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  • Article

Revelations of blindness in the Middle Ages

Medieval texts, from Islamic medical treatises to Christian books of miracles, reveal surprisingly varied and complex experiences of blindness. But when medieval scholar Jude Seal experienced visual impairment themselves, they gained an even deeper understanding of the lives they were studying.

  • Article

Confession as therapy in the Middle Ages

The line between confession and counselling has been blurred for centuries.

  • Article

Guide dogs or good dogs from the Middle Ages

Medieval illustrations often show blind people, sometimes with dogs. But working out whether these were actually guide dogs involves a mix of detailed detective work and expert speculation.

  • Article

What happy endings teach us in childhood

Kate Wilkinson explores why, in quest fiction, good must triumph over evil, and what that means both for childhood dreams and adult realities.

All stories (106)

Images

  • A manual for the study of the sepulchral slabs and crosses of the Middle Ages / By the Rev. Edward L. Cutts, B. A.
  • A manual for the study of the sepulchral slabs and crosses of the Middle Ages / By the Rev. Edward L. Cutts, B. A.
  • A manual for the study of the sepulchral slabs and crosses of the Middle Ages / By the Rev. Edward L. Cutts, B. A.
  • The book of the feet, a history of boots and shoes. With illustrations of the fashions of the Egyptians, Hebrews, Persians, Greeks and Romans, and the prevailing style throughout Europe during the Middle Ages down to the present period; Also hints to last makers and remedies for corns, etc., etc / J. Sparkes Hall.
  • The book of the feet, a history of boots and shoes. With illustrations of the fashions of the Egyptians, Hebrews, Persians, Greeks and Romans, and the prevailing style throughout Europe during the Middle Ages down to the present period; Also hints to last makers and remedies for corns, etc., etc / J. Sparkes Hall.
  • Three middle-aged women sit chatting at table in a cafe representing an advertisement for safe sex for women by The Women & AIDS Project of the AIDS Council of New South Wales. Colour lithograph by Loonie Lane and Sandy Edwards.
  • A middle-aged woman in glasses with her arms crossed, a statue of Christ in the background and a warning about the problem of AIDS for Hispanic American people; a poster from the America responds to Aids advertising campaign. Lithograph.
  • Hyssopus officinalis (Hyssop)
  • The aged Anne, mother of the Virgin Mary, meets Joachim by the Golden Gate at Jerusalem. Engraving by H. Wierix.
  • Mandragora officinarum (Mandrake)
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Catalogue

All works (19)