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We’re the UK’s national library, working to restore our services following a cyber-attack. Need help? Get in touch at customer@bl.uk
Aug 23, 2023 • 8 tweets • 4 min read
A long time ago in a manuscript far, far away…

Seeing as #Ahsoka lands on Disney today: presenting a bunch of medieval illustrated characters as creatures from #StarWars, a thread 🧵

Yoda, from the Smithfield Decretals, c.1300-1340
Yoda from Star Wars – a short green figure with long ears pointed outwards, grey-white hair and wrinkles. Yoda is wrapped in an old cloak.
An illuminated manuscript of a similar-looking green figure with ears pointed horizontally outwards and green webbed hands appear from underneath its cloak. Obi-Wan Kenobi, from the Smithfield Decretals, c.1300-1340
Obi-Wan, a character from Star Wars, is a man with white hair and beard. He wears a brown cloak with layers of white and brown underneath.
An illumination from a manuscript depicting a man with short white hair and beard, wearing a long black cloak with large white sleeves underneath.
Apr 26, 2023 • 5 tweets • 3 min read
In Disney’s The Lion King, little Simba grows up to become the ‘King of Beasts’ – but where did this idea come from? The answer lies in the medieval bestiary, along with a host of other wondrous and exciting discoveries 🦁 An illustration of a lion from a 12th-century bestiary. He proudly stands on all fours, and has green and blue highlights in his fur and mane. MS 11283 What is a bestiary? Well, it was a ‘book of beasts’ that included descriptions of the characteristics and habits of animals. An early medieval natural history encyclopedia if you will. A page from a bestiary with text and an illustration of a phoenix rising from the flames. Harley MS 4751
Mar 15, 2023 • 6 tweets • 3 min read
How did you study Science in Anglo-Saxon England?

Well, this #ScienceWeek, let us introduce you to Bede 'the Venerable', and his scientific treatises (and computus) exploring the mathematical and physical basis of time ⌛ A tonsured seated scribe, w... The idea of science in the early Middle Ages is a broad one, encompassing many subjects. The root of the word ‘science’ comes from the Latin scientia, meaning ‘knowledge’. In the Middle Ages, a person’s ‘science’ referred to his understanding of a particular topic.
Mar 15, 2022 • 8 tweets • 2 min read
It’s #QuizTime again, and this week we’re quizzing you on Ludwig van #Beethoven! Da da da dummm.

📑 Hirsch.2034 Drawing of Beethoven Q1: Where was Ludwig van Beethoven born?
Sep 14, 2021 • 5 tweets • 3 min read
Met Gala looks as Medieval art: a thread

Dec 21, 2020 • 6 tweets • 1 min read
Got 5 minutes? Test your literary knowledge with these five bookish brainteasers. Answers in an hour! 📚❓⤵️ #QuizTime Parrot reading newspaper Il... Q1: Who is the author of Pride and Prejudice?
Dec 13, 2020 • 32 tweets • 20 min read
This year we all need that warm, fuzzy Christmas feeling. So for the next twelve days we’ll be sharing an updated rendition of a Christmas classic with a British Library twist (deep breath) 👇 “On the first day of Christmas the Library gave to me… a world of ideas and discovery” #BLThanksYou Image: photograph of childr...