as small as a world and as large as alone

10:13pm July 3, 2013

odditiesoflife:

Death by Beard: A Long-Running Internet Story Debunked

You might have read this story on any number of websites, including this one. It’s an old story about Hans Langseth, also known as ‘King Whiskers’, who supposedly died after tripping on his beard while running from a fire. It is true that Hans at one time had the world’s longest beard. It measured a total length of 18½ feet. However, Hans Langseth did not die because of his beard.

Hundreds of websites and blogs across the world have incorrectly reported this story. A man named Hans Steininger supposedly died after tripping over his 4½ foot beard while running from a fire. However this was reported to have occurred in the year 1567.

Since photography did not exist 450 years ago, there is no picture of Hans Steininger. Both men were named “Hans" and both men had long beards. Someone started this Internet myth by matching a very old story with a picture of the wrong man. How did we all miss the year?

source 1, 2, 3, 4

Wow I wish I could grow a beard that long, it’d be cool.

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