When you think of the dead, what do you think of? Is it the image of lost souls sunken and decaying in the ground with little mementos of their lives? Perhaps it’s an image of an ancient pharaoh wrapped up and mummified, left to crumble in a sarcophagus surrounded by items for his next life?…
Author: alhays
Why Study Early Modern Literature? by Shaun Russell
It is tempting to begin by writing “It all started in my Grade 12 literature class with Mr. Ames. . .” because there is a certainly some truth to that sentiment. As is likely the case for most of us, my first significant encounters with Shakespeare came in high school, whether it was acting in…
Travels of The Mongols: From Peace to Plague by Jordan Waterwash
The Mongols were a people that moved endlessly. Conquering came to them easily and quickly; they started their campaign in the 1200s, and took over most of the Eastern world by the 1300s. With this mass migration of people came trade, of cultures and of goods, through the Silk Road. But, unknown to the Mongols,…
A Close Look at the Ancient Javelin by Colin McGarry
Despite its ubiquity in ancient warfare, the javelin remains a poorly understood weapon, largely due to its constant linking with the spear. Despite the visual similarities, the javelin is more than just a spear in flight; rather, it’s a separate specialized weapon. The largest difference between the thrown, or cast, javelin and the held spear…
A Look into Historic Preservation in Ohio by Joseph Acero
As a Medieval Studies major and History minor, I am aware of how enjoyable and intriguing the various subjects of history truly are. Learning about the events that shape our world is like reading a great epic myth; it’s exciting and full of surprises. However, I know that learning how to use your major or…
Capstone Corner: An Examination of Medieval Fairies by Joseph Acero
As an English and Medieval Studies dual-major, I have a deep love of chivalry, mystery, and wonder; there’s no better place to find that than in medieval folk legends. Some of the best folklore and myths are ones where a char- acter is placed into a reality that is a refraction of our own, and…
Holiday Traditions in The Middle Ages by Christopher Shanley
Christmas in the Middle Ages was celebrated slightly differently than it is today. Perhaps the most notable difference is the sheer size of the Christmas feast. In 1213, King John of England held a feast that included 1,000 chickens, 10,000 salted eels, 100 pounds of almonds and nearly 6,000 bottles worth of wine. Even peasants…
Capstone Corner: A Closer Look at Renaissance Witchcraft by Jordan Waterwash
As a senior Renaissance major with a frankly disturbing obsession with witchcraft and the occult, I considered nothing but the magical and the mystical for my capstone project. Witch- craft, however, is a tricky con- cept to nail down. The misconceptions and stereotypes oftentimes get in the way of sources that took witchcraft seriously, and…
The Lady and the Unicorn by Matthew Pheneger
Nestled in the 5th Arrondissement of Paris, France and constructed on what remains of a Roman thermal bath house, one will find the MusĂ©e de Cluny—or the National Museum of the Middle Ages—a less frequented but still impressive museum. Among its extensive collection of medieval and ancient pieces is a collection of tapestries known as…
Religion in Medieval Ireland: A Talk by John Soderberg by Matthew Pheneger
The AMRS Department was pleased to welcome Denison University Professor of Sociology/Anthropology John Soderberg at the end of February. Though his work covers a range of disciplines, his presentation centered on religion in Early Medieval Ireland from an archaeological point of view. The big question his research focuses on—in Soderberg’s own words—is, “What does it…