The job of art historians is to discover the origins of artwork, but when it comes to art from early medieval periods, historians find themselves in a world shrouded with mystery. “We’ve got objects, but no fancy story to attach to them,” said Sigrid Danielson, in her lecture titled “Art History and the Early Medieval…
Monthly Archives: September 2011
Workmen begin ripping up cobbles of perfectly preserved medieval village because of health and safety fears
I reported on the cobblestone streets of Somerset almost a year ago. It looks like the work has finally begun. ~The Archivist Workmen have begun ripping up the cobbled streets of a perfectly preserved medieval village over health and safety fears. The ancient roads and paths were an iconic feature in the historic settlement of…
Roman coin jar the Frome Hoard to feature in new exhibition
The Frome Hoard, a pot-bellied Roman jar stuffed with 52,503 coins,has found a permanent home in the county where it was discovered, the Somerset County Museum at Taunton Castle which reopens to the public after a £7m revamp. When hospital chef Dave Crisp found the hoard last year with a second-hand metal detector, the largest…
Medieval Witches Graveyard Discovered In Italy
Playing dice is the devil’s work, at least if you were a women in the middle ages. Good article leading up to the Halloween season. ~The Archivist Here’s a macabre reminder of what happened to women who got out of line in medieval times. 800-year-old remains were found with seven nails driven through the jaw…
Game of Thrones Season 2 Teaser
Winter is Coming but never mind that, mark your calendars for Spring 2012. That is when Game of Thrones Season 2 airs.
Twitter Weekly Updates for 2011-09-25
@datadivajf Benedict refers to her as a saint. Maybe at some point he will make it official. in reply to datadivajf # Died today in 1180: Louis VII "The Younger", King of France # 1180 – Philip II Augustus becomes king of France # 1454 – Thirteen Years' War: Battle of Chojnice: the Polish army…
The Sims Medieval, there’s an app for that
The life of a peasant in the Middle Ages is not the first place I’d think the primarily consumer culture-driven The Sims franchise would explore, but in a strange way it makes some sort of sense. Much like its modern counterparts, The Sims Medieval is about trying to push your little virtual person up the…
Medieval Castles: 50% off
Everyone loves a sale, especially right now. So it’s time to buy a castle. Who’s with me? Anyone? Thanks to the European debt crisis, vacation homes in the troubled countries of Spain, Italy, Greece and Portugal are selling at big discounts, according to a recent report in The Wall Street Journal. But Americans looking for…
Hildegard of Bingen: Sibyl of the Rhine, Singing Still
It’s an age of widespread cultural and ecclesial malaise: the State encroaches ever more into the affairs of the church; the clergy is indolent and ineffective, oft corrupt and unchaste; the laity is poorly catechized; and Gnosticism advances. It’s the twelfth century, into which a Teutonic prophetess stepped, prepared to confront the spirits of the…
Pepper and cumin paid the rent in Olde England
Research by Susan Francia, published in The Local Historian, shows that many rents were paid in cumin. Landlords would accept a pound of pepper and another of cumin for a year’s tenancy. This practice continued for centuries during the medieval warm period, suggesting the climate was good enough for the spice to be grown here….
Twitter Weekly Updates for 2011-09-18
Great day of filming in medieval Japan. The sword fights look amazing! I will post some pictures this week # 1213 – Albigensian Crusade: Battle of Muret: Simon de Montfort, 5th Earl of Leicester, defeats Peter II, King of Aragon # Battle of Muret: Peter II was unhorsed during a cavalry charge, cried out ‘I…
Happy Birthday Henry V
Today is the 625th birthday of Henry V. A true warrior king who defied the odds and defeated the French at the Battle of Agincourt. Happy Birthday Henry! You don’t look a day over 624… We Few, We Happy Few
Dragon Fantasy: 8-bit medieval mayhem on your iPhone
I came across this game trailer while browsing the internet. I was instantly hooked! The excellent 8-bit graphics and sound sent me back to the days of yore. It’s like that old commercial where the guy eating peanut butter runs into the guy eating chocolate, only this is a guy playing The Legend of Zelda…
Starz Original CAMELOT on Blu-ray™ and DVD
Series Synopsis: In the wake of King Uther’s sudden death, chaos threatens to engulf Britain. When the sorcerer Merlin has visions of a dark future, he installs the young and impetuous Arthur, Uther’s unknown son and heir, who has been raised from birth as a commoner. But Arthur’s cold and ambitious half sister Morgan will…
Medieval English Castle Tour – The Tower of London
The Tower of London is, compellingly and unquestionably, one of the most famous attractions in the capital. Its abundant and absorbing past will not fail to enchant you. Take a Tower of London tour with Golden Tours and investigate this noteworthy landmark. Ensure you afford some time in ascertaining what life was like imprisoned in…