European maps from the Middle Ages are full of strange lands, legendary races and fabulous monsters. Only the Church with the help of God was able to provide protection against these horrors. The ...

Unknown artist, A Salamander; France (formerly Flanders); (circa 1270 CE); tempera colors, gold leaf, and ink on parchment; Leaf: 7 1/2 × 5 5/8 in.; Ms. Ludwig XV 3, fol. 95v; A Franco-Flemish ...

Unknown artist, "Snail" (c. 1350), The Netherlands, illumination on parchment from Jacob van Maerlant's Der naturen bloeme (image via Wikimedia Commons) "Very often, people think that they're laughing ...

The Middle Ages aren’t just about heroic knights and epic battles. If there’s one thing that never fails to boost our mood, it’s medieval art! It’s colorful, creative, quirky, and goofy, and it ...

One close glimpse of a modern bird, especially around the eyes, and it may feel like you're looking into the ancient past, when massive creatures walked the Earth and soared across its skies. It's ...