Medieval Birds of Prey Feasted on Human Waste, Study Finds
Birds of prey in medieval Britain relied heavily on scavenging human waste and scraps, a new study has revealed.
Stealing Horses, Losing Feet: Crusader Animal Laws
There were many strange quirks associated with the justice systems of the Crusader States. They were, after all, on the frontiers of Christendom and many aspects of their law books were arcane in the extreme.
How Medieval Armies Cared for Their Warhorses
This article explores how medieval armies looked after their warhorses, from initial preparations to the challenges they faced on campaign.
Training Royal Horses for Warfare: A Medieval Mastery
Their journey from colts to combat-ready mounts showcases the remarkable fusion of science, tradition, and skill in medieval horse training.
How to Buy a Medieval Warhorse
Owning a warhorse was more than a necessity for medieval knights—it was a symbol of their status and a critical asset in battle. England’s warrior aristocracy had multiple avenues to secure these prized animals, ranging from bustling horse fairs to deals with foreign merchants and independent traders.
1,065 Unique Dog Names from the Middle Ages
Looking for the perfect name for your dog? A late medieval treatise may have just what you need—it lists 1,065 unique names for dogs.
How Pigs Shaped Medieval Life: Surprising Roles in Politics, Warfare, and Law
From scavengers cleaning city streets to symbols of royal power, pigs left an indelible mark on medieval history—often in the most unusual ways.
Describe the jaw of a crocodile’: Leonardo da Vinci’s Animal Anatomies
Leonardo also studied and dissected animals at many points of his career. His subjects included horses, bears, monkeys, frogs, dogs and oxen – as surrogates for human material, as independent subjects of study, and on occasion to compare explicitly human and animal anatomy.
New Medieval Books: Raiders, Rulers, and Traders
A sweeping history from prehistoric times to the 20th century, this book examines how the horse helped shaped civilization along the Eurasian Steppe. Several chapters focus on medieval empires, including the Turks, Mongols and Timurids.
Vikings and Indigenous North Americans: New Walrus DNA Study Reveals Early Arctic Encounters
New DNA research reveals that Norse Vikings ventured into the High Arctic centuries ago, meeting Indigenous Arctic peoples and navigating treacherous waters to harvest walrus ivory.
From Antiquity to the Middle Ages: The White Stork’s Journey Across Europe
How ancient is this bond between humans and storks? Where did it first form, and how has it evolved over time?
A Medieval Cat’s Paw Print: How a Mischievous Feline Made its Mark on History
Imagine stumbling upon a centuries-old manuscript and discovering an unexpected visitor had left its mark – a cat’s paw, immortalised in ink. This quirky image, a medieval equivalent of your cat jumping on your keyboard, has captivated social media for over ten years.
Medieval Falconry with Yannis Hadjinicolaou
In the Middle Ages, falconry was one of the most popular pastimes across the known world. More than just a pleasant diversion in the countryside, it was a way to show status, education, sophistication, and leadership. This week on The Medieval Podcast, Danièle speaks with Yannis Hadjinicolaou about why falconry was so widely beloved, and such a popular metaphor for both love and power.
Did the Knights Templar Keep a Pet Crocodile? A Medieval Mystery Unveiled
The Knights Templar, renowned for their military prowess and mystique, may have had an unusual companion at their headquarters in Acre—a pet crocodile.…
Birds of Night: The Role of the Owl in Medieval European Anti-Judaism
In medieval Europe, the nocturnal owl became a dark symbol intertwined with the prejudices of the time, representing Jews as dwellers in spiritual darkness. This unsettling association played a significant role in the era’s widespread anti-Judaism, influencing both religious beliefs and violent actions.
New Medieval Books: Saints and Sinners on Horseback
A collection of 11 essays dealing with horses and their riders in the Middle Ages and Early Modern Era. They range from those animals mentioned in saints’ lives to those who were just being stolen in the English countryside.
New Medieval Books: The Medieval Pig
Everything you want to know about pigs in medieval Europe. It ranges from how they were farmed in the countryside and city to how they were depicted in literature and art – and of course, how they ended up on people’s dinner plates.
New Study Challenges Dinosaur Fossil Origins of the Griffin Myth
A widely-promoted claim that dinosaur fossils inspired the legend of the griffin, a mythological creature popular in medieval bestiaries, has been challenged in a new study.
30 Charming Medieval Sayings about Cats and Dogs
Medieval people loved to talk about cats and dogs, and they came up with many fun phrases about them. Here are thirty of these charming sayings.
Viking Age Horses Crossed Baltic Sea for Sacrificial Rituals, New Study Reveals
Horses crossed the Baltic Sea in ships during the Late Viking Age and were sacrificed for funeral rituals, according to research from Cardiff University.
Medieval Squirrels Linked to Spread of Leprosy in Humans
Squirrels in England carried leprosy bacteria as early as the Middle Ages. An international team of researchers has revealed a link between the pathogens found in the animals and people from a medieval leprosarium.
New Medieval Books: The Deorhord
This book reveals what Old English sources had to say about animals, both real and imaginary. If there was a bestiary written in early medieval England it would look something like this.
Medieval horse cemetery reveals international equine trade
Archaeological analysis of a near-unique animal cemetery discovered in London nearly 30 years ago has revealed the international scale of horse trading by the elites of late medieval and Tudor England.
Why are there Ostrich Eggs in Medieval Churches?
The peculiar practice of placing ostrich eggs in medieval church sanctuaries has left historians and theologians puzzled for centuries.