Life in Medieval Europe Quotes

“Men tended to wear leggings or hose that were two pieces, tied at the top or gartered at the knee,”
― Danièle Cybulskie, Life in Medieval Europe: Fact and Fiction

“The very same spices, powders, and mixing methods that were used in medieval medicine and cosmetics were useful in making pigments, too, so apothecaries also sold ink. This saved scribes and illuminators who could afford it the trouble of making their own inks, and the apothecary’s long practice and skill with mixtures gave them a better chance at having regular colours and consistency, as well. As a complementary skill, apothecaries’ proficiency with wax as a binding and mixing agent led them to create and sell wax products alongside their other wares, such as candles, votives (as seen above), and sealing wax. The combination of ink and sealing wax made it a logical step for apothecaries to sell parchment, and other stationery items, too. Our modern habit of heading to the pharmacy for a headache cure, grooming products, and stationery is part of a long tradition, indeed.”
― Danièle Cybulskie, Life in Medieval Europe: Fact and Fiction

“In medieval calendars, the major holy feasts and festivals were written down in red ink: they were red-letter days.”
― Danièle Cybulskie, Life in Medieval Europe: Fact and Fiction

“Many of these important days called for celebration and feasting, and no work was permitted on holy days, which is why the word ‘holiday’ is still associated with taking the day off.”
― Danièle Cybulskie, Life in Medieval Europe: Fact and Fiction

“The ‘royal we’ – when monarchs refer to themselves as ‘we’ instead of ‘I’ – is a throwback to the days in which it was believed that an anointed king was more than just a man: he was part divine.”
― Danièle Cybulskie, Life in Medieval Europe: Fact and Fiction

“Prisoners would be taken to a castle’s keep and kept under guard. The French word for keep – donjon – is what gives us the English word ‘dungeon’.”
― Danièle Cybulskie, Life in Medieval Europe: Fact and Fiction

“Archery targets were called butts, which is why someone who is the target of a joke is still called the ‘butt’ of the joke.”
― Danièle Cybulskie, Life in Medieval Europe: Fact and Fiction

“Bread baked in medieval ovens got ashy on the bottom because it was placed directly on stone just heated by a fire. Because of this, the poshest medieval diners wouldn’t have bothered with the lower crust, but rather the upper crust.”
― Danièle Cybulskie, Life in Medieval Europe: Fact and Fiction

“Edward III’s wooden funerary mask survives, and shows a slight droop to his mouth, leading some historians to speculate that the slow mental deterioration of his last few years of life may have been due to a series of strokes.Edward III’s wooden funerary mask survives, and shows a slight droop to his mouth, leading some historians to speculate that the slow mental deterioration of his last few years of life may have been due to a series of strokes.”
― Danièle Cybulskie, Life in Medieval Europe: Fact and Fiction

“Often, laundry was spread onto lavender bushes to infuse the cloth with their smell, so it’s probably no coincidence that the plant’s name is connected to the Latin word for washing (‘lavare’).”
― Danièle Cybulskie, Life in Medieval Europe: Fact and Fiction