When you visit the Austrian city of Tulln, on the banks of the Danube River, you can see the figures as you approach the park on the banks of the Danube River. The figure of a woman gracefully holds her skirts as her headdress seems to flutter in the wind. Opposite her, at the centre of the tableau, a man stands with one foot forward; his left hand grasps the sword at his side, yet he holds his right forearm across his chest, and his head is uncovered. He is clearly a warrior, but he has not come to fight. This is Etzel, or Attila, striding larger than life out of the medieval German epic poem the Nibelungenlied (The Lay of the Nibelungs) to meet his bride Kriemhild against the backdrop of Tulln’s scenic gardens and riverside park. The monument seems almost overly grand for its surroundings; it looks old. However, it was actually erected in 2005.
The renowned Sutton Hoo burial site is famed for its opulent grave goods, but their origins remain a mystery. A newly published study in The English Historical Review presents a groundbreaking theory, offering “a startlingly new view of early Anglo-Saxon history.”
This week on The Medieval Podcast, Danièle speaks with CJ Jones about Dominican nuns, their theological sophistication, and how left their own unique mark on the Middle Ages.
Waves of human migration across Europe during the first millennium AD have been revealed in a groundbreaking study. By analysing Ancient DNA with a novel method, researchers have reconstructed detailed patterns of population movements during the Iron Age, the fall of the Roman Empire, the early medieval ‘Migration Period,’ and the Viking Age.
What can medieval court records reveal about the lives of women? This book examines the legal disputes involving women in three English towns, uncovering their roles in cases ranging from debts and trade regulations to local trespass laws and public disorder.
There weren’t many police officers in the medieval world. And, when you see what they got up to, that is perhaps just as well.
Many foods still enjoyed around the world were invented in the Middle Ages, such as these six foods and drinks.
In 1300AD Boniface VIII started a tradition of forgiveness and (possibly) hell-raising that continues this year On Maundy Thursday - April 7th - 1300, Pope Boniface VIII stood on the balcony of his papal basilica in Rome. Around him, the city flocked with pilgrims, many of whom had come to see the Pope that day and receive his blessing.
It’s the start of a new year, and you’re wondering what lies ahead. In medieval Italy, a 14th-century merchant created a unique guide to predict the fortunes of the year based on the day January 1st fell. These predictions span weather, agriculture, health, and even political events—offering a fascinating glimpse into the medieval mindset.
Archaeologists in Germany have uncovered the remains of a medieval farm complex in the town of Greven-Gimbte, dating back to the 11th to 13th centuries.
Archaeologists investigating the Viking ship grave at Myklebust in Nordfjordeid have unveiled remarkable new findings, offering fresh insights into one of Norway’s most significant burial mounds. The research suggests it might be the largest Viking ship ever found.
For the first time in nearly four centuries, visitors can now access a medieval tower at Corfe Castle, a historic site in Dorset, England. The King’s Tower, originally built around 1107 for King Henry I, has reopened to the public with a special viewing platform designed to offer a glimpse into its regal past.
