Arthurian World - F23 - BU

The Holy Grail is the subject of various myths that make it difficult for historians and scholars around the world to distinguish between fact and fiction. The earliest manuscript that mentions a Grail is from Chretien de Troyes' The Perceval , written between 1174 and 1180, however, this story was never completed. According to Stephen Thorson's "A Brief Introduction to the History and Origin of the Holy Grail Motif," he states that the Grail motif may have come from Celtic tradition and later adapted into Arthurian Literature (2). In The Perceval , it was the first time that a quest was mentioned to seek the Grail. Further, Robert de Boron's first poem of a trilogy, Joseph d'Arimathie , written between 118 and 1199, correlated the Grail to the biblical story of the Last Supper, which signified the Grail as a "Christian vessel of grace (2)."  The Last Supper by Leonardo Davinci (4) Although the Holy Grail has various Christian significance, the Grail...

" Roman de la Rose " poem What is Courtly Love? To define courtly love, one must first recognize that, as a literary concept, it is very complex. There are rules that defy the traditional values that come to mind when considering marriage and romance set by modern standards, and yet, these are the same rules that invoke an overwhelming love—and within its reflection, an intolerable pain—for the consumers (the entertained readers) and victims (the characters) of courtly love. One might assume that courtly love is the most pure and honest form of love that could be written and read about in the 12th century, but within it lies adultery and secrets that have appealed to, entertained, and—to an extent—influenced audiences invested in the world of knights and chivalry across many generations. As best defined by the History Cooperative , courtly love is “a medieval concept that romanticizes an idealized and often unattainable form of love, characterized by devotion, chivalry, and p...

Games in the Middle Ages One of the largest forms of entertainment in the Middle Ages was, of course, games. Though not as technically impressive as one might argue of today, the human universal of recreational time and fun-seeking has certainly stood the test of time. Some of the most well-known and beloved games of our time stem from this period, and were enjoyed just the same. For example... Board and Strategy Games Chess Considerably the most renowned game stemming from the Medieval time period. Though according to David Parletts "Oxford History of Board Games", the rules of Chess has moderately developed since Medieval times. Originally, the Queen piece could only move one diagonal space at a time, rather than seven spaces in any direction. A bishop could only move two diagonal spaces at a time, instead of seven as well. Pawns could only move one space, regardless of if it is the first turn or not (since nowadays they can move two spaces on the first turn). While current...

 The Saracens (The Enemy)     The term Saracen is ancient, predating the medieval age and has changed in the way that it is used throughout history (1). However, the broadest and most common definition was as a catch-all phrase for any group of people who were not Christian and/or European. In this blog, we are discussing a number of rich and diverse cultures with the shared trait of being referred to as the Saracens. So, in fairness, I will refer to all Europeans and Christians as Franks, which the Saracens generally called them (1). The Saracens have a wealth of history and culture, but I will be focusing on the significance of the term Saracen itself, which is essentially the Franks perspective of Saracens. Map of the Saracen Empire A.D 622-756 (4)     " Saracenism: the desert life, its religious sentiments, its passions, fury, courage " (2)      The Saracens were extremely successful conquerors who took over vast swaths of land beginning in th...

Colchester Castle   Medieval Castles History of Medieval Castles- The introduction of castles came when the Normans invaded England from the Romans. Beginning construction around the 11th century, their primary purposes were to demonstrate wealth and power over the common, a means of defense for strategic military landmarks, as well as a means of protection against a battling enemy (1).  Placement is Key- Inside the hollowed out Temple foundations that would've been filled with sand. Brick is dated to around 50 A.D.     There are many different factors that go into the placement of castles.  There were many demands that needed to be met in order to provide a livable and well-protected place for the castle's residents.  The ideal location for the medieval castle was on a natural rise, cliffside, bend of a river, or within distance of Roman wall ruins for the purpose of reusing said wall materials (1). The need for proximity to a natural water source, fe...

     Medieval bestiaries - much like modern day almanacs or encyclopedias - are a compendium of all animals believed to be in existence during the Middle Ages. Though not wholly scientific or based on fact, these manuscripts combine elements of religion, folklore, and myth to create a fantastical amalgamation of animals, plant-life, rocks, and what we today consider mythological creatures. While some of the creatures found throughout the various bestiaries of the time are based within reality, it's important to note that these manuscripts are most certainly not based on true scientific observation and by no means were a reliable source of any information. Rather, bestiaries were used as a method to advance the agenda of Christianity by finding spiritual and metaphysical meaning and justification of the physical world. 2  Despite these truths, bestiaries are proof of a real attempt for society to better understand and cope with the natural world around them.  ...

Hunting During Medieval Times When considering hunting anywhere in the past, it is easy to assume that it was strictly used to obtain food. Hunting in the modern day is difficult even with the helpful tool, the hunting rifle. Only some people can hunt and be good at it, so how was hunting done during medieval times? Was it only a means of food? Since knights didn't have rifles, what did they use? Falconry and Hunting was a primary entertainment source for nobility, showcasing skills that we have forgotten in the modern day some time ago. This is an image of people in the Medieval Era using horns to call animals and dogs to hunt them (3) Falconry The practice of Falconry is believed to have started in Mesopotamia around 2,000 BC. Evidence for Falconry was primarily found in many parts of the Arabic and western Asian world. It was not only until about 400 AD that Europe obtained the knowledge of Falconry by means of Frederick II of Hohenstaufen, who was the king of Sicily, Germany, a...