The sheep-pox virus (SPPV; Capripoxvirus sheeppox) is in the same family as the variola virus, which causes smallpox in humans. It is a highly contagious disease among sheep, causing the animal to develop a fever, anorexia, eye discharge, and lesions…
The elaborately decorated Book of Kells takes its name from the eponymous abbey in Co. Meath where it was kept for centuries, but it has been previously suggested that the early medieval manuscript was created on Iona. Now, thanks to…
Gunpowder, treason, and plot; witch trials and sexual scandals; political, cultural, and religious innovations – James VI & I’s reign was undeniably eventful. Carly Hilts visited an exhibition investigating the man behind the monarch.
A major new exhibition at the National Museum of Ireland explores how people travelled between early medieval Ireland and continental Europe 1,000 years ago, seeking learning, refuge from Viking raids, and religious fulfilment through self-imposed exile. Diarmuid Ó Riain, Matthew Seaver, and Maeve Sikora describe how this exchange of ideas and artistic styles is reflected in the artefacts and manuscripts on display.
An elegantly designed new exhibition at the British Museum traces the artistic traditions of Buddhism, Hinduism, and Jainism. Carly Hilts visited to learn more.
There are many exciting archaeological events coming up over the next few months, including new exhibitions, lectures, and conferences. Or, if you would prefer to delve into history and heritage at home instead, there are lots of ways to do so, from virtual site tours and online resources to podcasts, games, and TV shows. Amy Brunskill has put together a selection of some of the options available.
A vibrant exhibition currently running at the Victoria & Albert Museum in London illuminates the ingenuity and influence of the Mughal Empire. Carly Hilts visited to learn more.
A short fragment of musical notation has been identified as part of a pre-Reformation religious chant, offering interesting insights into the musical traditions of 16th-century Scotland. The piece of music was originally discovered in 2011, but until recently its identity…
Historic Scottish manuscript made available to public A text from Scotland is being made available to the public for the first time in 500 years after its acquisition by the University of St Andrews. The manuscript consists of a largely…
Thanks to an ingenious digital technique, a particle accelerator, and an internet competition, we stand on the threshold of being able to enjoy what is potentially the greatest influx of ‘new’ Classical texts since the Renaissance. Brent Seales told Matthew Symonds why scrolls that were once widely believed impossible to read are now on the verge of becoming legible.
A new exhibition at the British Library shines vivid light on female deeds and desires between 1100 and 1500, as Carly Hilts reports.
There is a great range of historical and archaeological events coming up over the next few months, ranging from exciting new exhibitions to lectures and conferences. Or, if you prefer to get your heritage fix at home, there are lots of ways to do that too, including digital museum resources, virtual site tours, podcasts, and TV shows. Amy Brunskill has put together a selection of some of the best options.
The Silk Road has long been seen as a conduit for exotic goods travelling both east and west. But taking a wider perspective reveals how extraordinary objects and ideas were moving much more widely, as Sue Brunning and Luk Yu-ping told Matthew Symonds.
• An international team analysing the wall paintings in the tomb of Thutmose III has found an unusual combination of high-quality pigments and innovative colour blends reflecting possible Minoan influences. This suggests close cultural contacts between the Egyptian and Minoan…
A recent study published in Current Biology has brought to light a link between red squirrels and leprosy in medieval Britain (). In ‘Science Notes’ this month, we’re taking a look at how these bushy-tailed rodents may have passed the…
A round-up of some of the latest news from the world of ancient Egypt.…
A collection of 600 ‘magical’ texts written in Coptic has been published following five years of study by researchers at the University of Würzburg. Papyri Copticae Magicae (published by de Gruyter) includes writings found on papyrus, parchment, paper, and ostraca.…
AFRICA & BYZANTIUM An exhibition of nearly 180 works exploring the tradition of Byzantine art and culture in North Africa, Egypt, Nubia, Ethiopia, and other powerful African kingdoms, from the 4th century to the 15th century and beyond. On display…
Skellig Michael – the larger of two rocky islets that lie 8 miles (13km) west of the Iveragh Peninsula in County Kerry, Ireland – was the favoured retreat of early medieval monks seeking an escape from worldly temptations. Reading the newly published Book of the Skelligs, Chris Catling gains some insights into the conditions those hermits endured and the reasons why the islands were added to the list of World Heritage Sites in 1996.
Review by Finbar McCormick Skellig Michael, a rocky outcrop off the south-west coast of Ireland, boasts the best-surviving early medieval monastery in Ireland, if not western Europe. Ironically, despite the richness of Ireland’s early medieval documentary sources, mentions of the…
The conference, taking place on Friday 24 and Saturday 25 March 2023 in the cathedral's Old Palace, will feature talks from eight internationally renowned scholars.
A new exhibition at the National Archives in London traces the history of treason since it was first written into English law in 1352. Carly Hilts visited to find out more.
He is one of the most famous figures in human history, the subject of countless legends, and a commander regularly claimed as the greatest of all time. But who was Alexander the Great really? We know that he was born…
Alexander the Great’s ambitions of conquest took him far from his Macedonian home and into Asia and Babylon, where he died. Ursula Sims-Williams investigates the mythical legacy of Alexander in the East, where different traditions cast him variously as an accursed figure, a philosopher-king, and even a prophet.
Some of the latest stories from the world of archaeology and heritage from Ireland and the UK.
This autumn marked 200 years since the ‘hieroglyphic code’ was cracked, allowing scholars to read and understand the ancient Egyptian script for the first time in centuries, and revolutionising our understanding of the people who used it. Carly Hilts visited two London-based exhibitions reflecting this milestone.
The map was created by Hipparchus between c. 170 and 120 BC
A new exhibition at the British Library explores the 2,000-year history of storytelling and myth-making surrounding Alexander the Great.
Alexander the Great: the making of a myth is at the British Library in London until 19 February 2023.
Digital images of the manuscripts, together with detailed descriptions and full-text transcriptions, will be freely available online.
Throughout history, gold has captured the imagination – as a glittering symbol of money, sex, power, divine love, or whatever else our hearts desire. From the Greek myth of the Golden Fleece to Titian's Danae, and from the golden objects found in Ancient Egyptian tombs to the quest at the heart of JRR Tolkien's Lord of the Rings, the precious metal has been mined as subject matter for writers and artists across continents and down millennia.
What is the writing material known as 'vellum' made from?
Some of the most significant texts from around the world have been given very special treatment, with words of holiness and of diplomatic value written both in and on gold. Annabel Teh Gallop, Eleanor Jackson, and Kathleen Doyle investigate the indelible importance of the precious metal in luxury manuscripts.
Digging up memories I was delighted to see a reference to the 1974 excavation alongside the Mermaid Theatre in London (CA 386, ‘The triumphal arch’). I was one of the students working with Martin Millett on the site, while on…
The latest on acquisitions, exhibitions, and key decisions.
An envelope addressed to the University Librarian was included, with the printed message: ‘Librarian/ Happy Easter/ X’.