Nothing more sardonic than impending death

Sardinia is a place best known for, well, not a whole lot. But today, they can give us a smile when they say that, because it will most likely be sardonic. Scientists have found that the Oenanthe crocata, better known as the hemlock water-dropwort, has alcohols in it that will give you a bitter kind of a smile, thus being the origin of the term “sardonic.”

Old people were usually give the alcohol because they are a burden on society (and still are), then they would be thrown off a high rock or beaten to death. Odds are they had toothless sardonic smiles on their faces.

2 thoughts on “Nothing more sardonic than impending death”

  1. Well, Sardinia is a place best known, at least, for:
    1) its beautiful beaches;
    2) thousands of unique archaeological sites;
    3) delicious pecorino cheese;
    4) one of the longest life expectancies in the world.

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