Tag: Medieval
In the Medieval period, monkeys were a stand in for depraved humanity, often appearing in the margins of illuminated manuscripts. The prayer book written for Charles V. of Austria …
To medieval Europeans, elephants were equally ‘real’ as unicorns, as both existed in texts but were never seen. Vikings sold unicorn “horns” for centuries. The dominant story about unicorns …
One reason Charles VI “the beloved,” became Charles “the mad” was his belief that he was made of glass. As part of this glass delusion, Charles would stay motionless …
Chastity belts are a story that’s been told for hundreds of years. Medieval men going off to the crusades (for years at a time) would fasten an metal underwear …
The most bloodthirsty Medieval torture device, the Iron Maiden, was the product of two Victorian minds. 19th century art collector Matthew Peacock pieced together the Iron Maiden from real …
From Medieval times, a butt was a measurement of wine or whiskey. You could officially say you had a butt load of wine if you consumed 475 liters or …
The Anglo-Saxons called it the “ear finger”. I’ll leave their meaning up to you! In Middle English, it’s the “little man”. How we use the pinky finger when having …
Image Source The “unspeakable act” In 1394, a Medieval transgender person spilled forth a steaming broth of Medieval scandal and vice including cross-dressing, sex with clergy (male and female) …
From smearing on arsenic to bathing in viper juice, history shows there’s nothing we won’t try to rid ourselves of lice. Lice and nits (lice eggs) were our constant …
An Antipope is someone who sets himself up as a rival pope or imposter. (impopester?) It must be good to be the pope; there’ve been at least 42 Antipopes. …
What jarps, taps, shackles and rolls it way through Easter? An egg, of course. Traditional Easter egg sports include egg tapping, egg rolling, egg dancing and above all, egg fights. …
You’d be forgiven for thinking that Medieval folk were a miserable lot. Not so. Even monks spent time coming up with Medieval pranks, wheezes, and practical jokes. Thomas Betson …
