Spinosaurus reached 16-19 meters, destroyed in WWII bombing raid. Shastasaurus was largest marine creature, up to 19.8 meters long. Mosasaurus and Tylosaurus both reached 15.2 meters in length. Kronosaurus was 9-12 meters long with 28-centimeter long tooth
Tyrian purple was first produced by Phoenician city Tyre in Bronze Age. Dye extracted from murex shellfish, especially Murex brandaris. Process involved baited traps, sun-baking, and salt-boiling. One pound of dye cost 150,000 denarii or 3 pounds of gold
Gilgamesh was the fifth king of Uruk between 2700-2500 BCE. First recorded epic adventure tale told for over 2,000 years. Epic poem discovered in Nineveh in 1853, written in multiple languages
Smilodon fatalis was a prehistoric cat, not related to modern tigers. Three species existed: gracilis (150 lbs), fatalis (200 lbs), and populator (up to 500 lbs)
Marquess is a high hereditary nobility rank in European peerages. Term entered English from Old French "marquis" in late 13th century. Derived from Latin "marca" meaning frontier
Religious history begins with writing around 5,200 years ago. Earliest archaeological evidence suggests religious ideas from Middle Paleolithic. Göbekli Tepe, world's oldest potentially religious site, dates to 9000 BCE. Pyramid Texts from ancient Egypt are world's oldest known religious texts