This investigation into a nursery rhyme and whether it was inspired by a true crime or a folk legend was prompted by a digression in the last episode on the Green Children of Woolpit, and it turned out to be something of a rabbit hole on its own merit. Visit the blog post at historicalblindness.com…
Author: Historical Blindness
The Lost Youth of St. Martin’s Land, or Woolpit’s Green Children
In this episode, we study a ubiquitous folk tradition, the Green Children of Woolpit, First we consider its origins and its transmission through the ages, evaluating the qualities that seem to identify it as little more than a fairy tale. Then we examine the possibility that it may have been based on some true event.…
Blind Spot: The Beloved Disciple and the Authorship of John
A brief look at a New Testament mystery, this one is not only a companion piece to the last episode on the Man in the Iron Mask, being that it’s also about a historically unidentified person, but also serves as a clarification to a statement I made a few times in my series on the…
Eustache Dauger, the Secret Prisoner in the Velveteen Mask (aka the Man in the Iron Mask)
I lead an investigation into the legend of the Man in the Iron Mask, tracing the lore as it evolved and looking into all the usual suspects. Visit the Historical Blindness blog for imagery and links to sources as well as recommended reading on the Books page. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Blind Spot: The Secret of Rennes-le-Château and Abbé Saunière’s Riches
Continuing my investigation of the mystery profiled in the last episode, I take a closer look at the riddle of Abbé Saunière’s wealth and the legends of treasure at Rennes-le-Château. I explore the supposedly unusual decor of the church, the plausibility of a Templar connection as well as other possible origins for a treasure, and…
The Priory of Sion and the Quest for the Holy Grail, or Lincoln’s Links and Plantard’s Plans
A look at a historical mystery that spiderwebs into hoax and pseudo-history, involving hidden treasure, ancient codes, secret societies, and a cover-up to obscure the true Easter story.
The Marian Apparition of Guadalupe and Her Fantastical Portrait
In this episode, we study of the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe and the legend of the Marian apparition behind it. As with our study of the Turin Shroud, we look closely at the miraculous claims about this item.
The Turin Shroud: Divine Likeness or Bogus Relic?
In this episode, we take a look at the most studied artifact in history: the cloth said to be the burial shroud of Christ, which bears a mysterious image believed by many to be his wounded body.
Blind Spot: The Great Los Angeles Air Raid and the Secret Memos of Majestic 12
An examination of the so-called Battle of Los Angeles, when during WWII LA believed it was under attack. Also, a brief discussion of the conspiracy theory that would paint the incident as an alien encounter.
A Brief History of Unidentified Aerial Phenomena
In this overview of Unidentified Aerial Phenomena, we take a look at difficult to explain sightings in the sky from Ancient Egypt through to the age of ballooning.
Blind Spot: Three Men Gone from Eilean Mor, the Missing Keepers of the Flannan Isles Light
An examination of the Great Lighthouse Mystery, in which three lighthouse keepers mysteriously vanished from a barren island far off the coast of Scotland in December of 1900.
The Carroll A. Deering, Ghost Ship of Cape Hatteras
In this episode, I share a twisty tale of a ghost ship featuring mutineers and pirates in the modern era. This episode’s topic was chosen in response to a patron poll that expressed interest in another episode about a mysterious disappearance, like my episodes on the Lost Colony and the Dare Stones.
Blind Spot: The Terrible within the Small; or, The Fabrication of the Learned Elders of Zion and the Forgery of Their Protocols
In this companion piece to my last episode on the blood libel, I expose the 19th and 20th centuries’ conspiracy theories attributing plots of global domination to the Jews. The focus of the episode is on the forged document known as the Protocols of the Elders of Zion, which has fueled anti-Semitic conspiracy theory ever…
Bloody Libel; or, the Slaughter and Sacralization of Young William of Norwich
In this exploration of one of the darkest and most destructive myths in history, I examine the blood libel, the accusation that Jews of the Middle Ages and beyond ritually murdered Christian children, a lie that I trade back to its roots in medieval England.
The Specter of Devil Worship, Part Two
In part two of a Halloween special, Mike Brown and I continue to scrutinize claims of devil worship throughout history. Go back and listen to part one, if you haven’t already. Listener beware: this subject matter involves alleged violent crimes against children.
The Specter of Devil Worship, Part One
This special two-part crossover Halloween edition explores the Satanic Panic and accusations of devil worship throughout history. Special thanks goes out to our guest co-host, Mike Brown of Pleasing Terrors. Check out his show if you don’t already listen!
Jubal Early’s Lost Cause
As a bit of a warning for any Southern patrons, I tackle some major myths in Southern and Civil War history in this episode, and there is the possibility it may offend those who embrace those myths. Please listen with an open mind and check out the sources I mention (plus, when the episode is…
Jubal Early’s Lost Cause
As a bit of a warning for any Southern patrons, I tackle some major myths in Southern and Civil War history in this episode, and there is the possibility it may offend those who embrace those myths. Please listen with an open mind and check out the sources I mention (plus, when the episode is…
Blind Spot: The Loss of Theodosia Burr Alston
In this companion piece to Episode 11, I detail the later misfortunes of Aaron Burr and explore the further mystery of his daughter’s disappearance at sea and the many versions of the ensuing legend surrounding her fate.
The Trial of Levi Weeks for the Murder of Elma Sands
This episode provides an account of America’s first “Trial of the Century,” a murder mystery involving both Aaron Burr and Alexander Hamilton that, as our first documented court case, has become the first entry in the modern True Crime genre.