The famous Bayeux Tapestry was a magnificent product of embroidery and rich history which was imperative in preserving, as well as telling the tale, of the tale of William the Conqueror, with the events of the Norman Invasion and the Battle of Hastings following suit. It is one of the most significant pieces of illustrative art that had managed to survive the Middle Ages, surviving not just a century or two, but 900 years in total! That’s some impeccable stitching skills the women had back in the day!

For more information of the Bayeux Tapestry, here are 10 insane facts you need to know about the Bayeux Tapestry:

Fact 1: In its most literal sense, Bayeux tapestry is in fact, not tapestry at all. It is actually an incredibly long piece of embroidery. It measures about 50 centimeters by 70 meters, roughly 20 inches by 230 feet. That’s a long stretch! The two types of stitching necessary to produce the embroidering would be a combination of laid work and stem stitching.

Fact 2: The annotations which are found on the tapestry, you ask? They’re in Latin, the world’s oldest language, as well as the main language of written literature during the period of the Middle Ages. The Latin text depicted on the embroidery depicts epics, as well as battle events about the main character from popular myths, as well as bible stories and the like.

Fact 3: The person responsible for commissioning the tapestry would be Bishop Odo of Bayeux. He was also believed to be the patron of the tapestry.

Fact 4: The grand embroidered linen can be found showcased in a Museum located in Bayuex, France.

Fact 5: Great houses such as Canterbury, as well as Winchester, were famous for their incredible design and attention to detail in the art form that is Bayeux Tapestry.

Fact 6: The materials that went into creating these tapestries were as follows: Some wool yarn, vegetable dyes for the coloring, and a helluva a lot of patience and steady handiwork because there are 50 panels that go into one tapestry alone! Now that’s a challenge for grandmothers everywhere.

Fact 7: The embroidered masterpieces were such a big hit that a man named William Morris, alongside a business partner who goes by the name of Thomas Wardle and his wife Elizabeth, conceived the idea of mass producing them for the public. With a team of 30 mistresses, they were able to see their idea through.

Fact 8: What images are depicted on the tapestry, you ask? Brace yourself, and try not to feel so bad about the seamstresses who broke their backs and pushed their fingers to the bone creating and producing the linen artwork! On the Bayeux Tapestry you’ll be able to find: 623 characters, 55 dogs, 202 horses, birds, as well as mythical creatures that reach to about 506, 78 ships and buildings, 49 trees, as well as an incredible amount of Latin inscriptions which amount to 2,000 characters all and all. Now THAT’S a labor of love!

Fact 9: There were actually women featured on the tapestry, and among them were believed to be Edith, Edward the Confessor’s wife, as well as the sister of King Harold. Another woman who bore a name common to that era was Aelfgyva, who is seen fleeing the scene of a burning building.

Fact 10: There is a total of 8 colors that were used for the tapestry. The colors dark blue, a hue of bluish green, grey tones, touches of tan, splashes of yellow, as well as some light and dark green were some of them.