Historical artifacts from the Middle Ages. Vivid, colorful, and illuminating the past. Here we analyze objects, artifacts, monuments, relics, and material culture as a response to the numerous myths that circulate 'fake news' about the Middle Ages--from their belief in the flat earth (fake!) to the female lock-n-key chastity belts (fake!). In addition, this site will highlight medieval films in all their attempted history (for better or worse). Let's get medieval.
No, people in the middle ages did not just eat gruel. Nor did they use spice as a way to cover the stench of spoiled meat. Their diet was more broad and varied than that! The food they ate was normally based on economics, religion, geographical location, social status, and personal taste. Interestingly enough, there were no tomatoes, potatoes, or corn in this time period. Pasta wasn't even introduced until the 13th century! It's so weird to think of italian food without tomatoes or even for awhile without pasta.
They did have fruits and vegetables such as: grapes, plums, apples, pears, blueberries (no bananas or pineapples though) and onions, peas, beans, cauliflower and many more! Commonly eaten meats were beef, veal, mutton, lamb, pork, and goat while game meat was considered boar, stag, deer, rabbit, and bear. They also ate seafood like lobster, crab, mackerel, eel, oysters, etc.
All in all, they may have ate more variety than some people today!
The image on the cover of The Letters of Abelard and Heloise is an image by an artist known as The Master of the Prayer Books c. 1500. It depicts Abelard and Heloise debating love and marriage, as described by Jean de Meun in the Roman de la Rose. This translates to "The Story of the Rose" and was one of medieval literature's biggest best sellers; 250 manuscripts of the poem are known to have survived from medieval times (British Library). Guillame de Lorris began writing this in the 1230s, right at the height of chivalry and courtly love in France. His aim was to expound the whole art of love. He died before its completion, but Jean de Meun finished his work about 40 years later. While Guillame de Lorris gave love a dreamlike quality, Jean de Meun gave a more rational and cynical stance on relationships.
In the image, Abelard is a cleric and a master in the schools, yet is dressed in fine clothes of a layman. Heloise is in nun attire, during the time when Abelard removed her to the convent of Argenteuil, but still continued to visit and have sexual relations with her (Clanchy). The two red lines above the miniature translates to "How Peter Abelard instructs Heloise," but the hand gestures suggest debate rather than instruction. The two black lines read "Peter Abelard confesses that Sister Heloise the abbess never wished to agree to be his wedded wife."
Some of the relics of St. Anthony of Padua went on tour to Ireland in October. The tour consisted of six stops in major cities, which were considered places of pilgrimage while they were there.
St. Anthony lived from 1195-1232. He was originally an Augustinian monk and later became a Franciscan monk and was a disciple to St. Francis of Assisi. When he died, it was said that many miracles were performed at his tomb for months afterward. He was canonized one year after his death as the patron saint of lost things. So if you lose something, he is the one you ask for help!
St. Anthony's Basilica in Padua
The tour lasted from the 17th to the 24th of October and hosted a piece of St. Anthony's rib and a slice of his cheek.
Relic containing St. Anthony's rib
Relic containing the piece of St. Anthony's cheek
Lastly, he was known as a great orator. When they exhumed his body to move it to its new home, his tongue and throat were still intact. One of the miracles that was witnessed.
During the medieval period, philosophers were expected to maintain chastity similar to that of the church men so that their studies could be the main focus of their lives. Abelard writes in "Abelard and Heloise" of the "heave yolk" of marriage advised against by philosophers such as Aristotle and Cicero. Abelard also writes that marriage is "a rival to his study of philosophy," which is a common belief for medieval scholars. One of the most well-known examples of this is the story of Aristotle and Phyllis.
Aristotle was the teacher of Alexander the Great, to whom Phyllis was married. Aristotle influenced Alexander heavily and convinced him to separate from Phyllis so that he could focus on his political duties. Alexander agreed, much to the resentment from Phyllis. A woman scorned is not to be trifled with. She came up with a devious plan to take down Aristotle, as well as gain her husband back. Phyllis "softly sang and danced" outside of Aristotle's window to seduce him. When she was within arm's reach of him, he grabbed her and told her of his desires. She agreed to fulfill his desires if he agreed to get down on his hands and knees and let her ride upon his back like a horse. He did so without hesitation and she signaled for Alexander to come out. When Alexander saw this, Aristotle lost some of his credibility as a philosopher. Alexander forgave Aristotle and reunited with Phyllis.
Because of this story and others, philosophers see romantic relationships with women as a burden and harmful to one's academic career.
Below is a fourteenth century French bronze aquamanile of Phyllis riding Aristotle like a horse.
Medieval
Europe was plagued by many wars that wreaked destruction and death throughout
the land. This pattern continued well after the end of the medieval period. Through
all these wars, armies left standing many grand and magnificent medieval Gothic
cathedrals and structures. This sense of honorable warfare came to an end with
the start of the Great War in 1914. From England and Spain in the west to
Russia in the east, there was not any war that would bring such destruction
upon Europe, let alone to its cathedrals. A prime example of the destruction is
the story of the cathedral at Ypres, Belgium, commonly known as Saint Martin’s
Cathedral.
St. Martin's Cathedral, Ypres, Belgium. Notice the rose mirror and lofty heights.
Interior of Cathedral. Notice the stained glass all the way around.
Construction
for St. Martin’s, which originally started out as a large church and not a
cathedral, began in 1230 and wasn’t finished until 1370. Standing 335 feet
high, St. Martin’s had many of the common components (according to Judith
Bennett) of Gothic architecture: pointed archways, stained glass, rose windows,
and flying buttresses. Originally a part of the Diocese of Therouanne, the
church at Ypres served the community in the prosperous region of modern day
Belgium. The church was promoted to cathedral status in the 16th
century following the razing of Therouanne, and the following reform that
abolished the previous diocese. Ypres became its own diocese and the church
became St. Martin’s Cathedral. This status would remain until 1801 with the
Concordant between Napoleon Bonaparte and Pope Pious VII which incorporated the
Diocese of Ypres into the Diocese of Ghent.
Ruins of the Cathedral during WWI
Just
as Bennett discusses, the relatively thin tall walls supported by their flying
buttresses, stood strong against weather and time. However they could not hold
up to the pounding of shells and explosions from German artillery in World War
One. The scene of trench warfare, the city of Ypres and St. Martin’s was
devastated and nearly completely leveled.
Following the war, the ruins of St.
Martin’s was removed and rebuilt following the original plans except for a higher
spire on the tower.
Original Cathedral prior to the war. Notice that there is no spire on the tower to the left.
For
more information regarding St. Martin’s Cathedral:
Hildegard of Bingen (1098 -1179) was a German nun well know for her compositions during the central Middle Ages. One of her most famous compositions, the Ordo Virtutum (Play of Virtues), is the story of the virtues (Humility, Hope, Chastity, Innocence, Contempt of the World, Celestial Love, Discipline? (the name is scratched out in the manuscript), Modesty, Mercy, Victory, Discretion, Patience, Knowledge of God, Charity, Fear of God, Obedience, and Faith) struggle to win a human soul over the devil. The play is credited to be one of the first morality plays, where one is choosing between good and evil or what is right and wrong.
Self-Portrait, Hildegard von Bingen, Illuminated manuscript, 12C, Germany
Hildegard was an example of how women obtained a greater authority in the church, through mysticism. As knowledge of law and philosophy were offered to male members of the clergy, many nuns and women of the time were able to become church leaders through their direct connection with Christ and the divine. Many popes, emperors, and scholars would consult with Hildegard for her wisdom for her direct connection with God. This gave her an opening into this changing world of knowledge.
Below I have included a interpretation of the closing act of Ordo Virtutum. Here the devil is depicted in chains after the human soul has chosen the Virtues and they have turned on him. The devil cannot sing, for he cannot produce "divine harmony."
