Category Archives: Medieval

Illustrated (and other) Manuscripts before the Digital Revolution

Posted on 24/11/2012 by

[H/T to  hrsilvers, who verified that the above is a depiction of St. Luke, together with his symbol of a winged ox, or bull.  More on this interesting feature in another blog.]    Digital techniques are revolutionizing access to collections in libraries and … Continue reading →

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Posted in Elephants, Manuscripts, Medieval, Ox, Saint Luke | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

The Unicorn and the Ark: A Talmudic Story

Posted on 31/10/2012 by

Legends of the unicorn are numerous, spreading from China, India, across the Middle East and into Europe, and extending back into Persian and Babylonian history.  These creatures have been variously described and depicted, culminating in  medieval European lore as a composite animal … Continue reading →

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Posted in Bestiary, History-Ancient, Medieval, Middle East | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

An 18th Century Recipe for Alchemical Fertilizer & A Modern Version

Posted on 26/10/2012 by

This morning I stumbled across an 18th Century manuscript containing a recipe for ‘alchemical fertilizer,’ which I have transcribed below.  The ’chemical symbols‘ that are used have been changed into capital letters in order to accommodate the blog.   A list of their meanings … Continue reading →

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Posted in Agriculture, Appropriate technology, Burundi, Medieval, Organic Gardenig | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment