Batman: More Meanings Than You’d Think

On this lovely Sunday afternoon, we would like to share one of our favorite internet secrets: The Wikipedia page Batman (Disambiguation). Did you know that the ancient Persian batman weighed about six and a half pounds?

We were surprised at how many other things Batman refers to, but we were not surprised that most of them are comedy gold. 

The pages can be grouped roughly in two sections: Batman, a place in Turkey, and John Batman, an Australian historical figure.

Batman, Turkey is a town in the province of Batman, with a 2005 population of 246,700.  Its quite close to the Batman River.  According to Wikipedia, Batman’s mayor considered suing Christopher Nolan and Warner Brothers for use of the name in 2008, “placing the blame for a number of unsolved murders and a high female suicide rate on the psychological impact that [Batman Begins‘] success has had on the city’s inhabitants.”

Key Wikipedia quotes:

• There is also a regional airport near Batman.
• Presently the population of Batman faces a high level of unemployment.

However, it is in the article regarding John Batman, Australian settler, where we feel Wikipedia really shines.  John B., as we shall call him, made his name by founding Melbourne and brokering a questionable treaty between white and aboriginal Australians.

Yes, it’s known as the Batman Treaty, and “Batman maintained until his death in 1839 that the treaty was valid.”

Moving on to the John B. article itself:

• In December 1825, or early 1826, Batman captured the notorious bushranger called Matthew Brady.

Well that sounds about ri-

• Batman was diagnosed with syphilis in 1833.
• When he found the current site of central Melbourne he noted in his diary, “This will be the place for a village.” and declared the land “Batmania”.

But they called it Melbourne, disappointing everyone, everywhere.  Anyway, John B. started building himself a house there, and it soon became known as Batman’s Hill, and the surrounding area would be made into the Division of Batman for electoral purposes, and trains regularly stop at the Batman Station.

For more, please check out the Wikipedia page: Batman (Disambiguation)