5 Ridiculous Old-School Theories About the Universe That People Still Believe

Earth Is an Island in the Watery Universe

Many ancient cultures, including the Babylonians and early Hindus, believed that Earth was just a flat island floating in an endless cosmic ocean. Above you was the sky-dome; below you was infinite water held back by… well, nobody really explained that part. Rain was just holes in the sky-dome leaking. Rivers flowed because they were trying to go home to the big ocean. And nobody ever asked what was holding up the ocean. Classic.