What Your Birthstone Meant in the Middle Ages
Most of us today are probably familiar with the concept of birthstones—precious gems associated with each month, like a petrological Zodiac. It turns out birthstones are more or less an invention of modern jewelry manufacturers, whose meanings all boil down to “Buy this ring.” But this is boring. So I thought, why not make birthstones mean something today by looking at their superpowers according to the Middle Ages?
Souvenirs and City Branding in the Experience of the Roman world, with Maggie Popkin
A conversation with Maggie Popkin about souvenirs in the Roman world, how they tie in with city identities and city branding, and the experience of travel. These portable objects shaped how people thought of places and the Roman world as a whole, from its attractions and experiences to its religious cults.
Medieval Silk Seal Bag Links Westminster Abbey to Charlemagne’s Shrine
A medieval silk seal bag, dating from the reign of King Henry III, has gone on public display for the first time in the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Galleries at Westminster Abbey. Scholars have discovered that this rare artifact is a perfect match to the silk cloth used to wrap the remains of Emperor Charlemagne, who is buried in Aachen Cathedral in Germany.
Scribbles in Hats or the Afterlives of Mediaeval Arabic Documents
In this lecture, el-Leithy will present a set of paper fragments found in an unlikely place: the inside of medieval hats.
New Medieval Books: Zoomorphic Incense Burners of Medieval Khurasan
In the medieval world, incense burners were a popular item, often crafted with great skill. This book explores how artisans in Central Asia shaped these metal burners into forms like lions, horses, and other animals, creating a unique and thriving industry.
Grisly Power Plays: Did Medieval Rulers Drink from Enemy Skulls?
Did medieval kings really drink from the skulls of their enemies, or is this just one of history’s grisly exaggerations?
New Medieval Books: Touching Parchment
These two volumes, both open-access, reveals how medieval people physically interacted with books. This went way beyond just reading them – these manuscripts would be kissed, sworn upon, displayed publicly and more. It’s a fascinating look at how books were more than the words written on them in the Middle Ages.
From Iran to Scotland: Viking-Age Treasure’s Journey Unveiled
New research and conservation efforts have unveiled the Iranian origin of a lidded vessel that held many of the unique treasures in the Galloway Hoard. This revelation comes just in time for the vessel’s public debut, marking the 10th anniversary of the hoard’s discovery.
The Royal Red Tents: A Symbol of Power in Medieval Afghan History
Scarlet pavilions once stood as vivid symbols of medieval kingship, where the color red signified royal power and ancient traditions. Dive into the story of how these iconic tents shaped and reflected the authority of Afghan rulers in a medieval world.
Stone of Destiny fragment analyzed
Historic Environment Scotland has carried out a series of cutting-edge, non-destructive scientific analyses of the sandstone fragment, comparing it to previous examinations of the Stone of Destiny.
Medieval game pieces discovered in Germany
A team of archaeologists in Germany has discovered a medieval games collection including a well-preserved chessman, gaming pieces and dice. Dating to the 11th or 12th century, the game pieces were found during excavations of a long-forgotten castle.
Drinking Horns in the Middle Ages
Ten things to know about medieval drinking horns.
New Medieval Books: Islam in Europe
A catalogue that showcased the exhibition ‘Islam in Europe’ held at the Sam Fogg gallery in London in 2023. It details over 60 items that were part of the exhibition ranging from ceramics to carpets.
Beautiful medieval brooches discovered in England and Wales
Several spectacular medieval brooches have been recently discovered in England and Wales. They include finds from both the early and later Middle Ages.
Warming the Soul: The Forgotten Role of Handwarmers in Medieval Worship
In the realm of medieval liturgy, where sacred rituals and ceremonies unfolded in the hallowed halls of cathedrals and monasteries, a surprising yet practical element played a role in ensuring the comfort of clergy and worshippers alike: handwarmers.
The Gift of Narrative in Medieval England
This book places medieval narratives in dialogue with theories and practices of gift and gift exchange.
“Tempera in questa aqua”: Experimenting with Impact of Medieval Quenching Recipes on Steel Hardness
We used two medieval recipes–one from Caterina Sforza’s ca. 1490 recipe collection and one from the pseudo-Dohbringer German commonplace book — to prepare two different quenching liquids.
The Vegetable Saint
My talk today explores the relationship between the True Cross, its legendary history and the category of miraculous carved crucifixes made from trees growing in a German countryside in the 14th century.
New Medieval Books: A Cultural History of the Medieval Sword
A look at how later medieval society viewed swords as an important item and symbol. it was not just nobles and knights who wanted to wield this weapon; there were many others who held the sword in high regard, and wanted to carry it and be trained in how to use it.
Medieval Beds: Two Examples from 1488
What should a medieval bed look like? A contract from 1488 gives many details about two custom-made beds.
Medieval Toys
In honour of the new Barbie movie, Danièle talks about the games medieval children played, and the toys they played with.
10 Famous Swords of the Middle Ages
Perhaps no other item defines the Middle Ages as much as the sword. Here is our list of ten swords – real and fictional – which became famous during the Middle Ages.
Lead mining and lead pollution in the Roman world, with Paul Stephenson
A conversation with Paul Stephenson about the impact of lead mining and smelting on the miners themselves, the communities around them, and on plants, animals, and human beings across the Roman Empire. This is part of a broader and ongoing project on metallurgy and environmental violence.
Researchers discover what’s inside medieval pendant using neutrons
In 2008, a gold-plated pendant was discovered in Mainz, Germany. Researchers believed that the pendant was around 800 years old, and that something was hidden inside of it. However, trying to physically open it could damage the artifact. Therefore, they decided to scan the pendant with a neutron beam.