to stay, and here is a list of the monsters who have lived in our collective consciousness for the longest time.

10 The Chupacabra

The chupacabra is a mythical creature that is said to live in Puerto Rico, South America, and Mexico, even venturing into the American southwest. It is often described as a dog-like creature with spikes down its back. The first sighting of the chupacabra was in 1995 when a farmer in Puerto Rico found some dead animals with puncture wounds in their necks. There has been a myriad of other supposed sightings, with the latest one being a video from 2019, making this one active monster.

The chupacabra may be scary, but it has not lived for too long compared to the other monsters on this list. Although its myth is certainly becoming an enduring one.^[1]

9 The Mokele-Mbembe

The mokele-mbembe is a mythical creature that is said to inhabit the Congo Basin in Africa. It is described as a large, elephant-like creature with a long neck and a long, snake-like tail. Some believe that the mokele-mbembe is a real animal.

The first recorded sighting of the mokele-mbembe was in 1909 when the famed hunter Carl Hagenbeck wrote of hearing it from others. They had heard about the creature from natives that it was “half elephant, half dragon” in his autobiography Beasts and Men.

In 2016, a travel documentary crew visited many villages in the area and heard one of two stories: either that it was still there or that it had died a decade ago. According to legend, the mokele-mbembe would have lived for around 100 years, and it is interesting to see a mythical creature die which doesn’t happen with most others.^[2]

8 Bigfoot

Bigfoot, also known as a sasquatch, is a creature said to inhabit forests, mainly in the Pacific Northwest region of North America. It’s usually described as a large, hairy, ape-like creature.

The history of Bigfoot is shrouded in mystery, with many Native American groups having myths and legends surrounding the hairy creature for generations. A few sightings of it sprang up in the 19th century. Since the 1950s, though, there have been an exceptionally large number of sightings of the creature, but it has never been caught or killed.

Some believe that Bigfoot is a Yeti, a mythical creature from the Himalayas. Others believe it is a descendant of an ape-like creature that lived in North America millions of years ago. There are even those who believe that it is just a human wearing animal skin.

Whatever the truth might be, one thing is for sure: this Bigfoot fellow, if it is one entity, has got to be really old now.^[3]

7 The Yeti

The Yeti, also known as the Abominable Snowman, is a mythical creature that inhabits the Himalayan region of Nepal and Tibet. The Yeti is said to be a large, hairy, human-like creature that is sometimes described as ape-like or bear-like.

The first recorded sighting of the Yeti was in 1832 when a British explorer named B.H. Hodgson reported seeing a large, ape-like creature in the Himalayas. What is it with these 19th-century people and giant apes?! First Bigfoot, and now this?! The myth gained more momentum in the 20th century, with—supposed—photographic evidence of a Yeti print. And like Bigfoot, tales of the mythical beast actually existed for centuries ago in local folklore.

Whether the Yeti and Bigfoot are real or not, it is certainly interesting that both are close to having their 200th birthday.^[4]

4 The Megalodon

The megalodon, a shark of insane proportions, was a real creature millions of years ago that went extinct, but some people think it still exists, now making it a mythical creature. The first (more recent) sighting of this megalodon was in 1873 when supposedly “fresh” teeth were found by the HMS Challenger. This led many to believe and fantasize about the continued existence of the megalodon.

This means that the new megalodon myth has been alive for 150 years, which is pretty bad compared to the millions lived by its real counterpart.^[5]

5 The Kraken

The kraken, the giant sea monster of legend, has been terrorizing sailors since the 12th century. The first recorded reference to the kraken was by the Norwegian king, Sverre, in 1180. The kraken continued to inspire fear among sea goers until the latest mention, which seems to be during the early 19th century. This was when the ship Ville de Paris was swallowed up in the water, and the other ships coming to its aid disappeared the same way, leading some to believe this was the work of the kraken.

Octopuses actually have a very short lifespan of one to three years, depending on species, so maybe Sverre should have thought a thousand years ahead and made it a half-immortal jellyfish, half-octopus instead.^[6]

4 The Basilisk

The basilisk is a mythical creature with the body of a snake and the head of a rooster. It is said to be able to kill with a single glance.

The first written account of a basilisk was in the work The Natural History by Pliny the Elder, published in the first century AD. Pliny said that the basilisk was born from a cock’s egg that had been incubated by a toad or a serpent.

The legend of the basilisk continued to grow in the Middle Ages, written about in The Canterbury Tales and even by Leonardo da Vinci.

The final sighting of the basilisk is that one is said to have terrorized the inhabitants of Vilnius, Lithuania, during the reign of Grand Duke Sigismund August, which lasted until 1572. This means the basilisk legend lived for 1500 years.^[7]

3 The Loch Ness Monster

The Loch Ness monster, also affectionately known as Nessie, is a mysterious creature that is said to inhabit Loch Ness in Scotland. Some people believe that the Loch Ness monster is a plesiosaur, a type of prehistoric marine reptile. Others believe the Loch Ness monster is a tree, an eel, or an enormous catfish.

The crazy thing is that Nessie has been sighted a multitude of times across 1500 years of history, including our modern age! The first recorded sighting was in the 6th century when Saint Columba saw something in the water that disturbed him. In the 1930s, there was a spate of Nessie sightings, and the Loch Ness monster became world-famous.

Google even spotted something in the loch in 2006, but it turned out to be a log. To celebrate the Loch Ness monster, they even have underwater photos of the Loch on Google Earth.

That plesiosaur, log, or tree, whatever it is, must now know that loch like the back of its… hand… er, fin… er, whatever its appendage is called!^[8]

2 The Manticore

The manticore is a mythical creature with the head of a human and the body of a lion. It is believed to be native to Ethiopia but has also been associated with ancient Persia and Egypt.

The manticore’s first appearance in literature was, again, in Pliny the Elder’s The Natural History. In this work, Pliny describes the manticore as follows: “There is another animal which is called the man-eater [manticorus]. It has a human face, with three rows of teeth in its mouth, and a voice like a trumpet.”

The manticore continued to appear throughout the Middle Ages and Renaissance. In the 13th century, the Italian poet Dante Alighieri included the manticore in his epic poem The Divine Comedy.

Luckily the manticore seems to have died in the seventeenth century when Randle Holme was the last to write “nonfiction” about it. Well, 1600 years is a good run, I guess.^[9]

1 The Sphinx

The sphinx has been a part of human mythology for millennia. It is typically depicted as a lion with a human head and is often associated with wisdom and knowledge.

The earliest known reference to the sphinx comes from ancient Egyptian culture, where the creature was said to guard temples and treasure. The sphinx was also popular with ancient Greeks, who believed it guarded the city of Thebes by famously asking a riddle—about the creature that is four-footed then two-footed and then three-footed.

The sphinx myth lived from before 2500 BC, when the Great Sphinx was built, to the 9th century, when the last pagans of Greece lived. At more than 3300 years, this makes it by far the oldest monster myth on this list!^[10]

The caves of the world contain some of the best ancient works of art ever created. Not all of them may be as spectacular as those of Altamira in Spain, which notably triggered Picasso to say that anything “after Altamira is only decadence.” They all do, however, offer understanding into the way our ancient ancestors thought, even though the works of art were created tens of thousands of years ago.

Worldwide, these ancient artworks also continue to be of particular significance to indigenous communities, who see them as an integral part of their spiritual and cultural heritage. It has also emerged as an essential source of cultural tourism and constitutes a crucial economic revenue in several countries around the globe. As we’ve looked at the oldest sculptures in the World recently, we now turn our attention to a list of the oldest cave paintings in the world.

10 Apollo 11 Cave—Namibia
(25,500–27,500 Years Old)

The Apollo 11 Cave lies about 160 miles (250 kilometers) southwest of the town of Keetmanshoop in southwestern Namibia. The surrounding region and, quite possibly, the cave was originally named “Goachanas” by the Nama people. However, the German archaeologist Wolfgang Erich Wendt was actively excavating inside the cave on July 24, 1969, when he learned of Apollo 11’s team’s safe return to Earth. He renamed the cave to celebrate the occasion.

The cave housed several of the oldest portable artworks in southern Africa, carbon-dated between 27,500 and 25,500 years old. The slabs of art discovered within the cave are commonly referred to as the Apollo 11 stones. In total, seven grey and brown quartzite slabs have been unearthed in the cave. Apart from the Apollo stones, the cave also contained numerous red and white paintings, which ranged from basic geometric shapes and patterns to images of bees, which can be a nuisance to unwary travelers to this day. Ancient artworks were also discovered in the form of engravings on the banks of a nearby river and on a massive limestone boulder a few feet from the cave’s entrance.^[1]

9 Nawarla Gabarnmang—Australia
(28,000 Years Old)

In 2006, Ray Whear, the Jawoyn Association Aboriginal Corporation’s Cultural and Environmental Manager, observed the shadow of an unusually high rock shelter while doing a periodic aerial survey of the Arnhem Land Plateau in Australia. Whear asked the pilot to land the helicopter to take a closer look. After walking the short distance up to the rock shelter, the two men were amazed to find themselves inside a spectacular ancient gallery featuring more than 1,000 paintings.

The massive rock shelter lies on the territory belonging to the Buyhmi clan. A highly respected Aboriginal elder named Bardayal “Lofty” Nadjamerrek from Arnhem Land titled the site Nawarla Gabarnmang, which means “place of hole in the rock” in the Jawoyn language. The artworks have been mapped and carbon-dated since 2006 and have been confirmed to be the oldest ever to be discovered in Australia. Hundreds of vividly intertwined human, animal, fish, and dreamlike figures are on the shelter’s roof and pillars, all painted in radiant red, orange, white, and black pigments, portraying generation after generation of artworks comprising millennia.^[2]

8 Coliboaia Cave—Romania
(32,000 Years Old)

In 2009, a team of French researchers and Romanian spelunkers discovered 32,000-year-old art in the Coliboaia cave. The subsequent studies and research have advanced the idea that prehistoric cultures across Europe shared a common artistic culture that may or may not have been linked. Prior to the discovery, Romania had only one site with prehistoric cave art, Cuciulat Cave, which showcased only two animal drawings. The remaining instances of cave paintings in the Far East are in Russia’s Ural Mountains, but neither is older than 14,000 years.

The Coliboaia Cave was actually discovered around the early 1980s, but its initial explorers did not find any prehistoric paintings. In fact, the cave is quite challenging to explore since many of its galleries are permanently flooded by an underground river. However, in 2009, spelunkers from several Romanian spelunking clubs decided to explore Coliboaia utilizing diving equipment and finally located the incredible cave art. Many of the paintings can only be seen by drifting in the water and sticking one’s head above the surface. Upward of half a dozen images were discovered, including a horse, two bear heads, a bison, and two rhinoceros heads, almost 100% similar to the imagery discovered to date in Western European caves.^[3]

7 Chauvet Cave—France
(30,000 to 35,000 Years Old)

The first documented figurative cave art in Europe dates back more than 30,000 years and can be found in Chauvet Cave in France. While many scientists believe that the artworks are too sophisticated for this period, over 80 radiocarbon dates were collected by 2011, with tests conducted on everything from torch tracks to paintings, bone fragments, and charcoal recovered from the cave floor. The radiocarbon records from the collected samples indicate two creation phases in Chauvet. The first was around 35,000 years ago, and the second was 30,000 years ago. Another surprising finding was that some of the artworks were continuously revised over thousands of years, which explained the superior quality of some earlier paintings.

The highly diverse and significant number of animals that crisscross the internal spaces of the cave —both engraved and painted—are of such an elevated aesthetic beauty and high quality that archaeologists initially believed them to be considerably younger and in line with the prior art in caves such as that of the Lascaux Cave. Its incredible artistry and age have made us rethink the history of art and the abilities and skills of these prehistoric people. The cave was granted UNESCO World Heritage status in 2014.^[4]

6 Kapova Cave—Bashkortostan, Russia
(36,000 Years Old)

Alexander Ryumin, a senior researcher at the Bashkir State Nature Reserve, made a titillating discovery in January 1959. He identified drawings of ancient humans on the walls of the Kapova (Shulgantash) cave. Ryumin, who had actually gone into the cave looking for bats, discovered brightly colored works of art depicting various animals, including rhinos, horses, and mammoths. The discovery became a real-world sensation. In the scientific community, the prevailing belief during the 1950s was that drawings of animals from the Paleolithic era were a hallmark of prehistoric art uncovered in Western Europe and could only be found in France and Spain. Since its discovery, the Kapova cave has become a crucial cultural and historical complex that remains unrivaled throughout Eastern Europe.

The most intricate composition was discovered on the eastern wall. At the center of the panel, one can find the image of an animal now fondly called “Ryumin’s horse” because this was the first image to be identified in the cave. Following the horse is a long trail of animals, including several mammoths and a rhinoceros. Every animal seems to be strolling from right to left, with a tiny mammoth trying to stand or heading in another direction. The opposite wall sports a bison or bull and several mammoths with a calf. One can also see an image of a trapezium with peculiar lines and other geometric patterns repeated throughout the various panels in the cave.^[5]

5 Caves in the District of Maros—Indonesia
(39,900 Years Old)

The caves in Sulawesi’s Maros district in Indonesia are renowned for the thousands of handprints on their walls. In 2014, a study based on uranium-thorium dating placed the handprints at a minimum age of 39,900 years. Another recent discovery of a babirusa painting within the caves was also dated to at least 35,000 BC, firmly placing it among some of the oldest figurative representations discovered worldwide.

The discovery of prehistoric art on the island of Sulawesi significantly extends the geographical placement of the world’s first cave artists, who were long believed to have emerged in prehistoric Europe. Big and dangerous mammals are predominantly depicted in Europe and Sulawesi’s prehistoric cave art, leading archeologists to believe that they played a significant role in these people’s belief systems. The findings from the Maros cave sites further raise the likelihood that these types of artworks predate the migration of modern humans from Africa 60,000 years ago, leading many archeologists to believe that even older examples of cave art will eventually be found in mainland Asia and Africa.^[6]

4 Cave of El Castillo—Spain
(40,000 Years Old)

Hermilio Alcalde del Río, a Spanish archaeologist, was one of the pioneers in researching and studying the earliest cave art in Cantabria. It was no surprise that he discovered El Castillo’s Cave in 1903. The entrance to the cave was initially relatively narrow but was later widened as a consequence of the numerous archaeological excavations within the cave system. Alcalde del Río discovered a lengthy series of paintings, extensive markings, and ancient graffiti created in charcoal and red ochre on the ceilings and walls of several caverns from the Lower Paleolithic Era to the Bronze Age. More than 150 artworks have already been cataloged, including those highlighting deer engravings—complete with partial shading.

According to recent studies, Neanderthals created the oldest works of art in the cave, although most of the later works were made by Homo sapiens. The studies concluded that Stone Age artists painted red disks, club-like symbols, geometric patterns, and handprints on European cave walls long before popular thought, in some instances upward of 40,000 years ago. The research results seem to point to a string of recent discoveries: significant fossil evidence that Homo sapiens lived in England 41,500 to 44,200 years ago, in Italy from 43,000 to 45,000 years ago, and that musical instruments were being made in German caves around 42,000 years ago. Scientists are also uncovering new genetic evidence of Neanderthal-Homo sapien interbreeding, revealing much closer relationships than generally believed.^[7]

3 Lubang Jeriji Saléh Cave—East Kalimantan, Borneo (40,000 Years Old)

A spotty, worn-down artwork of a beast painted on the wall of a cave system in Borneo may well be one of the oldest discovered instances of figurative rock art in the world. Fractured and faded, the reddish image depicts a healthy-looking but thin-legged mammal, possibly a species of cattle that can still be found living on the island, with a streak of ochre resembling a spear dangling from its side. The animal is just one of a trio of large animals adorning a wall in the Lubang Jeriji Saleh cave in the Kalimantan province of Borneo in Indonesia. Thousands of paintings have been discovered in limestone caves in the region and have been analyzed and studied since their discovery in 1994 by the French explorer Luc-Henri Fage.

Around and between the three large mammals are hundreds of hand stencils, the tell-tale cave art calling cards of our prehistoric ancestors. The faded markings, which show up spectacularly on their own or in groups, were created by spraying ochre paint via the mouth over a hand pressed against the rock. Scientists have determined the paintings’ ages by dating the calcite crusts that sometimes border the walls of the caves. These crusts are formed when rainwater manages to creep into the caves. Those below the artwork give scientists a maximum age for the painting, and those at the highest point provide the minimum age.^[8]

2 Caves in the District of Maros… Again—Indonesia (43,900 Years Old)

As if one appearance on the list wasn’t enough, the caves in the Maros-Pangkep karst of South Sulawesi, Indonesia—specifically the cave known as Leang Bulu’ Sipong 4—was recently found to have a painting that is over 43,900 years old. This prehistoric artwork on the island of Sulawesi, confirmed to be the world’s oldest figurative work of art, depicts part-animal, part-human figures hunting wild boars and comparatively tiny bison-like mammals with ropes and spears. The representation of part-animal, part-human hunters is believed to be the earliest evidence of our ability to perceive things that do not usually exist in the natural world. This capacity is the foundation of religious thought—the origins of which have been shrouded in mystery for thousands of years.

Apart from the exceptional age of this artwork, it’s the first example of cave art with a detailed and thorough narrative or “story” of such great age. The conventional opinion has always been that humanity’s first rock art was mere geometric symbols, which progressed into the exquisite figurative artworks found in France and Spain around 35,000 years ago. From this perspective, the first storylines and human-animal hybrids (known as therianthropes) only came into being much later. But the artworks inside Leang Bulu’s Sipong 4 now show that the main elements of sophisticated artistic culture were already prevalent in Sulawesi 44,000 years ago—therianthropes, figurative art, and scenes.^[9]

1 Maltravieso Cave—Cáceres, Spain
(64,000 Years Old)

The world’s oldest confirmed cave painting is a beautiful red hand stencil that was discovered in the cave of Maltravieso in Cáceres, Spain, along with two nearby caves: La Pasiega and Ardales. Its age alone might have been impressive, but a new study conducted by the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology and the University of Southampton decisively concluded that the artworks discovered in three separate caves in Spain were painted over 64,000 years ago. This is a solid 20,000 years before our modern human ancestors arrived in Europe. Their research confirms that the Palaeolithic (Ice Age) cave paintings—which include paintings of mammals, as well as geometric designs and dots, were made by Europe’s only inhabitants at the time—the Neanderthals.

The research demonstrated how the international team of researchers used a highly developed method called uranium-thorium dating to confirm the age of artworks to over 64,000 years. All three caves contain black and red ochre paintings of groups of mammals, dots, patterns, and engravings, hand stencils, and handprints. From their findings, the researchers have also confirmed that the creation of the paintings and other artwork must have involved such highly developed behavior as location selection, pigment mixing, and even light source planning. ^[10]