Monsters: how do we see them in a historical sense? Often times when asked this question, people look to the Middle Ages, perhaps because of popular role-playing games based on the era, others because of the air of superstition that shrouds that period of time. Whatever the case, The Cleveland Museum of Art displayed an…
Category: Features
Thrice-Told Tales: A New AMRS Course
The AMRS program has recently added a new course to its curriculum: AMRS 100.1: “Thrice-Told Tales.” This course delves into the stories that humans have been telling for millennia. It was created by Dr. Zackariah Long. I asked him some questions about the course to get more specifics. How did you come up with the…
Inside a Russian Monastery by Amanda Hays
A monk led us through the cathedral back outside. He was clothed in black robes and talked very softly. The cathedral was enormous, with beautiful artwork decorating every inch of wall,and it went up into a dome, making it appear more expansive. There were icons of Russian Orthodox saints with golden backgrounds everywhere. As we…
Beowulf: Reviving an Ancient Tradition by Matthew Pheneger
This school year has seen an increase of AMRS events on campus. The latest of these, a student led recitation of the Old English epic Beowulf, took place on a fittingly dreary March day and attracted a sizable crowd of professors, majors, minors, and the casually interested. This event marks the revival of the campus tradition…
Beowulf and Archaeology: Text and Material Culture by Joseph Acero
Beowulf is one of the earliest examples of English literature, and because of that evidence on its background can be hard to uncover. However, Professor Gale Owen-Crocker found a significant amount of information on the Anglo-Saxon culture surrounding Beowulf through the fashion and ornaments they made. Director of the Manchester Centre for Anglo-Saxon Studies, Professor…
The Living and the Dead: Images of Death By Carrie Kubicki
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?…
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…
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…
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…