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  1. A Stitch in Time Saves Nine: The Crafty Story of Embroidery in Medieval Manuscripts

    Even though paper would eventually come to be more popular, parchment was the preferred material for book making, and eventually printing, throughout the middle ages. Parchment, used before the rise of paper between the 5th and 13th centuries, is made from the thin membranes of the flesh of an animal, typically a cow or sheep. It is quite difficult to produce; thus, it is expensive. Only the very wealthy could afford good parchment - leaving the torn or imperfect parchment to lower classes.

    Veronica Parkes - 02/03/2017 - 18:59

  2. The Secret Tunnels and Missing Manuscripts of Mont Sainte-Odile Abbey

    The ancient monastery of Mont Sainte-Odile in the French region of Alsace is steeped in mystery. From secret tunnels to the strange disappearance of more than 1,000 ancient books, it has many a story to tell over its 1,300-year history.

    Kerry Sullivan - 25/09/2016 - 14:50

  3. Sherborne Missal: 44-Pound Medieval Masterpiece Goes Digital

    The British Library has digitized one of the most remarkable medieval books ever made in England. The Sherborne Missal contains many paintings on a vast array of subjects. Many of the images are masterpieces of English illumination art. Putting the Sherborne Missal into a digital format means that more people can admire this work of art and gain new insights into Medieval life.

    Ed Whelan - 30/08/2020 - 13:58

  4. The Ancient Text That Describes Jesus as a Shapeshifter

    It was in March 2013 when reports flooded the headlines about a newly deciphered Egyptian text, dating back almost 1,200 years, which controversially described Jesus as having the ability to change shape. But just as quickly as the story made its way through major news sites around the world, it disappeared and has hardly been mentioned since. Why has the study and research surrounding this text faded into oblivion? Why has there been virtually no scholarly debate on the subject of Jesus as a shapeshifter?

    aprilholloway - 16/12/2021 - 17:22

  5. Former Home of South African Statesman Rumored To Be Haunted

    The farmstead of General Jan Smuts on the outskirts of Pretoria, South Africa is reputed to be one of the most haunted private homes in the country, according to Mr. Mark Rose-Christie, raconteur and social scientist, who regularly takes brave visitors on a tour of haunted sites on his mystery ghost bus.

    micki pistorius - 27/05/2021 - 01:53

  6. The Oldest University in the World May Not Be Where You Think And the Founder May Also Surprise You

    Although many people would imagine that the oldest university in the world is in Europe or China, it’s not. The oldest standing university on Earth is in Morocco. Founded in 859 AD, Al-Qarawiyyin is recognized by UNESCO and the Guinness World Records as the oldest existing, continuously operating university, as well as the first institution to issue educational degrees. The University of Al-Qarawiyyin is located in the city of Fes, once a leading spiritual and educational center of the Muslim world.

    Kerry Sullivan - 22/12/2016 - 00:38

  7. Teenage Mummy Found with Fetus Trapped in Her Pelvis Shows Harsh Reality of Childbirth

    The full tragic story revealed by mummified remains of a female teenage mummy of just 14-17 years old, who died during childbirth, has been discovered by archaeologists in Egypt. What makes the find both horrifying and extraordinary at the same time, is one fetus and placenta found in the pelvic area, and another in the chest pointing to unresolved complications during childbirth nearly 1,500 years ago.

    Sahir - 28/12/2023 - 16:56

  8. What Would You Have Eaten for Christmas in Medieval Times?

    With Christmas almost upon us, there will be plenty of frenzied present shopping and meal planning. Haven’t made that Christmas cake yet? Fear not. If you were preparing the festive meal 600 years ago you’d have far more on your plate.

    The picture below is a calendar page from a Book of Hours, a type of prayer book popular among pious rich people in the Middle Ages. Apart from the costumes they are wearing, the people at the bottom of the page seem much like us – keeping warm and enjoying their food and drink.

    ancient-origins - 06/12/2016 - 14:49

  9. The Tripitaka Koreana: A Vast Trove of Buddhist Woodblock Wisdom

    The Tripitaka Koreana is a collection of Buddhist texts, laws, and treaties originally created during the 11th century by the Korean kingdom of Goryeo. The Tripitaka Koreana was carved onto woodblocks and stands as the most comprehensive and oldest intact version of Buddhist canon in Hanja script, with no known errors or errata. During the Mongol invasions, the original collection was destroyed. Shortly after that, however, a second set of the Tripitaka Koreana was created.

    dhwty - 18/05/2021 - 15:00

  10. Biblioteca Nazionale Marciana: A Treasure Trove of Ancient Manuscripts

    The main public square of the Italian city of Venice is the Piazza San Marco (St. Mark’s Square). Around this square are some of the most recognizable buildings in Venice. The most famous of these are the Basilica Cattedrale Patriarcale di San Marco (St. Mark’s Basilica) and its iconic bell tower, the Campanile di San Marco (St. Mark’s Campanile). As St. Mark is the patron saint of the city, it is little wonder that many of the public buildings in Venice are named after him.

    dhwty - 27/05/2015 - 00:09

  11. Mali Manuscripts Rescued and Digitized to Celebrate the Malian Renaissance

    Mali has recently been in the news for its decision to oust French troops from its territory. The French were originally summoned to prevent jihadists from taking control over Africa’s eighth-largest country nearly a decade ago. In the midst of this raging battle, thousands of manuscripts were smuggled to safety to escape the wrath of the terrorist groups that are renowned for their all-out assault on historical, social, and cultural artifacts and knowledge.

    Sahir - 11/03/2022 - 17:30

  12. Mapping the Menacing Sea Monsters in Medieval and Renaissance Cartography

    Until a few years ago, no serious consideration had been made of the many and varied representations of monsters found on world maps from the 10th century through to medieval and Renaissance times. Yet they made so many appearances for a reason. These monsters of the deep had caused concern – indeed struck fear into – sailors around the globe.

    aprilholloway - 18/08/2017 - 01:50

  13. Curious Cures: Cambridge to Publish Astonishing Medieval Medical Manuscripts

    The Cambridge University Library has just launched an ambitious new initiative that will result in the public release of an extensive collection of manuscripts from medieval times. The Curious Cures in Cambridge Libraries project is scheduled to continue for two years, and will involve the cataloguing and digitalization of more than 180 medieval medical manuscripts that will be uploaded and made available to scholars and members of the public through the university’s online collection.

    Nathan Falde - 20/08/2022 - 15:01

  14. The Lost Knowledge of the Ancients: Were Humans the First? Part 1

    Much of modern science was known in ancient times. Robots and computers were a reality long before the 1940´s. The early Bronze Age inhabitants of the Levant used computers in stone, the Greeks in the 2nd century BC invented an analogue computer known as the Antikythera mechanism. An ancient Hindu book gives detailed instructions for the construction of an aircraft –ages before the Wright brothers. Where did such knowledge come from?

    Sam Bostrom - 05/06/2017 - 02:08

  15. Dogs in the Middle Ages: What Medieval Writing Tells Us About Our Ancestors’ Pets

    Emily Savage/The Conversation

    In the Middle Ages, most dogs had jobs. In his book De Canibus, the 16th-century English physician and scholar John Caius described a hierarchy of dogs, which he classified first and foremost according to their function in human society.

    ancient origins - 27/01/2024 - 00:00

  16. More Revelations From St. Catherine’s Monastery Include Lost Ancient Languages

    Scientists have found languages not used since the “Dark Ages” among ancient manuscripts revealed at the St. Catherine’s monastery in Egypt. It is the latest findings to be released from the 1,500-year-old site that last month provided the earliest copies of texts from Greek physician Hippocrates.

    Theodoros Karasavvas - 30/08/2017 - 01:58

  17. The Norse Myths (The Pantheon Fairy Tale and Folklore Library)

    Here are thirty-two classic myths that bring the Viking world vividly to life. The mythic legacy of the Scandinavians includes a cycle of stories filled with magnificent images from pre-Christian Europe. Gods, humans, and monstrous beasts engage in prodigious drinking bouts, contests of strength, greedy schemes for gold, and lusty encounters. The Norse pantheon includes Odin, the wisest and most fearsome of the gods; Thor, the thundering powerhouse; and the exquisite, magic-wielding Freyja.

    ancient-origins - 23/06/2017 - 20:36

  18. The Library of Light and Shadow: A Novel (Daughters of La Lune)

    In this riveting and richly drawn novel from “one of the master storytellers of historical fiction” (New York Times bestselling author Beatriz Williams), a talented young artist flees New York for the South of France after one of her scandalous drawings reveals a dark secret—and triggers a terrible tragedy.

    ancient-origins - 22/07/2017 - 02:19

  19. History of the Conquest of Mexico (Modern Library Classics)

    "It is a magnificent epic," said William H. Prescott after the publication of History of the Conquest of Mexico in 1843. Since then, his sweeping account of Cortés's subjugation of the Aztec people has endured as a landmark work of scholarship and dramatic storytelling. This pioneering study presents a compelling view of the clash of civilizations that reverberates in Latin America to this day.

    ancient-origins - 06/07/2019 - 05:01

  20. The Norse Myths (The Pantheon Fairy Tale and Folklore Library)

    Here are thirty-two classic myths that bring the Viking world vividly to life. The mythic legacy of the Scandinavians includes a cycle of stories filled with magnificent images from pre-Christian Europe. Gods, humans, and monstrous beasts engage in prodigious drinking bouts, contests of strength, greedy schemes for gold, and lusty encounters. The Norse pantheon includes Odin, the wisest and most fearsome of the gods; Thor, the thundering powerhouse; and the exquisite, magic-wielding Freyja.

    ancient-origins - 18/03/2016 - 23:38

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