The Lincoln Zephyr was sold from 1936 to 1942 as one of the automaker’s cheaper midsize car models. They were highly aerodynamic, a benefit that was referenced in the car’s name. The car was extremely revolutionary at the time and was a big shift from the non-aerodynamic cars back then, which encountered a lot of wind resistance.
The car was created by Edsel Bryant Ford and featured a V-12 engine that was revolutionary at its time. Once the series began to die down, and Lincoln was looking to replace the Zephyr, the automaker came up with the Lincoln Continental, which ended up becoming its longest-running model.
The Benedictine Monastery of Admont, the Largest Library in the Entire World
Admont Abbey contains the largest library in the entire world and is one of the most impressive creations in Europe. It was completed in 1776, the same year that the United States Declaration of Independence was first signed. There are about 200,000 books in the library, including 1,400 manuscripts and 530 incunabula.
Admont Abbey was also the burial place for Anastasia of Kyiv, the Queen of Hungary circa the 11th century. You can also find various incredible paintings on the ceiling, with most of them featuring beautiful renditions of angels and the sky. You can visit there anytime during the year, and you don’t even need a guide to get around.
This Necklace, Made by One of the World’s Most Revered Jewelry Designers
Georges Fouquet was a French jewelry designer who rose to legendary status at 40, thanks to his Art Nouveau creations. He opened a shop with his father in 1891 and moved on to his own jewelry shop just nine years later. He designed jewelry for various famous and wealthy people, turning him into somewhat of a celebrity at the time.
This piece is just one of Fouquet's brilliant creations. It shows the immense love and cares for detail that the artist had for his designs. His work can be seen at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, as well as in the Petit Palais in Paris. A recreation of Fouquet's shop was put up in the Paris Carnavalet Museum for those who want to visualize the man in action.
These Shoes From Almost 2,000 Years Ago
A body was discovered in 1900 by a man who originally hailed from Damendorf, Germany. The body was aptly referred to as the Damendorf Man, although what was left of it can't exactly be called a man anymore. Almost everything was gone except for the man's jewelry and garments.
The Damendorf Man's shoes were preserved in perfect condition, and they were clearly hand-made from leather. These shoes show us what sandals might have looked like back then, as they attempt to cover the feet while still leaving air holes for breathability. They were studied by many researchers and even helped historians make a few new discoveries.
This 1,000-Year-Old Buddha Statue
Monks have been known to perform near-superhuman feats of mind control on more than one occasion. In 2015, researchers in the Netherlands were stunned when they discovered what is perhaps the greatest monk prank of all time.
More than 1,000 years ago, one monk decided to drink a highly poisonous tea to appear dead in a full lotus position. He was then turned into a real-life mummy. The dead monk was then cast into a statue and remained hidden inside it for almost twenty generations. If that’s not a true show of dedication, willpower, and commitment, we don’t know what is.