Earth Is Weird: On Ways to Die II
- Details
- Category: Earth Is Weird
- Published on Thursday, 28 June 2012 10:12
- Written by Chris
When the Mongol armies sacked Baghdad in 1258, they took Caliph al-Musta'sim-Billah Abu-Ahmad Abdullah bin al-Mustansir-Billah and a number of his sons prisoner. According to Marco Polo, Hulagu Khan was so disgusted when he found a vast store of gold in the Caliph's treasury, which could have been used to defend the city, he imprisoned the ruler in the vault without food or water for some time, reportedly saying "eat of thy treasure as much as thou wilt, since thou art so fond of it."
Among the Mongol hordes, there was a superstition that spilling royal blood brought bad luck, so they decided upon another method of death. They wrapped the Caliph in a rug and had him trampled to death by horses.
I like to think that the Mongols spent a few hours brainstorming way to kill the Caliph.
Mongol 1: How about rocks?
Mongol 2: No, what about defenestration?
Mongol 3: Nah, we did that last month with that Persian prince. Know what we haven't done in awhile? Fire!
Mongol 1: In this heat? No way.
Mongol 4: We could get a rabid badger and make it real angry and -
Mongol 2: That's stupid!
Mongol 4: Hey! There are no wrong answers in brainstorming!
(Source)
earth is weird
