How long before they land on the argument that high quality things are more expensive, and so the cost of groceries is proof that we have the best groceries in the world?

You want to know how important eels were in early medieval Britain. I hear you. Bede says they were very important. And grave goods from a 7th C. burial site in Cambridge include a copper bowl w/ the skeletal remains of three complete eels. Who says you can't take it with you? 🗃️🧪

You want to know how important eels were in early medieval Britain. I hear you. Bede says they were very important. And grave goods from a 7th C. burial site in Cambridge include a copper bowl w/ the skeletal remains of three complete eels. Who says you can't take it with you? 🗃️🧪

How long before they land on the argument that high quality things are more expensive, and so the cost of groceries is proof that we have the best groceries in the world?

Did medieval peasants have more free time than you? No way! Think of all the eels they had to catch & prepare! In 1290, villagers in Ramsey were responsible for taxes on 365,000 eels per year. 365k! That takes a lot of time. Time *you* use in messing about on Twitter! 1/3 🗃️🧪

Always read the alt text

Did medieval peasants have more free time than you? No way! Think of all the eels they had to catch & prepare! In 1290, villagers in Ramsey were responsible for taxes on 365,000 eels per year. 365k! That takes a lot of time. Time *you* use in messing about on Twitter! 1/3 🗃️🧪

It's election day! To all my fellow US folks: make sure you get out & vote. The eels demand it of you. Eels, of course, are citizens of the world. So they can't vote in local elections, and they have to rely on you to do it for them. Even if you won't vote for you, be a proxy vote for an eel! 🗃️🧪

It's election day! To all my fellow US folks: make sure you get out & vote. The eels demand it of you. Eels, of course, are citizens of the world. So they can't vote in local elections, and they have to rely on you to do it for them. Even if you won't vote for you, be a proxy vote for an eel! 🗃️🧪

I'm a few days late, but I've finally gotten my historical map article for Oct. done! This month, paying subscribers to my patreon page get to learn about the 13th C. Psalter Map: a small map that punches above its weight with dragons, cannibalism, and so much more! www.patreon.com/posts/psalte...

I'm a few days late, but I've finally gotten my historical map article for Oct. done! This month, paying subscribers to my patreon page get to learn about the 13th C. Psalter Map: a small map that punches above its weight with dragons, cannibalism, and so much more! www.patreon.com/posts/psalte...

It's Monday. Mondays are hard. Perhaps some eels will help? In c. 1500, Roger de Cailli promised 1,500 eels a year to the priory of Castleacre if the monks would pray for the souls of his mother, father, & 2 departed wives. Remember folks: eels are the way out of purgatory. Even on Mondays. 🗃️🧪

It's Monday. Mondays are hard. Perhaps some eels will help? In c. 1500, Roger de Cailli promised 1,500 eels a year to the priory of Castleacre if the monks would pray for the souls of his mother, father, & 2 departed wives. Remember folks: eels are the way out of purgatory. Even on Mondays. 🗃️🧪

It IS the most lucrative wildlife crime, and it ain't even close, folks.

A little gargoyle drawing from this evening!

A little gargoyle drawing from this evening!

It's Halloween! Let's look at some scary eels! Susan Hill's 1983 horror novel THE WOMAN IN BLACK, takes place at the secluded & haunted Eel Marsh House. A dark & tortured estate, set in a fen full of eels! Much creepier than setting the stage at Lamb Meadows. 1/6 🗃️🧪

It's Halloween! Let's look at some scary eels! Susan Hill's 1983 horror novel THE WOMAN IN BLACK, takes place at the secluded & haunted Eel Marsh House. A dark & tortured estate, set in a fen full of eels! Much creepier than setting the stage at Lamb Meadows. 1/6 🗃️🧪

In 1107, King Henry's butler founded the abbey of Wymondham, & he donated 2 things to help the monks get by: 1. the right to salvage shipwrecks on a nearby coast 2. a rent of 2,000 eels per year Time for an eel picnic on the beach! 🗃️🧪

In 1107, King Henry's butler founded the abbey of Wymondham, & he donated 2 things to help the monks get by: 1. the right to salvage shipwrecks on a nearby coast 2. a rent of 2,000 eels per year Time for an eel picnic on the beach! 🗃️🧪

I've been working this month on a set of maps for an edited collection, so they're all a bit different. One of the authors didn't need a map, per se, but wanted to know if I could redraw a historical image from a text he was working on. And I can! Also...it's kinda a map, too.

The trade in Dutch eels to London really got going in the 14th C, & by century's end the Dutch were importing lots of fish. In 1390, the merchant Henri Sonerson made 4 trips to London, in March, May, June, & Sept. He imported a total of 38,000 salted eels, worth £24 5s 20d. 🗃️🧪

The trade in Dutch eels to London really got going in the 14th C, & by century's end the Dutch were importing lots of fish. In 1390, the merchant Henri Sonerson made 4 trips to London, in March, May, June, & Sept. He imported a total of 38,000 salted eels, worth £24 5s 20d. 🗃️🧪

Another evening, another drawing

Another evening, another drawing

Do you ever feel in over your head about eels? Well...sometimes it's the eels that are over your head! The Long Room at the Customs House at the Exeter Quay features a ceiling plaster decoration made by John Abbot in c.1680. And what is lurking among the leave? Yup: eels! 1/2 🗃️🧪

I draw custom maps on commission. Maps for books, games, decoration, etc. Here are a couple of examples. There are more on my website, along with a contact form and info about cost, process, etc. If you need a map, I'm happy to help! surprisedeelmaps.com

After months of sketching, planning, and layering colour, I’m thrilled to share my finished illustration for Chapter 5 of The Hobbit – “Riddles in the Dark”.⁠ ⁠ What do you think of how this illustration turned out?⁠ #tolkienart #thehobbit #tolkien

Do you ever feel in over your head about eels? Well...sometimes it's the eels that are over your head! The Long Room at the Customs House at the Exeter Quay features a ceiling plaster decoration made by John Abbot in c.1680. And what is lurking among the leave? Yup: eels! 1/2 🗃️🧪

A drawing from this evening. It feels to me like an anglerfish hunting a hummingbird

A drawing from this evening. It feels to me like an anglerfish hunting a hummingbird

I've been a bit distracted today, and I've not gotten an eel tweet out yet. I know you've been on pins and needles. I feel you, friends. I'll get a good history tweet out tomorrow. For today, enjoy this happy, helpful eel-friend from a carpark in Dorset. 🗃️🧪

It's Friday! You've made it through the week. You deserve an eel. don't you? Come on...don't be shy. You know you do. Go ahead...take one from the tub. You've earned it.

It's Friday! You've made it through the week. You deserve an eel. don't you? Come on...don't be shy. You know you do. Go ahead...take one from the tub. You've earned it.

A drawing from this afternoon. What is it? I’m not quite sure, tbh

A drawing from this afternoon. What is it? I’m not quite sure, tbh

Not all English eel-rents were owed to English landlords. In 1086 the Abbot of the Holy Trinity in Rouen held land in Harmondsworth, with a fishpond & 3 mills that payed a total of 60s. & 1500 eels per year. It's not clear if, or how, the eels got sent across the Channel. 🗃️🧪

Not all English eel-rents were owed to English landlords. In 1086 the Abbot of the Holy Trinity in Rouen held land in Harmondsworth, with a fishpond & 3 mills that payed a total of 60s. & 1500 eels per year. It's not clear if, or how, the eels got sent across the Channel. 🗃️🧪

I'm working on a set of maps for an edited collection of essays on the history of common spaces and commoning. One thing I love about my job is that I get to learn a lot of new things, as I hand-draw maps for other people's research. This is one of my favorite maps from this collection:

A poem that's been kicking around my head for a few days

I'm working on a set of maps for an edited collection of essays on the history of common spaces and commoning. One thing I love about my job is that I get to learn a lot of new things, as I hand-draw maps for other people's research. This is one of my favorite maps from this collection:

A poem that's been kicking around my head for a few days

It's Thusday. Let's go to Italy for our eel history! In the 10th C the monastery at Monte Cassino -- home of St. Benedict! -- got a rent of 6,000 eels per year from the town of Terracina, & another 600 eels from other rents. 'Cause the house (of St. Benedict) always wins. 1/2 🗃️🧪

It's Thusday. Let's go to Italy for our eel history! In the 10th C the monastery at Monte Cassino -- home of St. Benedict! -- got a rent of 6,000 eels per year from the town of Terracina, & another 600 eels from other rents. 'Cause the house (of St. Benedict) always wins. 1/2 🗃️🧪

A reminder that I don't just draw maps and abstract, Rorschach-esque art! I also take commissions for specific drawings! Here are a few examples, and then one more on the next post in the thread. If you would like to commission a drawing, here's my website: surprisedeelmaps.com/original-art...

A reminder that I don't just draw maps and abstract, Rorschach-esque art! I also take commissions for specific drawings! Here are a few examples, and then one more on the next post in the thread. If you would like to commission a drawing, here's my website: surprisedeelmaps.com/original-art...

Eel sex may be a mystery, but at least we know about their dating! That's right! To find out how old a (dead) eel is, look to its ears! Eels' ear bones grow as they age, & each year they add a ring of bone. Like with trees, you can tell an eel's age by counting the rings!

Eel sex may be a mystery, but at least we know about their dating! That's right! To find out how old a (dead) eel is, look to its ears! Eels' ear bones grow as they age, & each year they add a ring of bone. Like with trees, you can tell an eel's age by counting the rings!

See…when you draw your own tattoo, you don’t usually have this kinda problem.

When I was about 6 or 7, i was looking at a book on WWII that had pictures of Nazi soldiers looking smart and dapper, and I said something to my dad about it. And he said, “Sure, they looked cool. But here’s all the ways they were terrible…” And that was the end of my Nazi-curious stage.