January 2011
83 posts
5 tags
3 tags
5 tags
Savory Seeds in The Middle Ages
Dill (Anethum graveolens)
Both the fresh dill ‘weed’ and the seeds were used in medieval Europe. Garland says, “The old Norse name for dill was dilla, which means ‘to lull’ and the oil from the leaves and especially the seeds, contains a gentle sedative. It is also a soothing digestive and relieves flatulence; dill water has been used to calm colicky babies for...
6 tags
4 tags
Greetings
“Good morrow”, “Good day”, “Good eve”, “How now” or “Well met” are all good replacements for hello in conversation.
5 tags
New on Medium Aevum
I just realised that in order to delve deeper into an era, in our case middle ages, exmbrace it’s culture and the spirit of the time, one has to explore the language. Therefore, I will start posting bits of medieval english, starting with simpler forms which you could use in everyday life, and have fun. Then, after some time, more complicated texts.
Then reading literature in medieval...
7 tags
4 tags
News - A couple doing DIY have uncovered a 20ft... →
3 tags
5 tags
5 tags
6 tags
6 tags
7 tags
8 tags
Medieval proverbs
Castles were built a stone at a time. - Irish proverb
If you’re lucky enough to be Irish, you’re lucky enough - Irish proverb
Twelve highlanders and a bagpipe make a rebellion. - Scottish proverb
In a fight, anger is as good as courage. - Welsh proverb
Drink is the curse of the land. It makes you fight with your neighbour. It makes you shoot at your landlord and it makes you...
4 tags
Dun Cearmna is empty tonight (Irish poem)
The Fort of Cearmna is empty tonight — the movement of danger from the ringfort Tara; great loneliness in the clean-faced fort— the arrow planning your plight.
The generous fort of generous kings that had no fear of plundering, afterward is pitied like a ghost, and without him there, it’s just an empty place.
A corncrake in the deserted ones, The ringfort Cruacha and the...
3 tags
Ordeal of Boiling Water, 12th or 13th Century
Benediction of the water: I bless thee, O creature of water, boiling above the fire, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, from whom all things proceed; I adjure thee by Him who ordered thee to water the whole earth from the four rivers, and who summoned thee forth from the rock, and who changed thee into wine, that no wiles of the devil or magic of men be able to...
4 tags
3 tags
5 tags
4 tags
5 tags
4 tags
6 tags
Medieval inventions - eyeglasses
The Chinese are sometimes given credit for developing spectacles about 2000 years ago—but apparently they only used them to protect their eyes from an evil force . In the year 1268, Roger Bacon, the English philosopher, wrote in his Opus Majus: “If anyone examine letters or other minute objects through the medium of crystal or glass or other transparent substance, if it be shaped like...
5 tags
The Great Stirrup Controversy
The introduction of the stirrup not only made the mounted warrior supreme in medieval warfare, but may have initiated complex and far-reaching social and cultural changes in Europe. Some scholars credit this use of the stirrup to the birth of feudalism and its subsequent spread into Northern Italy, Spain, Germany and into the Slavic territories.
One theory goes so far as to argue that the...
4 tags
4 tags
Medieval recepies - Bake Mete Ryalle
This simple recipe is perfect for using up leftover cooked pork. It has a flavor and aroma that is more than a bit like glazed ham.
The original recipe called for marrow which can be hard to get at the local market. I’ve used butter in its place, but lard or suet should also work. If you can’t find cubebs, subsitute 1 tsp. of black pepper and a pinch of orange peel.
2 lbs. pork 1/2...
6 tags
23rd January in Medieval History
1. 1368 – In a coronation ceremony, Zhu Yuanzhang ascends to the throne of China as the Hongwu: Emperor, initiating Ming Dynasty rule over China that would last for three centuries.
2. 1510 – Henry VIII of England, then 18 years old, appears incognito in the lists at Richmond, and is applauded for his jousting before he reveals his identity.
4 tags
5 tags
7 tags
3 tags
4 tags
4 tags
6 tags
4 tags
3 tags
4 tags
Word of the day
INDENTURE:
A written legal agreement so called because two copies were made on a single sheet and these were cut in an indented pattern so that they could be shown to fit together. This was necessary in a time when only a few could read and the fact that the indents fitted was proof of agreement.
5 tags
Ensemble Renaissance - Skomraska igra
Serbian...
4 tags
“penitenziagite! watch out for the draco who cometh in futurum to gnaw your...”
– goodreads.com
2 tags
4 tags
7 tags
5 tags
4 tags
7 tags
4 tags
5 tags
4 tags
4 tags
Medieval recepies - Venison
A middle-Dutch recipe for stewed venison, this is an easy and reasonably quick dish to make. The cooking broth makes an perfect sauce when strained and thickened with breadcrumbs.
2 lbs. venison steaks
4 strips bacon
2 cups red wine
1 cup water
1 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. ginger
pinch saffron, ground
Cut venison and bacon into small pieces. Place into large pot with remaining ingredients....