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Alcohol and its Consumption in Medieval Cairo: The Story of a Habit

Medievalists.net — Wed, 12 Aug 2015 02:57:24 +0000

Through the ages of Cairene history the alcoholic beverages, entangled in political and religious developments, depended more on prevailing doctrinal currents than on people’s habitual or taste inclinations. Therefore, the story of these beverages’ consumption is - not surprisingly - a turbulent one.

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Twelve Thousand Cooks and a Muhtasib: Some Remarks on Food Business in Medieval Cairo

Medievalists.net — Sun, 09 Aug 2015 02:52:58 +0000

The meals offered by street cooks were probably lacking in subtleness and elegancy if compared to the specialties served by the “caliphs’ kitchen” or by the Arabic-Islamic haute cuisine whose recipes were written down in the cookbooks for the elites

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10 Cool Facts about Saint Catherine

Medievalists.net — Wed, 22 Apr 2015 14:56:17 +0000

Saint Catherine of Alexandria and her wheel have been well recognized symbols since the beginning of the Middle Ages. Here are 10 interesting tidbits about Saint Catherine:

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Egyptian cemetery may contain one million graves from Roman and Byzantine eras

Medievalists.net — Mon, 22 Dec 2014 06:26:52 +0000

The announcement of a potentially huge gravesite in Egypt has led the world's media to make claims that a million mummies have been discovered. Now, the entire archaeological project might be in jeopardy.

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Unexpected Evidence concerning Gold Mining in Early Byzantium

Medievalists.net — Sun, 09 Nov 2014 16:40:28 +0000

One of the consequences of the decline of Roman imperial might was the shortage of slaves at state-run mines. Consequently, criminals were often sentenced to damnatio ad metallum. The need for gold especially soared when the gold solidus was introduced at the beginning of the fourth century.

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The Perils of Polygamy in 15th century Cairo

Medievalists.net — Thu, 06 Nov 2014 02:33:57 +0000

Under medieval Islamic law, a man could marry up to four women. However, if accounts from 15th century Egypt are indicative, it would be rare for such an arrangement to work out for all parties.

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Christian Charm Discovered on 1,500-year-old Tax Receipt

Medievalists.net — Thu, 11 Sep 2014 05:20:25 +0000

A 1,500 year old papyrus fragment found in The University of Manchester’s John Rylands Library has been identified as one the world’s earliest surviving Christian charms.

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Amending the Ascetic: Community and Character in the Old English Life of St. Mary of Egypt

Medievalists.net — Tue, 12 Aug 2014 13:44:53 +0000

Among the most eligible saints for such treatment, Mary of Egypt deserves particular consideration: her popularity is evidenced by over a hundred extant Greek manuscripts of her Life and her uniquely prominent position in the Lenten liturgical cycle in the Eastern Church.

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Restaurants, Inns and Taverns That Never Were: Some Reflections on Public Consumption in Medieval Cairo

Medievalists.net — Sat, 02 Aug 2014 21:07:09 +0000

The article shows that, contrary to a commonly accepted assumption, no public consumption facilities such as restaurants, taverns or inns existed in medieval Cairo.

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The Unwritten Chapter: Notes towards a Social and Religious History of Geniza Magic

Medievalists.net — Wed, 23 Jul 2014 18:21:45 +0000

How might the historian of religions write a social and religious history of Jewish magic in the medieval Islamicate world?

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