Death comes to us all, it is an undeniable fact, until immortality is invented... but with some, it comes in the strangest of ways.
Here is a brief look at three bizarre deaths which have occurred throughout history. The Emperor Titus, French president, Félix Faure and Sir Francis Bacon.
Here is a brief look at three bizarre deaths which have occurred throughout history. The Emperor Titus, French president, Félix Faure and Sir Francis Bacon.
Emperor Titus
Emperor Titus. Died: 13 September 81
Manner of death: Brain eaten by an insect
As the Emperor of Rome, Titus is best known for completing the Colosseum and for his generosity in relieving the suffering caused by two disasters, the eruption of the volcano at Mount Vesuvius and a devastating fire in Rome.
Emperor Titus was only in office for two years, his term ending with his death. He was worshipped as an almost godlike figure by the Roman Senate, and his younger brother Domitian succeeded him as Emperor.
Titus’ strange death comes from the Babylonian Talmud. It speaks of how an insect flew into Titus’ nose, and picked at his brain for seven long years. The story goes on to say that Titus managed to gain some relief for a while by getting a blacksmith to hammer nearby – presumably the insect did not like the pounding of the hammer and stopped it’s constant gnawing on Titus’ brain.
All good things must come to an end however, and the insect eventually decided food was more important than the blacksmith’s hammering, and resumed consuming poor old Titus’ brain.
Legend has it that when he eventually died, the physicians opened his skull, and found an insect inside which was the size of a bird.
Manner of death: Brain eaten by an insect
As the Emperor of Rome, Titus is best known for completing the Colosseum and for his generosity in relieving the suffering caused by two disasters, the eruption of the volcano at Mount Vesuvius and a devastating fire in Rome.
Emperor Titus was only in office for two years, his term ending with his death. He was worshipped as an almost godlike figure by the Roman Senate, and his younger brother Domitian succeeded him as Emperor.
Titus’ strange death comes from the Babylonian Talmud. It speaks of how an insect flew into Titus’ nose, and picked at his brain for seven long years. The story goes on to say that Titus managed to gain some relief for a while by getting a blacksmith to hammer nearby – presumably the insect did not like the pounding of the hammer and stopped it’s constant gnawing on Titus’ brain.
All good things must come to an end however, and the insect eventually decided food was more important than the blacksmith’s hammering, and resumed consuming poor old Titus’ brain.
Legend has it that when he eventually died, the physicians opened his skull, and found an insect inside which was the size of a bird.
Félix Faure
French President Felix Francois Faure. Died: 1899
Manner of death: in flagrante delicto
Félix François Faure was President of the French Republic from 1895 until his death in 1899.
Although Faure was President for four years, he is most well known for the manner of his death. Faure was having an affair with Mme Marguerite Steinheil. He invited her to join him in the palace at the end of an afternoon. It is said that during that time, Mme Steinheil was administering oral sex to the President, in the middle of which, he suffered a stroke, dying a few hours later.
I’m sure there are many men out there who cannot think of a better way to go!
Manner of death: in flagrante delicto
Félix François Faure was President of the French Republic from 1895 until his death in 1899.
Although Faure was President for four years, he is most well known for the manner of his death. Faure was having an affair with Mme Marguerite Steinheil. He invited her to join him in the palace at the end of an afternoon. It is said that during that time, Mme Steinheil was administering oral sex to the President, in the middle of which, he suffered a stroke, dying a few hours later.
I’m sure there are many men out there who cannot think of a better way to go!
Francis Bacon
Sir Francis Bacon. Died: 1626
Manner of death: Stuffing snow into a chicken
Sir Francis Bacon was an English philosopher, a statesman, the creator of the English essay, and an advocate for the scientific expansion and exploration. Unfortunately for Sir Francis, he left this mortal coil while conducting his own experiment.
As the story goes, it was 1625, and a snowy afternoon in the English countryside. Sir Francis was gazing out the window, contemplating the weather, when inspiration struck!
Snow, being that it is ice, should work as preservative of meat, much the same way salt does! Anybody who knows a scientist knows that once an idea has formed, it must be pursued – pronto! Not caring that it was in the minus degrees outside, he rushed to town to buy a chicken. When he returned home, the experiment began.
The poor chicken was killed, and then Sir Francis proceeded to stuff the chicken with snow, hoping that it would freeze. Unfortunately the experiment failed, and as a consequence of spending too much time in the elements, Sir Francis developed a terminal case of pneumonia.
Never one to let a good opportunity pass, he roasted the chicken and ate it, but unfortunately passed away from the pneumonia not long after.
Manner of death: Stuffing snow into a chicken
Sir Francis Bacon was an English philosopher, a statesman, the creator of the English essay, and an advocate for the scientific expansion and exploration. Unfortunately for Sir Francis, he left this mortal coil while conducting his own experiment.
As the story goes, it was 1625, and a snowy afternoon in the English countryside. Sir Francis was gazing out the window, contemplating the weather, when inspiration struck!
Snow, being that it is ice, should work as preservative of meat, much the same way salt does! Anybody who knows a scientist knows that once an idea has formed, it must be pursued – pronto! Not caring that it was in the minus degrees outside, he rushed to town to buy a chicken. When he returned home, the experiment began.
The poor chicken was killed, and then Sir Francis proceeded to stuff the chicken with snow, hoping that it would freeze. Unfortunately the experiment failed, and as a consequence of spending too much time in the elements, Sir Francis developed a terminal case of pneumonia.
Never one to let a good opportunity pass, he roasted the chicken and ate it, but unfortunately passed away from the pneumonia not long after.
By Peet Banks 2013
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