![]() In fact, old historical accounts claim the Emperor Diocletian enlisted mercenaries to safeguard his empire against raids by Blemmyaes. In essence, they were the embodiment of peoples they simply didn’t know, a barbaric face to put on unexplored lands that took on a life of its own. Blemmyae were believed, even as far back as Ancient Roman times, to live in north-eastern Africa. ![]() “Their eyes, nose and mouths protruded from their sternum,” writes historian Jack Hartnell about the fictional race in 2018’s Medieval Bodies: Life, Death and Art in the Middle Ages, a book that’s proven indispensable (and insanely entertaining) for our research on ye olde life. Let’s turn back to the blemmyae legend, which is equally weird and revealing. So without further ado, let’s unfurl the most jaw-dropping grotesques of yore… 16th century / source We’d argue that even the lesser-known medieval monsters hold a formidable mirror up to our current cultural norms and behaviour – that far from being crusty, musty and irrelevant, these fantastic beasts still reveal our deepest prejudices, fears and hopes. Others, like the one-footed “sciopodes” haven’t remained at the forefront of our collective western consciousness. Some feel more relevant today than others (hi, unicorns) and even make appearances in contemporary art and fashion. In intrepid, faraway lands you’d find them: neckless men with their faces in their stomachs – known as “blemmyae” – or yet another being, known as a “panotti”, with ears big enough to wrap around its body like a blanket. When you’re shy and hard to talk to but your friends invite you out and introduce you to people anywaysĬat sketches, abbey of st denis, 15th centuryĭog treating a bedridden cat for “melancholy” (source unknown, ca.Monsters once lived at the heart of pop culture, albeit during what was arguably the weirdest time to be alive: the Middle Ages. Virgin dancing naked with a unicorn (belgium, 12th century) Please don’t tell me ELON MUSK actually bought twitter please say sike please say sikeĬat playing the bagpipes, england, 13th century It was believed in medieval times that hedgehogs had spikes so they could roll over fruit to carry home to their children, which is not true but is a really cute idea Monk and his cat reading together, france, 13th century ![]() Losing it at this 15th century drawing of a man being poked in the eyeball by a demon, he looks SO unamused “useful creature”, flanders, 14th century In the full page he appears to be pursued by a slightly …unsettling naked axe-wielding fellow ![]() Share if you love bunnies or are prepared to commit an act of unspeakable violence Man and bear hugging, germany, 16th century He’s part of this big historiated initial “E” with some lovely flowers and a bird of prey, how sweet <3Ĭat churning butter, germany, ca. Monkeys taking care of a kitten, flanders, 15th centuryĬat playing the fiddle, england, 14th centuryĭog reading and wearing a funny hat, france, 14th centuryįox patting a bird on the head, france, 15th centuryĬat playing the organ, belgium, 15th century Think of doodles of a tiny frog playing the piano, a frail skeleton drinking wine, or a monk and his cat reading together. The Twitter page “ Weird Medieval Guys” offers a rare glimpse into the medieval fantasy by collecting and posting, you guessed it, weird medieval guys. Possibly the cutest ever rendition of a bat, england, 13th centuryįrom illuminated manuscripts to tapestries, mosaics and stained glass, the medieval period is known for its many art forms and its miscellaneous executions.īut what has been capturing the imagination of the generations that followed was the bizarre, mysterious and grotesque drawings and doodles found in the margins of medieval books. ![]()
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