Unusual and Interesting Photos from Around the World Taken in the 20th Century (21 photos)

I present to you a selection of colorized photographs that were taken in the early and mid-20th century and are a wonderful illustration of life in European countries at that time.





A eunuch guarding a harem. Tunisia, 1931.

A eunuch is a man who has been castrated (removed of his genitals) either for medical purposes or for social or cultural reasons. In history, the term was most often used to refer to people who served in harems, imperial palaces, or other places where special "immunity" to women or children was required. Eunuchs played an important role in various cultures, especially in ancient and medieval societies.

In different countries and at different times, there were fundamental differences between the appearance, rights, and prospects of eunuchs. And here's another thing: "White-skinned guys served exclusively in the male half of the palace, and dark-skinned slaves looked after the female. And if one of the girls became pregnant, then at birth a black baby would be born. And there would be no doubt about who the father was."



A lost puppy. Canada, 1959.

Albert Clarmo of the Ottawa SPCA prepares to return a lost puppy to a young boy.





A guffa (traditional round boat) on the Tigris, Baghdad, 1932.

Since ancient times, these boats were made of twigs like a large basket and coated with hot bitumen in several layers, which made them completely waterproof. Bitumen was mined right there in Mesopotamia, in numerous places where oil came to the surface. In Vietnam, such boats are called "tungchai", and in India - "parisal".



Swimming lesson. Toronto, Canada, 1908.

When you drown, you start grabbing everything with your hands, and that's where a stick helps. If you can't grab a stick, then it's time to lift you up manually.



Building an igloo. Eskimos of North America, 1924.

The Eskimos are an indigenous people who inhabit the arctic and subarctic regions of North America, Greenland, and parts of Siberia. In modern terminology, the word "Eskimo" is considered obsolete or even disrespectful, and the self-designation Inuit is more often used instead.



View of Istanbul, 1930s.



Karnak Temple. Egypt, 1989.

Karnak Temple is one of the most majestic and large-scale religious complexes of ancient Egypt, located in the city of Luxor (former Thebes) on the banks of the Nile. This temple complex was dedicated to the god Amun-Ra, as well as other important deities of the Egyptian pantheon, such as Mut and Khonsu.



Aleut women harvesting grass for weaving. Attu Island, 1909.

Attu Island is part of the United States, and according to Wikipedia, there is currently no population there.



The first women to wear shorts on the streets of Toronto in 1937. The local photo studio Alexandra Studios organized an advertising photo shoot, for which two female photo models walked the streets of Toronto with bare legs and in short shorts, which for that sanctimonious time was a real shock to the foundations of public morality - they could take you to the police station for lesser "sins".



A group of people at the entrance to the Aden County Prison in the port city of Aden, Yemen, 1959.



Photographer: Chris Ware

Karnak Temple, Egypt, 1910.



A street scene in Cavite, Philippines, 1930s.



Philippines, 1930.

Carrying water in bamboo is a traditional method of transporting water that has been and continues to be used in some regions of the world, particularly in Southeast Asia, Central Africa, and the Pacific Islands. This method demonstrates the amazing adaptability of humans to natural resources and is an example of a simple yet effective solution to providing access to water.



Giant Olmec Stone Head in Mexico, 1938.

The Olmec Giant Stone Heads in Mexico are at least seventeen monumental stone sculptures in the form of human heads, made from large basalt boulders. The first such head was found in 1862 in La Venta.



Photographer: Richard Stewart

The Colossi of Memnon, statues of Pharaoh Amenhotep III. Thebes, Egypt, 1910s.

The statues originally adorned the entrance to the vast temple complex of Amenhotep III, located on the west bank of the Nile near Thebes.



Girls in a Cuban bar, 1950s.



A kebab (fried meat) vendor surrounded by cats. Istanbul, 1952.

Cats appeared in Istanbul (former Constantinople) in ancient times as reliable assistants to humans. They actively hunted rodents, which was especially important for a port city, where food warehouses were often attacked by mice and rats.

In the Middle Ages, cats helped fight the plague, as they reduced the population of rodents that carried the disease.

Also in Islam, cats are considered clean animals, and the example of careful treatment of them was the Prophet Muhammad himself, which is why the Turks love these animals so much.



Photographer: Roger Viollet

Bedouins in front of the Great Pyramids of Giza. Egypt, 1910.



Banana plantations. Guatemala, 1905.

Banana plantations in Guatemala are a key element of the country's economy and history, having had a significant impact on its development in the 20th century. Guatemala has become one of the largest banana exporting countries due to its favorable climate, fertile soil, and strategic location.



Camels on the beach in Palestine, 1931.