The Maniculum Podcast: Recent Episodes
The Maniculum Podcast
Maniculum: little hand, pointing finger; often found in manuscript marginalia
We’re Mac and Zoe - a medievalist PhD candidate and an academic-turned game designer, and we’re dedicated to breaking down the ivory tower of academia and making good stories accessible by pointing back to the rich world of the Middle Ages. Join us as we find obscure medieval texts, contextualize them, and teach you how to create fresh stories and compelling games - not through new ideas, but old ones!
So you want to be a necromancer - in your next D&D campaign, sure, sure. But what IS necromancy, really? Join us in this episode as we dive into the real sources of medieval necromancy and black magic, and discover ways that real magical practices can fit into your next TTRPG campaign.
Our Kickstarter is just a week away! Be the first to get a deck of 50 magic items straight from medieval manuscripts!
Join our discord community!Check out our Tumblr for even more!Support us on patreon! Check out our merch!
Socials: TumblrWebsiteTwitter InstagramFacebook
Citations & References:
- Forbidden Rites: a Necromancer's Manual online version here!
- All of Richard Keikhefer's books on magic here!
What can animals teach us about TTRPGs? Join us in this episode as we explore the world of Medieval Fables and just what they can teach us about life, death, and min-maxing with fables & medieval animal specialist Linnet Heald!
Check out our Kickstarter!Check out Sam's DEATH OF THE AUTHOR on Backerkit here!
Check out Linnet's Blog posts & her new work! (Website coming soon!)
- The Raven’s False Greeting: Animal Language and Medieval Fable - link
- Learning to Fear in Two Medieval Fables - link
- The Stag and the Dogs: A Medieval Fable - link
- Imagining the Medieval Bestiary - link
- Linnet Heald, "Wicked Wolves, Culpable Sheep: Animal Lessons in Medieval British Fables," New Medieval Literatures 25 (2025) . (Forthcoming)
- Medieval Panther Woodcut: link
Join our discord community!Check out our Tumblr for even more!Support us on patreon!Check out our merch!
The Beastiary Challenge! (<-- Don't miss it!)
Socials:TumblrWebsiteTwitterInstagramFacebook
Citations & References:
- Caxton’s Aesop ed. by Joseph Jacobs, 1889 - link
- TEAMS Middle English Robert Henryson, The Complete Works: Fables - link & the Modern English Translation
- Loeb Library's BABRIUS, PHAEDRUS, Fables - link
- Davide Ermacora, “The Comparative Milk-Suckling Reptile,” Anthropozoologica 52, no. 1 (2017): 59–81.
- Lion Symbolism: Nigel Harris, "The Lion in Medieval Western Europe: Toward an Interpretive History," Traditio 76 (2021), 185–213.
This week, we're delving into Empress Theodora's early life and rise to power as empress of the Byzantine era. From her breathtaking performances as a prostitute to her love-at-first-sight romance with Justinian as a young guard, we gather that Theodora was one hell of a woman, regardless of Prokopios' distaste for her.
Check out our Kickstarter!
Also, check out Gals and Goblins podcast here, and check out their TikTok and other cool content here! They've been gracious enough to share the pod and Kickstarter with their audience, and we're sharing the love - their actual play is goofy, lighthearted, and fun to listen to on commutes, in the kitchen, or while pruning your garden of poisonous plants you're planing to use to poison your evil overlord.
Join our discord community!Check out our Tumblr for even more!Support us on patreon!Check out our merch!
The Beastiary Challenge!
Socials:TumblrWebsiteTwitterInstagramFacebook
Citations & References:
- The Secret History and another version
It's our 100th episode! Come celebrate with us as we host our second tournament - Mac and I compete with each other to see who has the best approach to listener submitted quests, with parties compiled of the characters we've collected from each episode.
Special thanks to all the listeners who submitted quest ideas and questions for us to answer!
WHO WON? VOTE HERE!
Check out our Kickstarter!
Join our discord community!Check out our Tumblr for even more!Support us on patreon!Check out our merch!
The Beastiary Challenge! (<-- Don't miss it!)
Socials:TumblrWebsiteTwitterInstagramFacebook
Citations & References:
- Ulrich, Laurel Thatcher. “Vertuous Women Found: New England Ministerial Literature, 1668-1735.” American Quarterly, vol. 28, no. 1, 1976, pp. 20–40.
- Richard Keikhefer, Magic in the Middle Ages & Forbidden Rites - find both here!
- Bailey, Michael D. ‘The Disenchantment of Magic: Spells, Charms, and Superstition in Early European Witchcraft Literature.’ The American Historical Review, Vol 111, No. 2. April 2006. pp. 383-404.
- —. ‘The Age of Magicians: Periodization in the History of European Magic.’ Magic, Ritual, and Witchcraft, Vol. 3. University of Pennsylvania Press, 2008. pp. 1-28.
- —. ‘The Disenchantment of Magic: Spells, Charms, and Superstition in Early European Witchcraft Literature.’ The American Historical Review, Vol. 111, No. 2. University of Pennsylvania Press, April 2006. pp. 383-404.
It's part two of the drama-filled adventure of Eliduc, the two-timing knight! In the final part of this tale, we discuss how medieval writers poke fun at the chivalric system, and explore how to adapt knighthood - in all its forms- into your D&D campaign.
Our KICKSTARTER is coming up! Sign up & try it out yourself here!
Join our discord community!Check out our Tumblr for even more!Support us on patreon!Check out our merch!
The Beastiary Challenge! (<-- Don't miss it!)
Socials:TumblrWebsiteTwitterInstagramFacebook
Citations & References:
- The Lais of Marie de France
- Physical and Mental Cruelty in the "Lais" of Marie de France, Renee L Curtis
- Two for the Price of One: Courtly Love and Serial Polygamy in the "Lais" of Marie de France, Sharon Kinoshita
The drama of courtly love affairs - and their consequences - is back with the Lay of Eliduc! When Sir Eliduc abandons his vows after becoming a knight errant overseas, his wife and young mistress are not left helpless - together, and with a little magic, the two of them subvert expectations to force Eliuduc's hand.
Check out the Kickstarter here!
Join our discord community!Check out our Tumblr for even more!Support us on patreon!Check out our merch!
The Beastiary Challenge! (<-- Don't miss it!)
Socials:TumblrWebsiteTwitterInstagramFacebook
Citations & References:
- The Lais of Marie de France
- Physical and Mental Cruelty in the "Lais" of Marie de France, Renee L Curtis
- Two for the Price of One: Courtly Love and Serial Polygamy in the "Lais" of Marie de France, Sharon Kinoshita
Looking for a new political-intrigue campaign, but on't want to compromise on combat and craziness? Join us this week as we explore the Nika riots, where sports fans create a gang war that nearly brings down the Byzantine empire. With unique faction styles, a political coup, and a pretender emperor, the Nika riots are the perfect ground for a successful city-wide campaign or one-shot!
Check out the Kickstarter here!
The Beastiary Challenge! (<-- Don't miss it!)
Join our discord community!Check out our Tumblr for even more!Support us on patreon!Check out our merch!
Socials:TumblrWebsiteTwitterInstagramFacebook
Citations & References:
- The Secret History and another version
- Check out the Burgs & Baliffs Poor Pilgrim's Almanack!
- Check out the TTRPG indie publisher Lost Pages!
Happy Valentine's Day! In this episode, we delve into medieval love spells, contraception, and the challenges women faced in matters of love and pregnancy. From mysterious plants and potions to debates among theologians on abortion ethics, explore the intersection of magic, societal views, and women's health in the Middle Ages.
Join our discord community!Check out our Tumblr for even more!Support us on patreon!Check out our merch!The Beastiary Challenge! (<-- Don't miss it!)
Socials:TumblrWebsiteTwitterInstagramFacebook
Citations & References:
- Bailey, Michael D. ‘The Age of Magicians: Periodization in the History of European Magic.’
- Bailey, Michael D. ‘The Disenchantment of Magic: Spells, Charms, and Superstition in Early European Witchcraft Literature.’
- Bailey, Michael D. ‘The Meanings of Magic.’ Magic, Ritual, and Witchcraft,
- Kieckhefer, Richard. ‘The Specific Rationality of Medieval Magic.’
- Kieckhefer, Richard. Magic in the Middle Ages.
- John M. Riddle, Contraception and Early Abortion in the Middle Ages
- Thomas R Forbes, Midwifery and Witchcraft.
- Lydia Harris, Evacuating the Womb: Abortion and Contraception in the High Middle Ages,
- circa 1050-1300.
- Etienne van de Walle, Flowers and Fruits: Two Thousand Years of Menstrual Regulation.
- John Haldane and Patrick Lee, Aquinas on Human Ensoulment, Abortion and the Value of Life.
- John M. Riddle and J. Worth Estes, Oral Contraceptives in Ancient and Medieval Times.
- John Scarborough and Andrea Fernandes, Ancient Medicinal Use of Aristolochia: Birthwort's Tradition and Toxicity
- Phillip A. Bernhardt-House, The Old Irish Impotence Spell: The Dam Dli, Fergus, Fertility, and the Mythic Backround of an Irish Incantation
Ever wonder how realistic the magic items in D&D are, anyway? What are the lines between a religious token, a pagan amulet, and a giant-made sword?Join us this episode as we unlock the nature of how magic works in the middle ages, and how you can adapt historical magic techniques into your D&D campaign.
Join our discord community!Check out our Tumblr for even more!Support us on patreon!Check out our merch!The Beastiary Challenge! (<-- Don't miss it!)
Socials:TumblrWebsiteTwitterInstagramFacebook
Citations & References:
- Bailey, Michael D. ‘The Age of Magicians: Periodization in the History of European Magic.’
- Bailey, Michael D. ‘The Disenchantment of Magic: Spells, Charms, and Superstition in Early European Witchcraft Literature.’
- Bailey, Michael D. ‘The Meanings of Magic.’ Magic, Ritual, and Witchcraft,
- Green, Richard Firth. ‘Incubi Faries.’ Elf Queens and Holy Friars: Fairy Beliefs and the Medieval Church,
- Griffiths, Bill. Aspects of Anglo-Saxon Magic.
- Hall, Alaric. Elves in Anglo-Saxon England: Matters of Belief, Health, Gender, and Identity.
- Kieckhefer, Richard. ‘The Specific Rationality of Medieval Magic.’
- Kieckhefer, Richard. Magic in the Middle Ages.
- Saunders, Corrine. Magic and the Supernatural in Medieval English Romance.
- Taylor, Paul Beekman. ‘The Dragon’s Treasure in “Beowulf.”’ Neuphilologische Mitteilungen,
- Thayer, J. D. ‘Resolving the “Double Curse” of the Pagan Hoard in Beowulf.’
- f.81r of the Rutland Psalter
The drama of Prokopios' Secret History continues in this episode! We learn the secret backstory of how Justinian rose to power -- there's no dramatic coup, but we do learn the origin of the stencil, and learn how Theodora continues to strong-arm her way over a princely love triangle.
Join our discord community!Check out our Tumblr for even more!Support us on patreon!Check out our merch!The Beastiary Challenge! (<-- Don't miss it!)
Socials:TumblrWebsiteTwitterInstagramFacebook
Sources & Citations
- The Secret History and another version
When four knights enter a tournament to win the same lady's hand (after she's led them all on), what could go wrong? Quite a lot, really. Join us in this episode as we explore this soap opera of a reverse-harem, medieval style. Plus, we discuss how medieval tournaments were actually set up, and how to adapt them to your D&D campaign!
Join our discord community!Check out our Tumblr for even more!Support us on patreon!Check out our merch!
Socials:TumblrWebsiteTwitterInstagramFacebook
Citations & References:
- The Lais of Marie de France
- The Medieval Tournament as Spectacle: Tourneys, Jousts and Pas d'Armes, 1100-1600
- Tournament rules
- The Medieval Tournament: A Functional Sport of the Upper Class
- Our very own blog post!
Merry Christmas and happy winter holiday! Welcome to part two of our Saint Nick special, where we explore the miracles of Saint Nicholas - after his death. Join us as we explore how to adapt the humiliation of saints into your D&D game, and how you can compel your warlock patron to help you - or else.
Join our discord community!Check out our Tumblr for even more!Support us on patreon!Check out our merch!
Socials:TumblrWebsiteTwitterInstagramFacebook
Citations & References:
- Life of Saint Nicholas
- Green, Richard Firth. Elf Queens and Holy Friars: Fairy Beliefs and the Medieval Church. University of Pennsylvania Press, 2016. Link
- Geary, Patrick J. “Humiliation of Saints.” Living with the Dead in the Middle Ages, Cornell University Press, 1994, pp. 95–115. Link
It's the final part of Yonec, and in this episode, we explore how to adapt the Fairy Ring of General Inconspicuousness into your game, and how meta you can get with your meta-textuality. Join us and turn your next D&D game into an extra-planar fairy adventure!
Join our discord community! Check out our Tumblr for even more! Support us on patreon! Check out our merch!The Beastiary Challenge! (<-- Don't miss it!)
Socials: Tumblr Website Twitter Instagram Facebook
Citations & References:
- The Lais of Marie de France
- Celtic Origins of Lais of Yonec
- The Anonymous Fairy-Knight Lais
Alas, poor Yonec! He doesn't feature heavily in this story, despite being its namesake. Instead, join us as we discover how his parents, a fairy bird-man and a hapless damsel with a penchant for swooning, play meta-textual games within their tale. What pros and cons come with knowing you're in a fairy tale, and are they worth it, in the end?
Join our discord community!Check out our Tumblr for even more!Support us on patreon!Check out our merch!The Beastiary Challenge! (<-- Don't miss it!)
Socials:TumblrWebsiteTwitterInstagramFacebook
Citations & References:
- The Lais of Marie de France
- Celtic Origins of Lais of Yonec
- The Anonymous Fairy-Knight Lais
Welcome to the first installment of Prokopios' Secret History - look no further for the next BBEG of your D&D campaign! In this episode, Prokopios, the court historian, explains the dangers of writing his record, and why he's waited so long to divulge the depravities of the Empress of Byzantium.
Join our discord community!Check out our Tumblr for even more!Support us on patreon!Check out our merch!
Socials:TumblrWebsiteTwitterInstagramFacebook
Sources & Citations
- The Secret History and another version
- Come Out You Cuck Flag
We're joined this week by Dr. Anthony Kaldellis, a professor of Classics of the University of Chicago and a brilliant Byzantine scholar. Dr. Kaldellis grants us an inside look into the creation of the world's first gossip rag: Prokopios' Secret History, detailing all the saucy and sordid details of the Byzantium court!
Check out Dr. Kaldellis' podcast, Byzantium and Friends!You can also explore his new book, The New Roman Empire: A History of Byzantium, which has just come out!
Join our discord community!Check out our Tumblr for even more!Support us on patreon! Check out our merch!
Socials: TumblrWebsiteTwitter InstagramFacebook
Happy Halloween! This season, we're covering some more spooky stories of the undead. So if you're looking to incorporate some real, historical depictions of how to deal with the undead in your next D&D game, don't delay! Learn the best kept secrets of How to Win Lawsuits against your Undead Neighbors and more in this episode.
Join our discord community!Check out our Tumblr for even more!Support us on patreon! Check out our merch!
Socials: TumblrWebsiteTwitter InstagramFacebook
Citations & References:
- History of Hairshirts
- Quest Friends
- Poroniec
- Caesarius of Heisterbach. The Dialogue On Miracles. Translated by H. von E. Scott and C. C. Swinton Bland, vol. 2. Harcourt, Brace & Co., 1929.
- Grant, A. J. “Twelve Medieval Ghost Stories.” The Yorkshire Archaeological Journal, vol. 27, no. 4, pp. 363-79.
- Map, Walter. De Nugis Curialium (Courtiers’ Trifles). Translated by Frederick Tupper and Marbury Bladen Ogle. Macmillan, 1924.
- William of Newburgh. “The History of William of Newburgh.” The Church Historians of England, edited and translated by Joseph Stevenson, vol. 4. Seeleys, 1856.
Le Fresne, from the Lais of Marie de France, is like a medieval episode of "The Bachelor," but with a surprise twin twist. When two noble sisters are split up as infants and grow up to be equally gorgeous, it leads to a royal mix-up that even DNA testing couldn't solve.
Join our discord community!Check out our Tumblr for even more!Support us on patreon! Check out our merch!
Socials: TumblrWebsiteTwitter InstagramFacebook
Citations and References
- Episode 10 (June 12, 2023): "Adam and Steve (what the Bible says about homosexuality)"
- Marie de France https://www.gutenberg.org/files/11417/11417-h/11417-h.htm#VI
We're back with part two of our chat with Kate! Follow the adventures of Xuanzang, a monk with a quest for enlightenment, as he embarks on a journey to India, meeting eccentric characters, facing weird monsters, and dealing with the inner turmoils of enlightenment.
Join our discord community!Check out our Tumblr for even more!Support us on patreon! Check out our merch!
Socials: TumblrWebsiteTwitter InstagramFacebook
Kate’s Website : drkatehartmann.com
Citations & References:
- Introduction to Chinese Buddhism Video
- What is Buddhism Video
- Who was the Buddha Video
- Buddhist meditation explained Video
- Xuanzang by CoolHistoryBros Video
- Hartmann, C. (2023), Karmic Opacity and Ethical Formation in a Tibetan Pilgrim's Diary. J Relig Eth. https://doi.org/10.1111/jore.12435
- Gyatso, Janet. “One Plus One Makes Three: Buddhist Gender, Monasticism, and the Law of the Non-Excluded Middle.” History of Religions 43, no. 2 (2003): 89–115. https://doi.org/10.1086/423006.
We return to the Great Tang Records this week with a special guest, Dr. Kate Hartmann, as she provides some enlightening context surrounding Xuanzang's travel blog and hot takes on what kind of buddhism is best. Join us as we learn how reincarnation actually works, and why it's better to be a human than a god when it comes to enlightenment.
Join our discord community!Check out our Tumblr for even more!Support us on patreon! Check out our merch!
Socials: TumblrWebsiteTwitter InstagramFacebook
Kate’s Website : drkatehartmann.com
Citations & References:
- Introduction to Chinese Buddhism Video**
- What is Buddhism Video
- Who was the Buddha Video
- Buddhist meditation explained Video
- Xuanzang by CoolHistoryBros Video
- Hartmann, C. (2023), Karmic Opacity and Ethical Formation in a Tibetan Pilgrim's Diary. J Relig Eth. https://doi.org/10.1111/jore.12435
- Gyatso, Janet. “One Plus One Makes Three: Buddhist Gender, Monasticism, and the Law of the Non-Excluded Middle.” History of Religions 43, no. 2 (2003): 89–115. https://doi.org/10.1086/423006.
The Lais of Guigemar is a medieval tale of romance with a magical twist that could give any modern rom-com a run for its money. When a dashing knight accidentally shoots a white doe and falls under a love curse, he's destined for a quest filled with enchanted belts, hidden desires, and a whole lot of "deer"-ly beloved drama.
Join our discord community!Support us on patreon!Check out our merch!
Socials:WebsiteTwitterInstagramFacebookCitations & References:
- Marie de France https://www.gutenberg.org/files/11417/11417-h/11417-h.htm#VI
WHO or WHAT is the Abominable Whistler? What uncanny powers do they possess? These and other questions will be thoroughly elided in this week’s episode as we return to the Gesta Romanorum for more so-called "deeds of the Romans". Tune in to learn the best way to catch fish and how to lie to God. Don't miss it!
Join our discord community! Support us on patreon! Check out our merch!
Socials: Website Twitter Instagram
Citations & References:
- Hypnogoria - on Toads: Link
Lanval, one of the Lais of Marie de France, is a medieval tale that puts the "knight" in "nightmare date." It tells the story of a guy who's so good-looking that even unicorns get jealous, but his love life takes a wild turn when he meets a fairy queen who can't keep her magical powers in check.
Join our discord community! Support us on patreon! Check out our merch!
Socials: Website Twitter Instagram
Citations & References:
- Read the poetic version of the lay here
- Woods, W. S. (1950). Femininity in the “Lais” of Marie de France. Studies in Philology, 47(1), 1–19. Read here.
Stick it to the man with this week's weird medieval tales! We're back with two strange morality stories, each of which seems to teach the benefits of malicious compliance more than any true moral lesson. Hmm, maybe don't let your D&D party get ahold of these ideas, then...
Join our discord community! Support us on patreon! Check out our merch!
Socials: Website Twitter Instagram
Welcome to the final part of Egil's Saga! In this episode, we learn Egil's approach to settling disputes with his neighbors is, of course, violence. How will he spend his last days, and what else can we pilfer from this text for our TTRPGs?
Join our discord community! Support us on patreon! Check out our merch!
Socials: Website Twitter Instagram Facebook
Citations & References:
- Read Egil's Saga here
Happy Pride! In this episode of the podcast, we explore the varied gender identities of Viking witches. While the modern stereotype of Vikings is that that of the masculine warrior and dutiful wife, grave goods found at several sites illustrate the fluidity of gender in the Nordic and Icelandic world!
Citations & References:
- Bennett, Judith M. "'Lesbian-Like' and the Social History of Lesbianisms." Journal of the History of Sexuality, vol. 9, no. 1/2, 2000, pp. 1-24.
- Bill, Jan. “Ambiguous Mobility in the Viking Age Ship Burial from Oseberg.” Materialities of Passing: Explorations in Transformation, Transition and Transience, 2016, pp. 207–20.
- Colwill, Lee. "The Queerly Departed: Narratives of Veneration in the Burials of Late Iron Age Scandinavia." Trans and Genderqueer Subjects in Medieval Hagiography, edited by Alicia Spencer-Hall & Blake Gutt, Amsterdam University Press, 2021, pp.177-97.
- Mayburd, Miriam. “‘Heizt Þóttumk Nú Heima í Millim⋯’ A Reassessment of Hervör in Light of Seiðr’s Supernatural Gender Dynamics.” Arkiv För Nordisk Filologi, vol. 129, 2014, pp. 121–64.
- Murray, Jacqueline. “Twice Marginal and Twice Invisible: Lesbians in the Middle Ages.” Handbook of Medieval Sexuality, 1996, pp. 203-33.
- Greenberg, David F., and Marcia H. Bystryn. “Christian Intolerance of Homosexuality.” American Journal of Sociology, vol. 88, no. 3, 1982, pp. 515–48.
- Osberg Ship example - Link
Join our discord community! Support us on patreon! Check out our merch!
Socials: Website Twitter Instagram Facebook
Happy pride month! In this episode, we explore how women found ways to express their love for other women in the middle ages. In a time when homosexuality was limited and queer identities weren't as clear-cut, queer expression could be shown in a variety of ways.
Citations & References:
- Twice marginal and twice invisible: lesbians in the Middle Ages, by Jacqueline Murray, Handbook of Medieval Sexuality (1996)
- Greenberg, David F., and Marcia H. Bystryn. “Christian Intolerance of Homosexuality.” American Journal of Sociology, vol. 88, no. 3, 1982, pp. 515–48.
- Bennett, Judith M. "'Lesbian-Like' and the Social History of Lesbianisms." Journal of the History of Sexuality, vol. 9, no. 1/2, 2000, pp. 1-24.
Join our discord community! Support us on patreon! Check out our merch!
Socials: Website Twitter Instagram Facebook
Welcome back to Egil's Saga! This installment of the saga has everything you need for a compelling quest, whether you're playing D&D, Pathfinder, or any other TTRPG! Egil teaches us how to cure a botched curse of lovesickness, and when the king's men go missing, he takes it upon himself to journey into the northlands to find them, only to fall into an ambush! Will Egil make it out alive? Will your players? Join us and find out!
Join our discord community!Support us on patreon!Check out our merch!
Socials:WebsiteTwitterInstagramFacebook
We're concluding our adaptation of the Peasant's Revolt this week - and adapting it to a D&D adventure that you can use in your home game! Everyone loves an underdog story where justice is served, but what happens when mob rule gets a little out of hand? We discuss ways to balance your game's revolutions with ease and style.
Join our discord community!Support us on patreon!Check out our merch!
Sources:Dobson, R. B. The Peasants' Revolt of 1381. 2nd ed., Macmillan, 1983.Hilton, Rodney. Bond Men Made Free: Medieval Peasant Movements and the English Rising of 1381. Viking Press, 1973.
A great primer on the Peasant's Revolt is Ian White's "The Black Death, Economic and Social Change and the Great Rising of 1381 in Hertfordshire" - read it here!
Socials:WebsiteTwitterInstagramFacebook
Happy May Day! We know how tiring it is to work all day only to have a few hours to prep for D&D sessions on the weekend, and that's why we're celebrating international workers' day this week by recounting the Peasant's Revolt in England. This historical account is FULL of ideas for an impactful campaign no matter your play style - combat heavy, political intrigue, or story driven, we can adapt all of it!
Join our discord community!Support us on patreon!Check out our merch!
Sources:Dobson, R. B. The Peasants' Revolt of 1381. 2nd ed., Macmillan, 1983. Hilton, Rodney. Bond Men Made Free: Medieval Peasant Movements and the English Rising of 1381. Viking Press, 1973.
A great primer on the Peasant's Revolt is Ian White's "The Black Death, Economic and Social Change and the Great Rising of 1381 in Hertfordshire" - read it here!
Socials:WebsiteTwitterInstagramFacebook
We're so excited to welcome Crispy onto the show - you may know him from his D&D Horror Stories or his actual play game, and this week, he's giving is his best advice on some of our weird medieval RPG ideas!
Be sure to check out his YouTube channel here: YouTube: here
Join our discord community!Support us on patreon! Check out our merch!
Socials: WebsiteTwitter InstagramFacebook
Welcome back to Who Wants to be a Mystic! As always, your host, Friar Mac of Roxburgh, is here to offer bright young novices an opportunity to become a respected prophet, visionary, theologian, or similar. For those of you who haven’t seen a copy of the relevant papal bull, our format (as chartered by Holy Church) is as follows. I will ask our aspiring mystic a series of questions about various topics, giving them an opportunity to demonstrate the knowledge they have received either through study or through revelation. Depending on how many questions our contestant answers correctly, we may be able to offer them a fast track into a comfortable and respected position where they can spend time recording their wisdom for posterity. Let's see how our contestant does today!
Join our discord community!Support us on patreon!Check out our merch!
Socials:WebsiteTwitterInstagramFacebook
Ever wonder what would happen if a medieval priest challenged a group of pagans to a god-off? Well, in this episode, we're diving into Sidrak and Bokkus, a lyrical poem of 415 questions and answers to the universe, framed by Sidrak, the Christian paragon, destroying a group of pagan priests with Facts and Logic (TM). We're more than confused by his approach, but hey, at least he makes his point with pizzazz!
Join our discord community!Support us on patreon!Check out our merch!
Socials:WebsiteTwitterInstagramFacebook
Citations & References:
In this episode, we delve back into the thrilling world of Egil's Saga! This week, we witness the conclusion of a heated lawsuit over land ownership, as Egil settles the matter... with his fists. Egil’s wonders never cease as he also cures lovesickness with a touch of magic and, in a surprising turn of events, resolves his feud with the king through his mastery of poetry. Get ready for another wild ride with Egil's Saga!
Join our discord community!Support us on patreon!Check out our merch!
Socials:WebsiteTwitterInstagramFacebook
Citations & References:
- Read Egil's saga here.
We're excited to welcome rare book historian Allie Alvis. Allie specializes in the intersection of book history and pop culture, and will be sharing their knowledge on how historical texts have influenced popular media such as TTRPGs. From the impact of medieval illuminated manuscripts on fantasy worlds, to the connection of rare books to games like Magic the Gathering, Allie will enlighten us on the ways book history is present in pop culture.
Check out her work here:Personal Site Etsy
Join our discord community!Support us on patreon!Check out our merch!
Socials:WebsiteTwitterInstagram
Citations & References:
- Megan Cook's Dirtbag Medievalism article
- The Poison Book Project
- Pergamena Parchment
Our return to the Gesta Romanorum in this episode provides a wide variety of tools for your TTRPGs. Need an unsolvable riddle for your players? What about a grave insult paired with the gift of a golden apple? Or perhaps you're looking for a more Lovecraftian plot element? Whatever you're looking for, this episode has it all. Plus, hear YOUR results from our first Tournament!
Join our discord community!Support us on patreon!Check out our merch!
Socials:WebsiteTwitterInstagram
Citations & References:
- Afanasyev, Alexander. "The Tale of Ivan Tsarevich, the Bird of Light, and the Grey Wolf." Russian Folk-Tales, translated by Leonard Magnus, Kegan Paul, Trench, Trubner & Co., 1916, pp. 78-90. Link.
- Read the Gesta Romanorum here
In this episode, we're joined by Dot and Lindsay from the Inside My Favorite Manuscript podcast! Dot and Lindsay are book historians and nerds, and they'll be sharing their knowledge and insights on the world of medieval manuscripts and how you can incorporate them into your Pathfinder or D&D game. From the history and creation of these beautiful texts to the modern-day scholarship surrounding them, this is an episode not to be missed for any book lovers or history buffs.
Check out Inside My Favorite Manuscript for yourself here.
Join our discord community!Support us on patreon!Check out our merch!
Socials:WebsiteTwitterInstagram
Citations & References:
- Dot's Coffee with a Codex videos are here.
- Brandon Hawk's episode on IMFM is here.
- The Luttrel Psalter film is here.
Send us your feedback online: https://pinecast.com/feedback/the-maniculum-podcast/e80d14f2-b148-4b78-9503-910ee20b8286
In this episode, we return to Egil's Saga, where we discuss how to incorporate legal battles, bard rap battles, and tricking enemies into thinking you're a bear - all without transfiguration!
Join our discord community!Support us on patreon!Check out our merch!Socials:WebsiteTwitterInstagram
Citations & References:
Hollister, C. Warren. Anglo-Saxon Military Institutions on the Eve of the Norman Conquest. Clarendon Press, 1962.
Episode NotesIn today's episode, Mac and Zoe are host a tournament to ring in the new year! Using their collected Courts, they create adventuring parties for quests that were submitted by listeners. Who will win the tournament? That is up to you... vote in our discord below!
Join our discord community!Support us on patreon! Check out our merch!
Socials: WebsiteTwitter InstagramFacebook
Send us your feedback online: https://pinecast.com/feedback/the-maniculum-podcast/37ee80eb-deca-421a-9ac8-c23f4073cb1b
Episode NotesHappy holidays, all! To celebrate the season, we’re covering the life and times of Saint Nicholas - the patron saint of sex workers and criminals! Oh, and he’s also known for being Santa Claus. Join us this week as we take a great D&D plot from the devil and learn just who Saint Nick beat bloody.
Discord: https://discord.com/invite/ng7ufQRRbJLinktree: https://linktr.ee/themaniculumpodcast
Send us your feedback online: https://pinecast.com/feedback/the-maniculum-podcast/d93f78f4-7e6e-4171-a5d1-f9bb65323fe6
Episode NotesJoin our discord community!Support us on patreon!Check out our merch!
Ludohistory Socials:TwitchDiscordTwitterYoutube
Our Socials:WebsiteTwitterInstagramFacebook)
Citations & References:
- Rambaran-Olm, Mary, and Erik Wade. “What's in a Name? The Past and Present Racism in 'Anglo-Saxon' Studies.” The Yearbook of English Studies 52.1 135–153. Link.
In this episode of the Maniculum Podcast, we welcome twitch streamer and medieval studies scholar Adam to the show. Adam, who holds a master's degree in medieval studies from the University of Iceland and is currently working on a master's in cultural heritage, has a passion for exploring the representation of the middle ages in gaming. He shares his unique perspective on the portrayal of this fascinating time period in modern gaming.
In our conversation, we discuss the ways in which the middle ages are depicted in games and how accurate these representations are. Adam shares his thoughts on the common tropes and stereotypes that are often used in games set in the middle ages, as well as some examples of games that offer a more nuanced and realistic portrayal of the time period.Adam also discusses his experience as a twitch streamer and how he uses his platform to educate and entertain his audience about the middle ages. He shares some of his favorite games to play and stream that are set in the middle ages, as well as his thoughts on the current state of the gaming industry in terms of historical accuracy.
Send us your feedback online: https://pinecast.com/feedback/the-maniculum-podcast/d08b5111-0770-44ee-8749-a042e8a6792e
Episode NotesHappy Thanksgiving and Turkey Day! This year, we are revisiting the first European settlement of Greenland- this time from another perspective. The Saga of the Greenlanders is the other account of Erik the Red’s Saga, and it has a few… unique differences. Let’s dive in!
Discord: https://discord.gg/ng7ufQRRbJ Twitter: https://twitter.com/maniculum Linktree: https://l.instagram.com/?u=https%3A%2F%2Flinktr.ee%2Fthemaniculumpodcast&e=ATOhK7OGEdeJO7s_mei-E_ZrYN16moixl39tT390goCBfs3Gl8TVy24Hv5pZ4Y5-lyN2PDJpOybvLR0X4maAQHY&s=1
Send us your feedback online: https://pinecast.com/feedback/the-maniculum-podcast/ac87a384-2320-4d5c-b07a-e6a725a1b77c
Episode Notes Happy Thanksgiving and Turkey Day! This year, we are revisiting the first European settlement of Greenland- this time from another perspective. The Saga of the Greenlanders is the other account of Erik the Red’s Saga, and it has a few… unique differences. Let’s dive in!
Discord: https://discord.gg/ng7ufQRRbJ Twitter: https://twitter.com/maniculum Linktree: https://l.instagram.com/?u=https%3A%2F%2Flinktr.ee%2Fthemaniculumpodcast&e=ATOhK7OGEdeJO7s_mei-E_ZrYN16moixl39tT390goCBfs3Gl8TVy24Hv5pZ4Y5-lyN2PDJpOybvLR0X4maAQHY&s=1
Send us your feedback online: https://pinecast.com/feedback/the-maniculum-podcast/ae41c0d8-5c43-4dac-a73e-afff14e6cbb2
Episode Notes The family drama continues in Part 3 of Egil’s Saga! This time, we watch Egil in his adult years, crashing parties and deepening the rift between his family and the King of Norway. Will anything ever be resolved between these dynasties?
Discord: https://discord.gg/q3CNjvzr
Send us your feedback online: https://pinecast.com/feedback/the-maniculum-podcast/d0fc4a15-5838-4b86-bb74-466303bc8391
Episode Notes Happy Samhain, listeners! For our Halloween special, we’ll be showing you how to adapt four spooky medieval tales of the undead into quest adventures for your next TTRPG! Whether you’re looking for a political drama, a new character idea, or a hack’n slash against a zombie hoard, this episode has something for you!
Discord: https://discord.gg/ng7ufQRRbJ
Send us your feedback online: https://pinecast.com/feedback/the-maniculum-podcast/2bbcd3ce-38f3-4bd8-85a5-5d446bcfd4fa
Episode Notes Welcome back to Egil’s saga, wherein we will finally meet our protagonist — after a generation’s worth of trauma and family feuding. Rest assured that the drama will continue with the rest of the family.
Discord: https://discord.gg/ng7ufQRRbJ
Send us your feedback online: https://pinecast.com/feedback/the-maniculum-podcast/25124c41-d9d6-4d17-9843-5975e7b2fee0
Episode Notes In this episode, we explore the strange tale of King Constant, a strange case of reverse-engineered divination, and teenage girls committing mail fraud. We're sure this will lead to a happy ending, right?
Send us your feedback online: https://pinecast.com/feedback/the-maniculum-podcast/6dd2c8e6-41fc-49a8-89a2-2f6ef1791a15
Episode Notes This week, we'll be talking with Lucas, owner of the Scribal Workshop and master illuminator extraordinaire! Lucas walks us through the work of a medieval monk, how manuscripts and ink are produced, the pros and cons of the job, and his one-of-a-kind TTRPG system!
Check out his shop and support his work here: Website: https://www.scribalworkshop.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/scribalworkshop/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/ScribalWorkShop?app=desktop&themeRefresh=1 Twitter: https://mobile.twitter.com/scribalworkshop Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/scribalworkshop/?hl=en
Send us your feedback online: https://pinecast.com/feedback/the-maniculum-podcast/88001c05-2d07-425b-9c25-4c3c8472cacc
Episode Notes We're beginning a new series on Egil's Saga this week! Don't miss out on the incredibly dramatic family sagas of the Icelanders, including grisly fights, magic, curses, deals with fate, and... incredibly long genealogies? Let the political intrigue begin!
Send us your feedback online: https://pinecast.com/feedback/the-maniculum-podcast/ec172738-a9e1-4df5-aa3c-a19a05984ad9
Episode Notes Welcome back to the Gesta Romanorum! This time, we discuss wise men giving out wisdom while in towers, good-looking princes in disguise, and how to reverse engineer divination!
Send us your feedback online: https://pinecast.com/feedback/the-maniculum-podcast/fc066868-2eba-44ef-add9-04af204d90bc
Episode Notes We're finishing up Perlesvaus with a bang this week! Will Percival redeem himself as the "Good Knight"? What will happen to England with King Arthur away on a pilgrimage? Mac and Zoe linger on the overarching themes of this incredibly weird text, and discuss how you can adapt this chivalric farce into your campaigns!
Send us your feedback online: https://pinecast.com/feedback/the-maniculum-podcast/575316dd-74e4-42af-ac38-9f496de57db5
Episode Notes Here there be dragons! Many different kinds of dragon, actually. This week, we're looking at the Lay of Fafnir, one of the earliest dragon myths known to man, and its variations throughout history. Turns out you may be more familiar with this tale than you thought....
Check out our socials! Discord: https://www.discord.gg/ng7ufQRRbJ Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/themaniculump... Website: https://www.themaniculumpodcast.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/maniculum Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/maniculumpo... Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/manic...
Send us your feedback online: https://pinecast.com/feedback/the-maniculum-podcast/a37633c9-6388-482a-9222-97032e33fcfd
We are back on Perlesvaus this episode, and our heroes have begun to resolve their quests. What will happen to our dear heroes? Will Lancelot prove he has the strongest pull out game of all the knights? It remains to be seen!
Check out our socials! Discord: https://www.discord.gg/ng7ufQRRbJ Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/themaniculump... Website: https://www.themaniculumpodcast.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/maniculum I nstagram: https://www.instagram.com/maniculumpo... Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/manic...
Send us your feedback online: https://pinecast.com/feedback/the-maniculum-podcast/d34a5d83-3313-4970-8090-debae235e77d
We've cultivated another set of wonderful, weird medieval articles for this episode. In case you thought the Middle Ages couldn't get weirder, we'd like to introduce you to the world of medieval animal trials, in which real lawyers had to defend animals in a court of law. No, we're not kidding. Check out our socials! Discord: https://www.discord.gg/ng7ufQRRbJ Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/themaniculump... Website: https://www.themaniculumpodcast.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/maniculum Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/maniculumpo... Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/manic...
We are back yet again with Perlesvaus, and our heroes (questionable) have found the one stretch of land in all England where there is no hermitage! Not only that, we get some interesting fourth wall breaks - our narrator knows he's inconsistent, but is that his fault? Nah!
We've collected some of or favorite academic articles to share with you! While these articles aren't attached to texts, they do contain a lot of fantastic ideas for you to use in your next game or novel!
Welcome back to Perlesvaus! What can possibly go wrong in this episode? Who will Knights of the Round Table behead this time? And what sort of terrifying creatures will we encounter? Something smaller than a breadfox, that's for sure!
Join us as we dive into the world of Old English elegy! These poems have some of the most interesting imagery you can find in any English literature, from the beasts of battle to cursing ghost women.
Come join us as we explore cannabis and hemp usage throughout the middle ages (and earlier) with special guest and marijuana expert, Alaina! Hemp has been grown and ingested worldwide for thousands of years. Don't let preconceived notions of this plant fool you!
Oh boy, we're back with another "season" of everyone's favorite medieval comedy soap opera, Perlesvaus! We've got classic Dungeons and Dragons shenanigans in this one, from sultry maidens to sleeping with your armor on. What mischief (and war crimes) will Percival get into next?
In this episode, we take on medieval rap battles- that is, Middle English debate poetry! The Debate of the Carpenter’s Tools provides a humorous look inside the medieval guild life, carpentry’s specific tools, and the dangers of the love of ale.
Join us this week for a very special episode! Mac and Zoe DM the Green Knight RPG, inspired by the film, inspired by the poem. Our players are guests from some of your favourite podcasts: Saga Thing, Pontifacts, and BookSquadGoals. We hope you enjoy the assorted mess as we medievalists and lit nerds play this one-shot together.
We're continuing with Percival's Murderhobo adventure with part five of Perlesvaus! The rampaging continues for Percival, but we get some new homoerotic undertones from Gawain. Join us for more laughs, digressions, and meta gaming in this episode!
Join us for the conclusion Saint Brendan's Voyage, where we evaluate Brendan's leadership acumen, his seafaring ability, and overall sainthood. Spoiler: none of them are great.
Come "row about" with us with the tale of Brendan the Navigator! This Irish immram explores the wonders of the Atlantic, but not too many of them, because Brendan just keeps going in a circle. His title really is quite the misnomer.
Happy New Year! We hope you're jumping into 2022 with resolutions ablaze, but as for us, we're settling back into our goal to finish Perlesvaus. Our excellent narrator throws Percival and the other Arthurian knights into some pretty "hairy" situations in these branches!
Happy holidays! It’s the end of another year, and we’re back with another Christmas special. Not really into candlelight mass? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered! This year, we’re reading three medieval Christmas sermons, each filled with bad analogies and questionable theology. Come along as we break down these strange sermons to find the “true” meaning of Christmas — at least, according to these priests.
Welcome back to another wacky week of Perlesvaus and the adventures of anyone but Percival, for some reason. Follow Gawain on his quest as he encounters fey statues that might not be statues, a magical chessboard with an advanced AI, and the Castle of Inquiry, where he rolls a Nat 20 on his Metagaming check.
Surprise! We've got a very special episode this week focusing on the medieval history of Southeast Asia and featuring game designer and writer Zedeck Siew. Come join us on this island adventure, where every land its different and you never know what's around the next bend. Please support A Thousand Thousand Islands on their Kickstarter, and check out their other works here!
Happy holidays, and more generally, happy autumn! It’s getting close to Thanksgiving here in the USA, and that means lots and lots of food! So for this year’s holiday special, we’re diving into some medieval cookbooks and recipes you can try this season!
Let’s return to the strange and accursed world of Perlesvaus, where we rejoin Sir Gawain in his quest to find Sir Percival, the Good Knight. Remember, this tale is more medieval fan-fiction than anything, and boy does it deliver.
Happy Halloween, Samhain, and All Hallows Eve! In our second annual Halloween episode, we’re going to go “trick or treating” with some Old English riddles! These are sure to surprise and thrill, and are fantastic fun to pull out in tabletop games, or sneak into a novel like Tolkien did.
Welcome back to the wacky world of Arthuriana! We’re focusing on good Sir Percival this week, but his tale might be stranger than you remember — this spinoff from Chrétien de Troyes’ unfinished tale takes unexpected liberties, particularly in the number of decapitated heads present. Seriously, there are a lot of heads.
Well, we're back with the final portion of Liuprand's No Good, Very Bad, Horrible Time in Constantinople! Will he ever get home, or will he be executed for his behavior? Come read the final portion of his letter with us in this episode!
This week, we're jumping into the firsthand account of Bishop Liuprand of the Holy Roman Empire. After being sent on a diplomatic mission to Constantinople, he sent this letter back to his sire Emperor Otto with... incredible snark. We're surprised he wasn't executed for what we're reading now!
We just couldn’t get enough of goodly Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, so here’s a full episode dedicated to the Arthurian chivalric tale! Whether or not you’ve seen the new film, this romance has plenty of twists and turns, and (spoiler warning) our highest rating yet!
It’s been a while, but we’re back to one of our most popular texts: the Great Tang Records on the Western Regions! This week, we’re following Xuanzang as he journeys into medieval India, encountering wildly variable customs in education, law, and reincarnation.
We have a special episode this week, but you're going to have to wait for it. We joined the BookSquadGoals podcast to discuss the new Green Knight film and its medieval origins. The episode will come out this Monday, August 21, 2021, so don't miss it!
You can tune in on your regular podcast app, and check out their fantastic website at https://www.booksquadgoals.com
Congratulations, you’ve made it! Welcome to our final episode of the Tain Bo Cuailnge and the grand conclusion of a war started with some undue pillow-talk. Will the Connachtmen be routed by Ulster? Will Maeb get her prized bull? Can we make it through to the end? Let’s dive in and find out.
Join us for the penultimate episode of the Tain Bo Cualinge! We've got brother-killings, shield decapitations, and much, much more. Will Maeb finally get the bull? Will the Ulstermen come out of their pains? Buckle up for the ride as Cu Chulainn continues to tear his way through the Irish countryside.
This week, the Leech’s Corner takes center stage! We’re dedicating an episode to some of the longer (and stranger) parts of the Leechbook, including everything from common summertime ailments to elf-diseases.
We’re stepping away from our usual texts this week in order to celebrate Pride month and to take a look at the lives of queer individuals in the Middle Ages. Because homosexuality and queerness were marginalized and prosecuted, there are few records of queer individuals during the medieval period.
The Cattle Raid of Cooley can get weirder! The third part of this epic Irish saga highlights Cu Chulainn's fight with the Morrigan, his battle against Loch, and his first on-the-page Warp-spasm. Things are starting to get messy.
Not to be outdone by our other texts, the Gesta Romanorum continues it's wild foray into ahistorical legends and poorly written exegesis. This week, we are taking a look at seven new tales, many of which play on ancient tropes you might recognize.
We're continuing our journey into early Christian hagiographies with a second telling of the Seven Sleepers legend, this time with the dramatic flare of Ælfric's Lives of Saints. This version of the tale comes with more fire and brimstone, but even less historical accuracy than the Baring-Gould's translation.
In a unique twist on the traditional hagiography, we're delving into the story of the Seven Sleepers. This saint's tale features group of time-traveling, heresy-debunking lads from Late Antiquity. Versions of this tale are found in both Christian and Islamic tradition, and we'll be reading two different records ourselves!
We're returning to the old Irish epic of the "Cattle Raid of Cooley" this week, featuring Cu Chulainn's boyhood deeds and a plethora of killing. This slaughterfest demonstrates the blasé manner in which violence is portrayed in Irish epic, as well as the continued absurdity of this tale.
So this week we are coming up on Easter, which is the biggest holiday in the medieval Christian calendar aside from Christmas! Since Easter constantly confuses with its jumping dates, we are going to look at the medieval "easter controversy" and this holiday's long, strange, and convoluted history.
We're concluding our guest series with Mary Osborne of BookSquadGoals this episode with our final ratings and thoughts! While we ordinarily put these in their own Master Lists (and you can still find them there,) we've also added them here with other conclusions and some tips from the Leech's Corner.
We're back with our guest, Mary Osborne of BookSquadGoals, to continue our tour of the furthest reaches of the medieval world. The bizarre illustrations continue, and we're all pleasantly surprised at how inclusive this text is in regards to what sort of races count as "people."
We're excited to have our first guest on the show this week! A heartfelt welcome to Mary Osborne of #BookSquadGoals. This week, the three of us dive into The Wonders of the East, a guide to far-off places, some of which don't exist! This will be a three-part series, so stay tuned for the completion of this series later this month!
This episode, we dive into the Tain Bo Cualinge, also known as the Cattle Raid of Cooley. The best known work of ancient Irish lore, this text details the rather odd pillow talk of King Ailil and Queen Maev, and the detrimental effects of wealth comparison.
Here's part two of our second episode featuring the Gesta Romanorum! This tale features tropes galore, though they may not be consistent enough to tell a single story. The Leech's Corner also spotlights medievalism meeting modern science, and answers hard questions like "Where do you find a medieval leek?"
We're back this week with the Gesta Romanorum, those weird collections of folktales with questionable morals. This episode contains some diversions into the study of semiotics and a few rambles into Greek philosophy, so we've made it a two-parter!
Zoe brings us back to Ireland with the tale of Mac Da Tho's Pig -- a story that centers around a sequence of bad (and/or inexplicable) decisions, toxic masculinity, a good dog, and a very large pig. This short tale is linked in some ways to the longer and much more famous Tain Bo Cualinge, which Zoe will be serializing for us in the near future; consider this an appetizer.
We have a new collection to jump into this week, featuring tales which may or may not be considered too civilized to be 'medieval.' These wide-ranging tales cover the Middle East and furthest reaches of Western Asia, and are sure to include new surprises. Let's just say gift-giving conventions have come a long way...
Happy holidays from the Maniculum Podcast! This week, we present a Middle English radio play that you can share with your friends and family- this play has everything: rage against the bourgeoisie, magic spells, and sheep theft. Oh, and the nativity is in there too.
This week, we're finishing up our Thanksgiving special with our ratings and reviews of the Saga of Eirik the Red. This shorter episode goes through our favourite characters and how you can adapt this saga into your writing and tabletop games. Be sure to check out the blog for more details, including a handmade geneological chart to help you keep track of who's who. Happy Thanksgiving from the Maniculum Podcast!
This week, the Maniculum is finishing the Saga of Eirik the Red for our Thanksgiving special! We discuss how to properly evict revenants and ghosts in your area, as well how to deal with the ever-relevant zombie plagues. Once the Icelanders finally get to North America, we discuss proper trade and negotiation techniques, and what we might learn from the Viking settlers.
This week, we kick off our two-part Thanksgiving episode, talking about the first Europeans who arrived in North America in a riveting Icelandic saga about Eirik the Red. Epithets and navigation errors abound!
Happy Halloween! Or All Saint's Day, All Hallow's Eve, or Samhain, to call the holiday by any of its other names. This week, we unfold the layers behind some common Halloween traditions, and take a look at two different medieval werewolf stories.
This week, we pick up an Irish tale that's a bit queer in more ways that one... This story questions what it means to be a true king in Ireland, and how to best serve all one's subjects.
Check out the Maniculum Podast this week as we dive into a wacky bunch of old "Roman" folk tales which include a variety of incredibly strange occurrences including talking deer, holy dog water, and blood sigils.
The Maniculum Podcast is back this week with an Irish death tale of one of the early high kings of Ireland. Looking beyond the bizarre feud between an Otherworldly goddess and a cursing Bishop, this story asks some big questions about the nature of kingship in Ireland.
Welcomen! We're kicking off the Maniculum Podcast with a suitably festive text: the Middle English poem known as the Tournament of Tottenham. We learn a lot about the Middle English language and the Middle English middle class in this text, but most importantly, we learn never to underestimate the value of an emotional support animal, especially if that animal is a chicken.
Wes hal and welcome to the Maniculum Podcast! Get to know your hosts and what we're about in this introductory episode.