medieval marginalia

read all about it! medievalmarginalia.substack.com/p/medieval-p...

Chapter 1 of Moby Dick, page 1 The phrase ‘Call me Ishmael’, the first sentence of the book, is highlighted in blue, with careful highlighting on the very big C at the start. Above this, written in ballpoint pen ‘His name’

Love the glimpse into the beautiful mind that notated this used copy of Moby Dick I got

Pieter Bruegel the Elder’s The Blind Leading the Blind. A little late for medieval, but shh, let me have this one. I could stare at the details all day.

eyyyy

On Medieval Widowhood marriage, property, and survival in the middle ages

I've been fascinated by the ways medieval women found autonomy. A few weeks ago I wrote about anchoresses. This week, a far more fun way to find freedom and occasionally power: widowhood.
medievalmarginalia.substack.com/p/on-medieva...

I'm going to need everyone to be really, really normal about this

two wise men nourished by Wisdom. Aurora Consurgens, s. Rh. 172 Parchemin, 100 f.

An 14th-15th century ‘coarse border ware’ condiment dish. Found in a London cesspit.
Appears to be in great condition.
Which makes me think someone dropped it in by accident.
Which makes me think someone was snacking on the toilet!
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2020...

every time I’m at tate britain I love seeing hoards of women flocked around this painting like a siren’s call, dragging half interested men to Gaze Upon Her

need her on a shirt stat

veritable treasure trove on early internet medieval sites

Pick up the nearest book. Turn to page 42, post the second sentence.

"She spoke with such softness that it struck Fernand to the depth of his soul like a blow from a dagger."

The Count of Monte Cristo, Alexandre Dumas

felt like I was reading @joannapocock.bsky.social for a second

The lustful in flames, Purgatorio XXV. From Dante’s Divine Comedy. Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana, Vatican City. Ms. 365, fol. 171v

Spending an hour googling some guy you then don’t ever mention in the piece, one of the many sweet writing feelings the machines can never replace

my son’s interpretation of Charles Babbage is really just 🤌

Illuminating Data: From Medieval Scriptoria to the Cyber-Saint how sacred traditions meet digital devotion

Anyone else feel there’s a hidden continuity between the Middle Ages and the Internet?

open.substack.com/pub/medieval...

These Très Riches Heures/Bayeux Tapestry images from a Meriden, CT Burger King !!!!!!! Why can nothing be fanciful anymore.

👋

Abby! Doing my job for me. But there’s a certain je ne sais quoi about scratching the earth for your grave with your fingernails 💅🏼

The church changed their opinion on how much (if any) reading was to be done outside of very specific texts over the years. But we have evidence that some anchoresses worked as scribes. Pretty cool.

Sign me up tbh.

So You've Decided To Become Dead To The World on becoming an anchoress

post up about anchoresses!

substack.com/@medievalmar...

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Mother Joan of the Angels (Matka Joanna od Aniołów) dir: Jerzy Kawalerowicz 📽️ mother Joan looking contrite in her habit asking is it my fault I am possessed by eight powerful demons?

😔

yup, sounds exactly like where the books should be

as a longtime former bookseller who LOVED leaving signs all over the place, this pleased me (here are some of mine)

but also this one