Mateusz Fafinski
@calthalas.bsky.social
Late antiquity, early Middle Ages, manuscripts, cities and monasticism. A bit of digital humanities and maps as well.
Assistant Professor at the University of Erfurt
Assistant Professor at the University of Erfurt
Probably my favourite long late antiquity piece of art. The so-called "palimpsest" fresco in Santa Maria Antiqua in Rome shows consecutive layers of paintings from the sixth century (Mary as empress of heaven) all the way to the seventh and early eight century. The level of detail is just amazing.
October 7, 2025 at 5:38 PM
Probably my favourite long late antiquity piece of art. The so-called "palimpsest" fresco in Santa Maria Antiqua in Rome shows consecutive layers of paintings from the sixth century (Mary as empress of heaven) all the way to the seventh and early eight century. The level of detail is just amazing.
is not! We are where the servants were but it’s still a lot of fun! Day two of Nature, Labour and Economy is about to begin!
October 1, 2025 at 6:45 AM
is not! We are where the servants were but it’s still a lot of fun! Day two of Nature, Labour and Economy is about to begin!
Is your conference taking place in a palace? Because ours
October 1, 2025 at 6:45 AM
Is your conference taking place in a palace? Because ours
Tomorrow my first slide is this
September 30, 2025 at 12:34 PM
Tomorrow my first slide is this
We are in Potsdam to talk about nature, labour and economy in the second half of the first millennium!
September 30, 2025 at 12:14 PM
We are in Potsdam to talk about nature, labour and economy in the second half of the first millennium!
Germany. On a plate
September 27, 2025 at 4:41 PM
Germany. On a plate
Plum cake time, it does feel like autumn already!
September 20, 2025 at 2:05 PM
Plum cake time, it does feel like autumn already!
This sums up my writing pretty well
September 18, 2025 at 11:50 AM
This sums up my writing pretty well
This is a tale of two castles
One of those buildings is fully original, an almost model example of its style; the other one is fake, built on the ruins of a medieval castle with a fully modern interior. 1/
One of those buildings is fully original, an almost model example of its style; the other one is fake, built on the ruins of a medieval castle with a fully modern interior. 1/
August 28, 2025 at 8:17 AM
This is a tale of two castles
One of those buildings is fully original, an almost model example of its style; the other one is fake, built on the ruins of a medieval castle with a fully modern interior. 1/
One of those buildings is fully original, an almost model example of its style; the other one is fake, built on the ruins of a medieval castle with a fully modern interior. 1/
Ever wondered what were the greatest hits at a monastic disco in the ninth and tenth centuries? Ekkehard of Sankt Gallen has you covered! Move to the rhythm of With a Humble Prayer, listen to the acoustic ballad The Lofty Hope of the World and get carried away by the rock anthem Today We Must Sing!
August 25, 2025 at 8:20 AM
Ever wondered what were the greatest hits at a monastic disco in the ninth and tenth centuries? Ekkehard of Sankt Gallen has you covered! Move to the rhythm of With a Humble Prayer, listen to the acoustic ballad The Lofty Hope of the World and get carried away by the rock anthem Today We Must Sing!
Interested in orthodoxy, heresy and property? We are organising @imc-leeds.bsky.social sessions on these very topics for the #IMC2026! Have a look at our CfP and come and join us!
Do get in touch and please share widely!
Do get in touch and please share widely!
August 20, 2025 at 7:22 AM
Interested in orthodoxy, heresy and property? We are organising @imc-leeds.bsky.social sessions on these very topics for the #IMC2026! Have a look at our CfP and come and join us!
Do get in touch and please share widely!
Do get in touch and please share widely!
Visited a very special friend today! Possibly a once in a generation exhibition in Chantilly, showcasing the recent restoration of the most magnificent medieval Book of Hours.
Très Riches Heures du Duc de Berry, Musée Condé MS 65, 15th century
Très Riches Heures du Duc de Berry, Musée Condé MS 65, 15th century
August 3, 2025 at 10:32 AM
Visited a very special friend today! Possibly a once in a generation exhibition in Chantilly, showcasing the recent restoration of the most magnificent medieval Book of Hours.
Très Riches Heures du Duc de Berry, Musée Condé MS 65, 15th century
Très Riches Heures du Duc de Berry, Musée Condé MS 65, 15th century
I might have taken a wrong turn at the end of Allée de la Chute de l'Empire Romain d'Occident
August 1, 2025 at 12:53 PM
I might have taken a wrong turn at the end of Allée de la Chute de l'Empire Romain d'Occident
St Paul is here to write letters and kick ass. And he has just written his last letter.
Musée de Cluny, Cl.1505, c. 1030, Echternach
Musée de Cluny, Cl.1505, c. 1030, Echternach
July 31, 2025 at 6:14 PM
St Paul is here to write letters and kick ass. And he has just written his last letter.
Musée de Cluny, Cl.1505, c. 1030, Echternach
Musée de Cluny, Cl.1505, c. 1030, Echternach
It is this time of the year again! We are organising @imc-leeds.bsky.social sessions on orthodoxy and economy in late antiquity for the #IMC2026! Have a look at our CfP and come and join us next year!
Do get in touch and please share widely!
Do get in touch and please share widely!
July 24, 2025 at 4:39 PM
It is this time of the year again! We are organising @imc-leeds.bsky.social sessions on orthodoxy and economy in late antiquity for the #IMC2026! Have a look at our CfP and come and join us next year!
Do get in touch and please share widely!
Do get in touch and please share widely!
Faces of later late antiquity: stunning portraits painted on stucco from Oasr al-Hayr al-Gharbi, one of the desert palaces of caliph Hisham ibn Abd al-Malik. Second quarter of the 8th c.
Damascus National Museum 32506 and 32486, on loan in Institut du monde arabe, Paris.
Damascus National Museum 32506 and 32486, on loan in Institut du monde arabe, Paris.
July 17, 2025 at 7:30 AM
Faces of later late antiquity: stunning portraits painted on stucco from Oasr al-Hayr al-Gharbi, one of the desert palaces of caliph Hisham ibn Abd al-Malik. Second quarter of the 8th c.
Damascus National Museum 32506 and 32486, on loan in Institut du monde arabe, Paris.
Damascus National Museum 32506 and 32486, on loan in Institut du monde arabe, Paris.
Romans would have loved it.
The reconstructed North Gate of the Roman fort of Mamucium with Manchester skyscrapers rising in the background.
The reconstructed North Gate of the Roman fort of Mamucium with Manchester skyscrapers rising in the background.
July 12, 2025 at 6:08 PM
Romans would have loved it.
The reconstructed North Gate of the Roman fort of Mamucium with Manchester skyscrapers rising in the background.
The reconstructed North Gate of the Roman fort of Mamucium with Manchester skyscrapers rising in the background.
Cassiodorus: *heavy breathing*
July 11, 2025 at 1:13 PM
Cassiodorus: *heavy breathing*
On Tuesday join us on a massive monasticism fest on the #IMC2025. Four sessions packed with monastic goodness from South Asia to Gaul and from Nubia to Rome. Thirteen papers, four moderators, two organisers: it is the place to be for early medieval monasticism fans at the IMC!
July 6, 2025 at 6:21 PM
On Tuesday join us on a massive monasticism fest on the #IMC2025. Four sessions packed with monastic goodness from South Asia to Gaul and from Nubia to Rome. Thirteen papers, four moderators, two organisers: it is the place to be for early medieval monasticism fans at the IMC!
A little tian to go with these Provençal temperatures
June 21, 2025 at 6:13 PM
A little tian to go with these Provençal temperatures
It’s rhubarb cake time!
June 21, 2025 at 2:25 PM
It’s rhubarb cake time!
The Vatican launches its new supercomputer, with a power of 5000 TeraAugustines it is supposed to finally explain the Three Chapters Controversy and break down the dispute over the nature of Christ in a way understandable to Latins.
June 20, 2025 at 8:09 PM
The Vatican launches its new supercomputer, with a power of 5000 TeraAugustines it is supposed to finally explain the Three Chapters Controversy and break down the dispute over the nature of Christ in a way understandable to Latins.
Augustine and Jerome were mutuals and it explains a lot.
Like that one time when Jerome got pissed because he thought Augustine posted screenshots of their DMs in Italy.
Like that one time when Jerome got pissed because he thought Augustine posted screenshots of their DMs in Italy.
June 19, 2025 at 8:45 PM
Augustine and Jerome were mutuals and it explains a lot.
Like that one time when Jerome got pissed because he thought Augustine posted screenshots of their DMs in Italy.
Like that one time when Jerome got pissed because he thought Augustine posted screenshots of their DMs in Italy.