Why did one ancient Roman criminal choose a chicken as a rival for the battle in the Colosseum? Detailed answer

BIG ENCYCLOPEDIA FOR CHILDREN AND ADULTS
Free library / Directory / Big encyclopedia for children and adults

Why did one ancient Roman criminal choose a chicken as a rival for the battle in the Colosseum? Detailed answer

Big encyclopedia for children and adults

Directory / Big encyclopedia. Questions for quiz and self-education

Did you know?

Why did one ancient Roman criminal choose a chicken as a rival for the battle in the Colosseum?

In ancient Rome, a criminal could be punished by a duel in the Colosseum with a wild beast, such as a lion. It was this fate that Emperor Gallienus prepared for a merchant who sold fake jewelry to the monarch's wife. And when the merchant was standing in the arena, instead of a lion, a chicken came out of the cage, causing general merriment. Gallienus announced: "He deceived and was deceived himself," after which he let the merchant go home.

Authors: Jimmy Wales, Larry Sanger

Random interesting fact from the Great Encyclopedia:

What are lichens?

Lichens are plants without roots, leaves or flowers. Despite the latter circumstance, some of them have a rather attractive appearance. The color of lichens varies from light gray or whitish to bright green.

Lichens grow almost everywhere on our planet, and the list of their species includes about 16 names. They can be found in sun-scorched deserts and on the bare rocks of Antarctica. They adapt to life in any conditions: abandoned lands, stones, poor soil, dead trees, tree bark. They are not afraid of neither heat, nor cold, nor dampness, nor an arid climate. Almost the only place where they do not meet are cities: harmful dust, smoke from factory chimneys and other "charms" of city life turn out to be disastrous for them!

In fact, any lichen is not one, but two plants, which, however, form a single living organism. One of these plants is a fungus and the other is an algae. Most of the lichen is a grayish filamentous fungus, between the fibers of which are green algae cells.

Algae, being a green plant, can produce food for itself, while a non-green fungus cannot. Therefore, the "mushroom" part of the lichen feeds on algae, and that, in turn, uses the moisture absorbed from the environment by the fungus, which also provides it with shelter from adverse conditions.

Such a relationship between living organisms, when each of them benefits from the strengths of the other, is called symbiosis, which in Greek means "coexistence."

Lichens grow very slowly, but live quite a long time. Some of the lichen colonies known to scientists have existed for about two thousand years! Some species of lichen reproduce by spores, but most still do this with the help of small pieces of adult plants carried by wind or animals to new habitats, or special processes that easily break off from the mother stem.

Lichens are the very first among plants to appear on absolutely bare rocks. Then, very slowly, but inevitably, they begin to destroy the surface layer of the rock, turning it into stony dust. It is she, together with dead and decaying lichens, that forms the first thin layer of soil, on which other plants gradually begin to settle down.

Test your knowledge! Did you know...

▪ Who discovered hypnosis?

▪ What is dodecaphony in music?

▪ Why do fish in huge flocks move and turn in sync?

See other articles Section Big encyclopedia. Questions for quiz and self-education.

Read and write useful comments on this article.

<< Back

Latest news of science and technology, new electronics:

A New Way to Control and Manipulate Optical Signals 05.05.2024

The modern world of science and technology is developing rapidly, and every day new methods and technologies appear that open up new prospects for us in various fields. One such innovation is the development by German scientists of a new way to control optical signals, which could lead to significant progress in the field of photonics. Recent research has allowed German scientists to create a tunable waveplate inside a fused silica waveguide. This method, based on the use of a liquid crystal layer, allows one to effectively change the polarization of light passing through a waveguide. This technological breakthrough opens up new prospects for the development of compact and efficient photonic devices capable of processing large volumes of data. The electro-optical control of polarization provided by the new method could provide the basis for a new class of integrated photonic devices. This opens up great opportunities for ... >>

Primium Seneca keyboard 05.05.2024

Keyboards are an integral part of our daily computer work. However, one of the main problems that users face is noise, especially in the case of premium models. But with the new Seneca keyboard from Norbauer & Co, that may change. Seneca is not just a keyboard, it is the result of five years of development work to create the ideal device. Every aspect of this keyboard, from acoustic properties to mechanical characteristics, has been carefully considered and balanced. One of the key features of Seneca is its silent stabilizers, which solve the noise problem common to many keyboards. In addition, the keyboard supports various key widths, making it convenient for any user. Although Seneca is not yet available for purchase, it is scheduled for release in late summer. Norbauer & Co's Seneca represents new standards in keyboard design. Her ... >>

The world's tallest astronomical observatory opened 04.05.2024

Exploring space and its mysteries is a task that attracts the attention of astronomers from all over the world. In the fresh air of the high mountains, far from city light pollution, the stars and planets reveal their secrets with greater clarity. A new page is opening in the history of astronomy with the opening of the world's highest astronomical observatory - the Atacama Observatory of the University of Tokyo. The Atacama Observatory, located at an altitude of 5640 meters above sea level, opens up new opportunities for astronomers in the study of space. This site has become the highest location for a ground-based telescope, providing researchers with a unique tool for studying infrared waves in the Universe. Although the high altitude location provides clearer skies and less interference from the atmosphere, building an observatory on a high mountain poses enormous difficulties and challenges. However, despite the difficulties, the new observatory opens up broad research prospects for astronomers. ... >>

Random news from the Archive

Decision problem 08.09.2015

Scientists from the University of Zurich have found out what processes in the brain make it difficult for us to make decisions. It turned out to be the intensity of the flow of information.

We all sometimes face indecision, we cannot choose what to eat, where to go or what to see. Scientists from the University of Zurich have found that our determination and willingness to stick to a decision depends on the intensity of communication between two areas in the brain that represent our preferences or are involved in spatial orientation and action planning.

Using transcranial magnetic stimulation, a completely non-invasive method of affecting the brain, the researchers increased or decreased the intensity of the information flow between the prefrontal cortex of the brain and the parietal cortex just behind the ears. A group of subjects who knew nothing about stimulation had to decide what kind of food they liked based either on their preferences or purely sensory input.

It turned out that with a decrease in the flow of information, people had difficulty deciding what they liked more. When the decision was made solely on the basis of the appearance or smell of the food, the intensity of the flow did not affect the decision. As Dr. Christian Raff, lead researcher, explains, "The connection between the two parts of the brain is only important when we decide what we like. When the decision is based on objective facts, it does not play a big role."

No gender difference was observed in the results of the experiment. The intensification of the flow of information did not affect more active decision-making, although according to the researchers only young and healthy people took part in the experiment, and what effect such a procedure would have on people with weakened brain activity, remains to be seen. The result of the study is already being considered from a therapeutic point of view, to correct indecision or vice versa impulsivity, which are consequences of brain diseases.

Other interesting news:

▪ You can lose weight in the mountains

▪ VIA Mobile360 Platform for Automotive Security Systems

▪ Found a way to increase brain tissue by 20 times

▪ Monitor for the blind

▪ Cells responsible for alcohol cravings discovered

News feed of science and technology, new electronics

Interesting materials of the Free Technical Library:

▪ section of the Electrician website. PUE. Article selection

▪ article Extreme emergency situations in urban transport. Fundamentals of safe life

▪ article What role did Russian emigrants play in the development of US aviation? Detailed answer

▪ article Pineapple grass. Legends, cultivation, methods of application

▪ article Steering wheel and pedals to the computer. Encyclopedia of radio electronics and electrical engineering

▪ article Babies from the stroller. Focus Secret

Leave your comment on this article:

All languages of this page

Home page | Library | Articles | Website map | Site Reviews