The Old English word for 'duel' was ānwīġ, which literally meant 'singular war.' To challenge someone to a duel was ānwīġes biddan or ānwīġ ġecweðan; here is an example from Orosius: Hē ðā Brutus ġecwæð ānwīġ wið þone cyning. Brutus then challenged the king [Tarquin] to a duel.

What did the early medieval English think about hell? About guardian angels? About wizards? I talk about these topics and more in today’s interview with UVA’s @phil-lol-ogist.bsky.social on his recent book about medieval apocrypha. Check it out ⬇️

So excited to announce that my first ever book will be coming out this year: a selection of Bede’s works, in facing-page translation! The goal is to provide a holistic image of Bede and his life’s work, accessible to a wide range of readers, from casual learners to students of Latin.

Wilhelm Müller’s ‘Rückblick’ poem has the line “da war’s geschen um dich, Gesell!” My Gen Z heart is warmed to know that even 19th century German lyric poets were saying “it’s over for you, bro”

Thrilled to hear this afternoon that my article on medieval women interacting with English government in Ireland is now live at Speculum! It was all due to the resources @virtualtreasury.bsky.social 50 people can access it for free here: www.journals.uchicago.edu/eprint/VCYQU...

It took a long time for 'pride' (OE prȳde) to be settled as the English equivalent to Latin 'superbia' (i.e., the deadly sin). Other early contenders were oferhyġd (would have become *overhide), ofermōd (would have been *overmood), and mōdiġnes (survives as 'moodiness').

The fact that Aldhelm expected the dedicatees of “de Virginitate” to be able to read the poem, when modern students struggle immensely with it (with the help of modern dictionaries), speaks to the truly impressive level of Latin learning achieved by some of these pre-viking nuns and monks.

Seventh-century English monks who drank to the point of throwing up were to fast for 30 days; so say the canons associated with Archbishop Theodore of Canterbury (602-690). ... unleeesssss it happened on a feast day; then you're excused (and maybe even encouraged to do so?)

“Ceolfrith, self-styled in his dedication page as ‘abbot from the ends of the earth’, intended the Amiatinus Bible to proclaim to Rome his people’s contribution to the apostolic mission, worthy of the Church Fathers.” Michelle P. Brown, on the Codex Amiatinus

My book Tolkien and the Great War changed how people look at the creation of Middle-earth. Now my Oxford doctoral project will transform the way we look at his epic masterpiece The Lord of the Rings. Here’s why … and how you can help. Please share! tinyurl.com/lotr-tides #tolkien #lotr #ww2 #DDay

I'm not sure how much I'll use this account, but I at least want to be here. Salvete omnes and wesaþ ge hale!