That's all, folks. Here comes a thread on the Vinland Map, one of the OTHER controversial objects at the Beinecke (and here you thought it was all about the #Voynich)...
The story of the map's time in New Haven is fascinating. In the 1960s, the Italian-American community was furious that the map, when thought to be authentic, "proved" that other explorers from Europe had crossed the Atlantic before Columbus (gasp!) (nvm that we knew that already)
Here are some images of political cartoons and letters that Yale received in the '60s from angry alums and members of the Italian-American community:
(these images are all from a recent exhibit @mysticseaport)
@mysticseaport The map, we now know, is in fact a modern forgery, but of course we also know from significant archaeological evidence that other explorers from Europe reached the Americas long before Columbus.
The story of the Vinland Map is a fascinating chapter in the mythology surrounding Columbus in the mid-twentieth century. Also, the power of scientific analysis of material evidence. XRF FTW!
This manuscript is a collection of Saint’s Lives and begins (f. 2r) with a visual table of contents: Gottschalk presenting his finished book to the Virgin and Child, with saints around the border. St. Nicholas is in the center right, as Bishop of Myra.
On the verso are four scenes from the Life of St. Nicholas, with original verses as rubrication around the edges.
OK, brace yourselves, because here comes a REALLY LONG THREAD on liturgical calendars, starring the great Sherborne Missal (a.k.a. @BLMedieval Add MS 74236): access.bl.uk/item/viewer/ar…
Ever found yourself flummoxed by medieval liturgical calendars? I’m here to break it down for you, using the extraordinary Sherborne Missal because this calendar HAS IT ALL! access.bl.uk/item/viewer/ar…
OK, here we go, Liturgical Calendars 101. Liturgical calendars are designed to give a lot of information in a small space and are incredibly efficient. This manuscript has one month per page. We’re looking at folio 4r, a.k.a. July.