LJS 490 is a 15th century German collection of astronomical and astrological texts covering a wide variety of topics, including the determination of the date of Easter, transits of Venus and Mercury (that is, when the planet comes between the earth and the sun) and treatises on instruments including the astrolabe, the sundial, and the baculus.
bbc merlin but make it medieval manuscripts!! bc i have zero chill :)
both of them are based off pages from 15th century manuscripts. the latin reads "in a land of myth at a time of magic, the destiny of a great kingdom rests on the shoulders of a young man; his name, merlin." the english is less historically accurate but i did use a middle english translator for the spellings. done with water colour on paper with gold leaf for the gilded bits
We're not sure how long this fly has been in this 14th-century notary's notebook, but it was a favorite among the students who spotted it in class a few weeks ago.
La Turade, Bernard de. [Notarial Registry]. 1383-1393. VAULT DC95.A2 N6 1383
Illustration of the swan of the constellation Cygnus, with text or scholia within the figure of the constellation.
Illustration of the constallation Aquila the eagle, with text or scholia within the figure of the constellation.
from Aratea, a Latin version of the Phaenomena, with extracts from Hyginus's Astronomica in the constellation figures, 9th century France, N. (diocese of Reims).
Fighting the "medieval people were dirty and smelly" narrative.
I'm doing a bit of reading on medieval cosmetic usage & thought I'd share a bit to dispel the "medieval people were dirty & smelly & didn't care for their bodies" narrative A more "natural" look was preferred in 13c Italy where a neutral base, pink rouge, black eyeliner, and eye shadow on the upper lid (usually a green, brown, or gray) was in fashion Medieval cosmetic treatises contain tons of recipes for both makeup and other enhancers like hair dye, teeth whiteners, wrinkle treatment, pimple reducers, and even methods for changing eye color. Burials from Anglo-Saxon England show that several types of beauty enhancers were regularly used, including combs, tweezers, & hair rings.
In the later Middle Ages, people often carried mirrors on them, with men keeping them in sword hilts or little silk bags & women in purses. Even as far back as the 7th c, Aldhelm criticized nuns for cutting their nails into the shape of talons 💅By the 14th c, women were criticized for over-plucking eyebrows. By the 12th c, men regularly waxed & curled their beards, even keeping them in beard bags while they slept.
Spices, oils, & woods could be used for perfumes, which were used at the court of Charlemagne in the 8th century & enjoyed popularity throughout the medieval period, with Crusaders even bringing home the practice of using rosewater for hand washing both before & after meals.
Turns out, medieval people cared about their appearances and hygiene just like people always have 🤷♀️
good omens manuscript!!! bc what is the point of being a medieval studies student if youre going to be normal about it lmao
based off of a 13th century manuscript. the angels/poses specifically are based on this illustration. the latin reads "before the beginning." done in watercolour on paper with gold leaf for the gilded bits :)