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Posts by Dr Cait Stevenson

Let's talk manuscript names (shelfmarks):

Munich, Bayerische Staatsbibliothek, MS Clm 4660, f. 1r

City, library (can be abbrev.), "MS" (optional), collection name, location
"f. 1r" is the page: lie a book flat; left is verso, right is recto; front+back share a number

That's the Carmina Burana!

1 year ago 6 0 1 0
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Me: I love helping people understand the real meaning behind weird medieval art. My Bluesky account will be filled with actual explanations so people can enjoy medieval art nerdily. This is a sacred mission from which I shall not diverge.

Bibliotheque de l'Arsenal Ms-5088 réserve:

1 year ago 15 0 0 0
Manuscript illumination of a large and tiny elephant standing in water. Above them is a purple dragon with wings.

Manuscript illumination of a large and tiny elephant standing in water. Above them is a purple dragon with wings.

Need a little boost? Here's a mama and baby elephant from the Queen Mary Psalter (14C)! The purple thing overhead is a dragon, elephants' traditional enemies...and traditional victims. If a dragon tries to attack a mama elephant and her newborn, papa elephant will STOMP on the dragon--and win.

1 year ago 7 0 0 0

Current favorite fact about the Middle Ages: 13th century Egyptians made little doggie sweaters to keep their dogs warm.

(See Shehada, 'Mamluks and Animals')

1 year ago 9 1 0 0
Medieval manuscript colored painting. A woman points and the sky and shows a group of men what's literally up.

Medieval manuscript colored painting. A woman points and the sky and shows a group of men what's literally up.

Salve! It's probably best to start with the classic username explanation: "She would rather have lost any four castles than her books." Thank you, Prose 'Lancelot' (early 13C), for the best description of Morgan le Fey in all of Arthuriana.

1 year ago 15 1 0 0