
The first-ever scientific encyclopedia, written by Pliny the Elder in 77 C.E., devoted an entire chapter to menstruation. According to the entry, menstruating women could kill crops and drive dogs mad.
Filmmaker Lina Lyte Plioplyte says Pliny the Elder's misconceptions have persisted throughout history: "[The] majority of the world's religions deem periods 'dirty,'" she says. "I'm like, why? Let's take a look under the carpet."