Medieval Caesarean
Illegal English Bible
Chaucer, Canterbury Tales
Monsters in hell
Ptolemy's World Map
Medieval woman poet
Old Hall manuscript
Bedford Hours
Medicinal plants
Chess playing
Medical Treatise by John Aderne
Recipe for 'custarde'
Gutenberg Bible
The Temptation of Eve
Pregnancy
The Legend of King Arthur
Caxton's Chaucer
Valentine's day love letter
Medieval zodiac chart
Heretics burned at the stake
Royal feast
Courtly love
Columbus in America
Deluxe manuscripts were often decorated with images of monsters. Twisting bodies with biting heads were placed into splendid initial letters and borders; strange creatures, made up of body parts from two or more creatures, were painted in the margins; and images in miniatures and margins often showed the defeat of a monster by a saint or hero. The presence of such monsters is often playful, and sometimes in stark contrast to the seriousness of the text. Often the text focuses on the moral teachings of the Church. So while medieval viewers might have taken delight in such images, they will also have recognized that the demons symbolised the dangers of going against the teachings of Christianity.
Shelfmark: Add. 29433 f.89