#thycaptionbe

#ThyCaptionBe: The Lamb of God!

You captioned this detail. And we’re revealing the full story now.

Medieval lamb chop or a Holy Ghost Goat*? It’s actually an apocalyptic scene. 

Here’s the full story:

The end is nigh, my friends, but don’t go losing your heads.

This leaf was once part of a manuscript concerning the Apocalypse, the Biblical book about the end of time. The Lamb of God battles ten kings of the world who personify the ten horns of the beast ridden by the Harlot of Babylon. Above, the victorious Lamb cuts off the head of a king, while below a snake consumes five others who have already been decapitated.

This image of the end of time mirrors the end of #ThyCaptionBe and is our way of saying goodbye. But you can revisit some favorites and learn about the project here!

Welcome to our final #ThyCaptionBe, a celebration of modern interpretations of medieval aesthetics. 

We’ll post a detail.

You guess what in the world is going on and write a caption (questionable accuracy welcome).

Then we’ll share the full illumination and myth-bust if we must.

#ThyCaptionBe: Moving Island

You captioned this detail. And we’re revealing the full story now.

Medieval Jaws or scary genetically modified fish,actually it’s a monster that looks like an island.

Here’s the full story:

That moment of realization that something is terribly, terribly wrong.

In this medieval bestiary, a kind of encyclopedia of animals where Christian symbolism is found in individual creatures, the aspidochelone (a scheming whale-like creature) lures unwary sailors into thinking that its broad back is a safe island haven. Once it feels the sailors build a fire, it dives deep into the ocean, taking the hapless men with it. This sea monster was understood as an allegory of the devil, who plunges unsuspecting sinners into hell.

Welcome back to #ThyCaptionBe, a celebration of modern interpretations of medieval aesthetics. Every Tuesday, this will go down on Tumblr and Twitter:

We’ll post a detail.

You guess what in the world is going on and write a caption (questionable accuracy welcome).

Then we’ll share the full illumination and myth-bust if we must.

#ThyCaptionBe: Just a flesh wound!

You captioned this detail. And we’re revealing the full story now.

IRL chess game? Vampire Horses? It’s actually a scene of medieval romance!

Here’s the full story:

This image from a medieval romance depicts a knight battling a foe for the hand of the beautiful maiden seen kneeling in the background. A look of agony is evident on the defeated knight’s face as he realizes that he has lost the duel (not to mention his leg!). To the right, two horses engage in a battle of their own that echoes that of their masters.

Welcome back to #ThyCaptionBe, a celebration of modern interpretations of medieval aesthetics. Every Tuesday, this will go down on Tumblr and Twitter:

We’ll post a detail.

You guess what in the world is going on and write a caption (questionable accuracy welcome).

Then we’ll share the full illumination and myth-bust if we must.

#ThyCaptionBe: Worst Dentist Ever

You captioned this detail. And we’re revealing the full story now.

Medieval dentistry? Witch hunt? It’s actually the martyrdom of Saint Apollonia!

Here’s the full story:

Like many a beautiful and chaste female martyr before her, Saint Apollonia suffered great bodily harm with grace. 

She was killed during Roman persecutions against early Christians in the 3rd century. Even after soldiers seized Apollonia and violently broke and pulled out her teeth she refused to renounce Christianity or pray to pagan idols, instead opting to throw herself into a fire to preserve her faith. 

Adopted as the patron saint of dentistry, she was often included in personal prayer books and called upon for protection against toothaches.

Welcome back to #ThyCaptionBe, a celebration of modern interpretations of medieval aesthetics. Every Tuesday, this will go down on Tumblr and Twitter:

We’ll post a detail.

You guess what in the world is going on and write a caption (questionable accuracy welcome).

Then we’ll share the full illumination and myth-bust if we must.