Wherein medieval people know it’s “early to bed, early to rise…and then early to bed and rise all over again.” Doctors have sounded the alarm about sleep problems since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, with a recent report noting two-thirds of Americans claim they are sleeping more or less than desired. Athena Akrami warns, … Read More
Medieval
Please Mr. Postman
Wherein medieval mail carriers let nothing stay their appointed rounds—except for the possibility of a quick buck. Several months ago our neighborhood’s mail carrier retired, forcing the postal service to find a replacement. In the interim between the previous carrier and our new carrier, this meant a series of fill-ins who were required to navigate … Read More
Get You a Copper Kettle
Wherein medieval copper pots make you fashionable down to your bones. One of the things I find most interesting among archaeological and paleontological discoveries is when researchers can determine, frequently by examining bone specimens, the general diet of a local people group. For example, a recent find indicates some Neanderthals ate mushrooms, nuts and even … Read More
A Brazen Set of Knickers
In which medieval men found practical undies to be an essential part of the wardrobe (and hygiene). The pandemic has freed many of us to get in touch with our primal selves—or at least, our ungroomed, non-stop pajama-wearing and, most notably, unbathed selves. Our lives devolved into “Netflix and chilling” in our own filth. Experts … Read More
