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A volvelle from a 14th century English manuscript is on display at the J. Paul Getty Museum. 	Source: The J. Paul Getty Museum/Getty

The Volvelle: The Medieval Equivalent of a Smartphone App?

Did you know that the ancestor of smartphone apps can be traced back to the Middle Ages? The volvelle, a paper-based interactive device, had a multifaceted role during its historical use. It...
Ross Castle in Killarney National Park is one of the most iconic castles in Ireland. Source: Gabriel Cassan / Adobe Stock

Fortresses of the Emerald Isle: Ireland's 10 Most Enchanting Castles

Ireland, affectionately called the Emerald Isle, is home to a very rich and long history. Across its picturesque valleys, dales, plains and hills, one can discover the enduring remnants of its...
The people of Tournai bury victims of the Black Death, circa 1353. Source: Public Domain

Black Women Were Primary Victims of Black Death in Medieval London

When the Black Death or bubonic plague epidemic ravaged London between the autumn of 1348 and the spring of 1350, it may have wiped out as much as half the city’s population. While the victims of...
One of nine medieval coins found in 2019 metal detecting rally.	Source: Royal Institution of Cornwall

Detectorist in England Finds Coins from 12th Century Reign of King Stephen

An incredibly rare collection of 12th century silver pennies was recently unearthed by an unnamed metal detectorist exploring near the village of Wymondham in the county of Norfolk in eastern England...
Circles are also very common and in many cases were made to ward off evil. Source: Lincolnshire Medieval Graffiti Project

Mysteries of Medieval Graffiti in England Investigated

The Lincoln Medieval Graffiti Project was founded in England back in 2013 to record the plethora of medieval graffiti found in churches throughout the county. According to the BBC , the strange...
Queen Adelaide wax bust from 1830. Ancient wax sculpture. Funeral effigy. Source: Timothy Millett/CC BY-SA 4.0, © Trustees of the British Museum /CC BY-NC-SA 4.0, Public Domain

Eerie Ancient Wax Sculptures For Hexing Enemies and Destroying Demons

The eerie, sightless stare of wax-figure mannequins disconcerts many an onlooker, but the famous wax museums of today which host hyper-realistic looking wax models of celebrities and historical wax...
Orange festival of Ivrea. Source: Umur / Adobe Stock.

Italy’s Battle of the Oranges Signifies a Maiden’s Revenge Against Her Lord

When one thinks of battles, the imagery that comes to mind usually involves swords, shields, and soldiers. But in a small town in Northern Italy, the weapon of choice is... oranges? Each year, Ivrea...
Three stacks of French love letters bound together by a ribbon, were finally opened by Cambridge University professor Renaud Morieux at the national archives, Kew. Source: The National Archives / Renaud Morieux

18th Century Love Letters Written to French Sailors Finally Opened and Read

More than two-and-a-half centuries after they were originally composed, more than 100 letters sent to members of the French navy by their loved ones have finally been opened and read. The messages...
The Garisenda Tower and Asinelli Tower in Bologna, Italy. Source: Aliaksei/Adobe Stock

The Iconic Garisenda Tower of Bologna Has Leaned Too Much!

A leaning tower in Italy is at it again, and no, it’s not in Pisa! Rather, it is the Garisenda Tower in Bologna, and officials have now closed it off, along with the central square adjacent to it,...
Main: An historical prosthetic hand (The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum). Inset: A scan of the prosthetic hand found in Freising (Bavarian State Office for Monument Preservation).

Archaeologists Unearth a Medieval Skeleton with a Prosthetic Hand

In an extraordinary archaeological discovery in Freising, Germany, experts have unearthed a medieval skeleton equipped with an iron prosthetic hand. The burial, dated to the 15th century, offers...
The knight’s rare medieval reliquary – an encolpion. Source: Institute of Archeology of the University of Lodz

Polish Archaeologists Find Rare Reliquary Belonging to a Medieval Knight

The “first fully systematic study of mound relics” in Poland’s Wozniki, a stronghold, has led to the discovery of a rarely encountered encolpion, i.e., a cross-shaped reliquary, from the structure...
Medieval serf. Source: Demian / Adobe Stock.

How Much It Sucked to Be a Medieval Serf (Video)

Medieval serfs endured a harsh existence, occupying the lowest rung of society . Unlike peasants, they couldn't sell themselves, though they weren't technically slaves. Lords in some regions could...
Roland at the Battle of Roncevaux holding the legendary Durandal sword. Source: Archivist / Adobe Stock

Durandal: The Epic Saga of Roland's Legendary Sword

Throughout history, renowned figures and legendary heroes have been associated with mythical swords. Excalibur , linked to King Arthur of Camelot, and the Zulfiqar, believed to have been a divine...
Victim of the Battle of Visby in 1361. Source: Gotland Excursion

The Harrowing Remains of the Battle of Visby's Medieval Massacre

The Battle of Visby was a violent medieval battle near the town of Visby on the Swedish island of Gotland, fought between the inhabitants of Gotland and the Danes, with the latter emerging victorious...
Medieval armor was hot and heavy. Source: designprojects / Adobe Stock.

Wearing Medieval Knight’s Armor Could Be Fatal (Video)

Medieval armor , often depicted as a symbol of invincibility, had its share of drawbacks that made it more perilous than going unprotected. These metal suits , while impressive, posed several...
Medieval soldier eating junk food. Source: master1305 / Adobe Stock.

What Medieval Junk Food Was Like (Video)

Medieval Europe's fast food, born out of necessity, offers a glimpse into a different culinary era . Cook shops along London's bustling Thames provided hot meals for travelers and the impoverished ...
Medieval stocks. Source: Arkady Chubykin / Adobe Stock.

What It Was Like to Be in the Stocks? (Video)

During Medieval times stocks and pillories were employed as forms of punishment , the experience for those confined in them was far from pleasant. Stocks, restraining the feet, and pillories, which...
Costume armor of German mercenary infantry troops. Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art / Public Domain.

The Armor That Broke Away from All Established Standards (Video)

This exceptional piece of armor at the New York Met defies conventional expectations. Rather than a tool for battle, it takes on the role of ceremonial attire, drawing inspiration from the fashion...
Guédelon Castle, France. Source: Atlantis / Adobe Stock.

Building a Medieval Replica Castle Using Ancient Techniques (Video)

In the realm of modern carpentry , where power tools often reign supreme, Christophe, a skilled French-Canadian Carpenter, embarks on a unique challenge. He's part of a team constructing Guédelon...
The Belles Herues of Jean de France, duc de Berry. The Metropolitan Museum of Art / Public Domain.

The Teen Prodigies Behind This 15th Century French Picture Book (Video)

Within the realm of 15th-century French artistry , the Belles Heures emerges as a striking showcase of the Limbourg Brothers' talents. This exquisitely crafted manuscript, commissioned by Jean de...
Left; One of the trenches during the excavation of the medieval palace in Scotland. Right; Previously dug walls at the site. Source: HARP /Ancrum Heritage

Medieval Palace Unearthed: Archaeologists Swarm Scottish Borders

Thirty years ago, a dowser identified lines of stones beneath a harvested field outside the village of Ancrum, in the Scottish Borders. Now, a team of archaeologists and students from around the...
Crusader knight. Source: vitanovski / Adobe Stock.

What Life Was Like for a Medieval Crusader (Video)

In the era between 1096 and 1271, the Crusades unfolded as a dynamic clash of cultures, reshaping two continents. Yet, life for a medieval Crusader was far from uniform. Noble knights and commoners...
Fresco depicting the Virgin Mary holding Baby Jesus. Source: Giorgio G / Adobe Stock.

Why Do Babies in Medieval Art Look Like Creepy Middle-Aged Men? (Video)

In medieval art, depictions of babies are far from the cherubic, innocent infants we imagine today. Instead, they appear as miniature adults, complete with mature features that can be quite...
Assumption of Mary Church on Lake Bled Island, Slovenia. Source: zgphotography / Adobe Stock.

The Medieval Church on Slovenia’s Emerald Lake (Video)

Situated approximately 30 miles from Slovenia's capital, Ljubljana, a captivating alpine lake graces the landscape. Lake Bled, adorned with a picturesque cliff-side castle , offers a serene ambiance...

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