leidenmedievalistsblog — page 4

Burn after Reading: Epistolary Heresy in Tenth-Century Baghdad

A police raid, a cache of letters, an inquisition, an execution. Sometimes you have to be careful what you write.

Gouden lokken en verstrengelde lichamen: Haar als motief van ontmannelijking in Lancelot en Aucassin et Nicolette

In 2023 schreef Jeroen van der Heide onder begeleiding van Alisa van de Haar zijn MA-scriptie over de descriptio puellae in de Middeleeuws-Franse literatuur. In deze blog onderzoekt hij hoe blond haar wordt ingezet om de mannelijkheid van Lancelot, sterridder aan Arthurs hof, te ondermijnen.

Literature

The Rise of Poetry Therapy in Eleventh Century China

How did literati manage their mental health in middle period China? Melancholy, depression, and down moods were as common among them as among us today. In the absence of antidepressants and therapists, how did they get out of low spirits and regain mental balance?

Archaeology

I Adorn You! A Deeper Dive Into Early Medieval Hair Care And Styling

Haircare and styling are both connected to a social context. By studying archaeological objects that play a role in the process of grooming, more insight can be gained into the preparational phase of a hairstyle. This gives us a broader perspective on personal care in the early Middle Ages.

Alfred the Great as Europe’s Darling: The Afterlives of an Early Medieval King in 19th-century Europe

In Victorian England, King Alfred (c. 849-899) became a nationalist symbol, heralded as ‘England’s Darling’. Yet, the popularity of this early medieval English king extended beyond England’s borders, well into continental Europe, where Alfred inspired authors and historians as ‘Europe’s Darling’.

Cultural History · Art History · Literature

Verdwenen Mongoolse paleizen en Perzische poëzie: tegels van de Ilkhanieden

Verspreid over musea wereldwijd vindt men versierde tegels uit Iran, waarvan vele afkomstig zijn uit Mongoolse gebouwen. Op de tegels zien we vaak verzen in het Perzisch. Wat is de context van de tegels en wat betekende het Perzisch voor de Mongolen?