Jan Machielsen
@janmachielsen.bsky.social
Historian of early modern religion, working on witches and saints. Loves hikes and risotto.
When you don't know who to leave your money to, you can always make the Virgin Mary your heir!
#earlymodern
#earlymodern
November 11, 2025 at 8:16 AM
When you don't know who to leave your money to, you can always make the Virgin Mary your heir!
#earlymodern
#earlymodern
Reposted by Jan Machielsen
Joop is glashelder: 'De PVV kreeg 8,5 procent van de buitenlandstemmen. Die stemmen werden uitgebracht door Nederlanders in het buitenland die vinden dat al die buitenlanders in hun eigen land moeten blijven. Omdat er stemgeheim bestaat, kan deze mensen geen psychische hulp worden geboden.' 😆
ANP: SP houdt laatste restzetel, geen meerderheid voor D66-VVD-CDA-JA21 www.bnnvara.nl/joop/artikel...
ANP: SP houdt laatste restzetel, geen meerderheid voor D66-VVD-CDA-JA21 - Joop - BNNVARA
De SP zal de komende periode met drie zetels in de Tweede Kamer zitten.
www.bnnvara.nl
November 3, 2025 at 8:19 PM
Joop is glashelder: 'De PVV kreeg 8,5 procent van de buitenlandstemmen. Die stemmen werden uitgebracht door Nederlanders in het buitenland die vinden dat al die buitenlanders in hun eigen land moeten blijven. Omdat er stemgeheim bestaat, kan deze mensen geen psychische hulp worden geboden.' 😆
Reposted by Jan Machielsen
Thanks to Lizzy McNeill of BBC's 'More or Less' (@timharford.ft.com) and to @janmachielsen.bsky.social of @royalhistsoc.org for this opportunity!
Quite excited to see one the #medievalsky articles we published in the Transactions @royalhistsoc.org make it onto BBC Sounds! 🗃️
An excellent Halloween themed More or Less episode counting the stakes used by Vlad the Impaler.
Have a listen!
www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
An excellent Halloween themed More or Less episode counting the stakes used by Vlad the Impaler.
Have a listen!
www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
More or Less - Halloween special: How many people did the real Dracula impale? - BBC Sounds
Looking at the math's behind the myth
www.bbc.co.uk
November 2, 2025 at 6:46 PM
Thanks to Lizzy McNeill of BBC's 'More or Less' (@timharford.ft.com) and to @janmachielsen.bsky.social of @royalhistsoc.org for this opportunity!
Quite excited to see one the #medievalsky articles we published in the Transactions @royalhistsoc.org make it onto BBC Sounds! 🗃️
An excellent Halloween themed More or Less episode counting the stakes used by Vlad the Impaler.
Have a listen!
www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
An excellent Halloween themed More or Less episode counting the stakes used by Vlad the Impaler.
Have a listen!
www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
More or Less - Halloween special: How many people did the real Dracula impale? - BBC Sounds
Looking at the math's behind the myth
www.bbc.co.uk
November 2, 2025 at 1:12 PM
Quite excited to see one the #medievalsky articles we published in the Transactions @royalhistsoc.org make it onto BBC Sounds! 🗃️
An excellent Halloween themed More or Less episode counting the stakes used by Vlad the Impaler.
Have a listen!
www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
An excellent Halloween themed More or Less episode counting the stakes used by Vlad the Impaler.
Have a listen!
www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
An English (St George?) flag waving Virgin... For all the Reformers on here. 😝
Chiesa della Trinità, Bologna.
Chiesa della Trinità, Bologna.
October 31, 2025 at 3:20 PM
An English (St George?) flag waving Virgin... For all the Reformers on here. 😝
Chiesa della Trinità, Bologna.
Chiesa della Trinità, Bologna.
Mary (as I keep on saying) is always reading.
(But I don't think I've ever seen her this young?? And the angel too for that matter.)
(But I don't think I've ever seen her this young?? And the angel too for that matter.)
October 31, 2025 at 2:19 PM
Mary (as I keep on saying) is always reading.
(But I don't think I've ever seen her this young?? And the angel too for that matter.)
(But I don't think I've ever seen her this young?? And the angel too for that matter.)
This is a very Goth virgin. Surprised she doesn't have fangs! 🤪
October 31, 2025 at 2:05 PM
This is a very Goth virgin. Surprised she doesn't have fangs! 🤪
"You know I climbed up this hill and then God gave me these tablets telling you all to listen to me. And now I'm here!"
(Fragment of a fresco from the church of Mezzarata)
(Fragment of a fresco from the church of Mezzarata)
October 31, 2025 at 2:03 PM
"You know I climbed up this hill and then God gave me these tablets telling you all to listen to me. And now I'm here!"
(Fragment of a fresco from the church of Mezzarata)
(Fragment of a fresco from the church of Mezzarata)
This seems more appropriate for the spooky season... Is it a female devil giving birth? Or any devil just shitting out humans?
October 31, 2025 at 1:47 PM
This seems more appropriate for the spooky season... Is it a female devil giving birth? Or any devil just shitting out humans?
Don't get me wrong, I love me some Giotto. But this dragon just looks like it is sucking through a straw rather than being slain... 😝
October 31, 2025 at 1:37 PM
Don't get me wrong, I love me some Giotto. But this dragon just looks like it is sucking through a straw rather than being slain... 😝
Escaping while keeping your halo intact is no mean feat. 🤪
(If any #medievalsky scholar can tell me what St Anthony got up to here, I'd love to hear it! 😅)
(If any #medievalsky scholar can tell me what St Anthony got up to here, I'd love to hear it! 😅)
October 31, 2025 at 1:23 PM
Escaping while keeping your halo intact is no mean feat. 🤪
(If any #medievalsky scholar can tell me what St Anthony got up to here, I'd love to hear it! 😅)
(If any #medievalsky scholar can tell me what St Anthony got up to here, I'd love to hear it! 😅)
Saint George is really going for it.
(Pinacoteca nazionale di Bologna)
(Pinacoteca nazionale di Bologna)
October 31, 2025 at 1:19 PM
Saint George is really going for it.
(Pinacoteca nazionale di Bologna)
(Pinacoteca nazionale di Bologna)
Just boosting @webstermedieval.bsky.social 's #medievalsky #earlymodern post on 🎃👻🕸️ Halloween.
If you're interested in witchy #hextag stuff, then our article and the blog posts by our @witchmapproject.bsky.social interns are an excellent starting point. 😊
If you're interested in witchy #hextag stuff, then our article and the blog posts by our @witchmapproject.bsky.social interns are an excellent starting point. 😊
Great to have a piece in The Conversation about the @witchmapproject.bsky.social I was part of with @janmachielsen.bsky.social and our brilliant student interns Abi and Gabriel. #hextag #earlymodern #skystorians
theconversation.com/witch-memori...
theconversation.com/witch-memori...
Witch memorials are quietly spreading across Europe
As long as we live in a world where people are persecuted for perceived differences, memorialising accused witches will reveal the deadly consequences of ‘othering’.
theconversation.com
October 31, 2025 at 10:05 AM
Just boosting @webstermedieval.bsky.social 's #medievalsky #earlymodern post on 🎃👻🕸️ Halloween.
If you're interested in witchy #hextag stuff, then our article and the blog posts by our @witchmapproject.bsky.social interns are an excellent starting point. 😊
If you're interested in witchy #hextag stuff, then our article and the blog posts by our @witchmapproject.bsky.social interns are an excellent starting point. 😊
Reposted by Jan Machielsen
Great to have a piece in The Conversation about the @witchmapproject.bsky.social I was part of with @janmachielsen.bsky.social and our brilliant student interns Abi and Gabriel. #hextag #earlymodern #skystorians
theconversation.com/witch-memori...
theconversation.com/witch-memori...
Witch memorials are quietly spreading across Europe
As long as we live in a world where people are persecuted for perceived differences, memorialising accused witches will reveal the deadly consequences of ‘othering’.
theconversation.com
October 30, 2025 at 8:16 PM
Great to have a piece in The Conversation about the @witchmapproject.bsky.social I was part of with @janmachielsen.bsky.social and our brilliant student interns Abi and Gabriel. #hextag #earlymodern #skystorians
theconversation.com/witch-memori...
theconversation.com/witch-memori...
Assisi is even better at night when all the tourists have left.
October 27, 2025 at 8:42 PM
Assisi is even better at night when all the tourists have left.
Always good to be in Assisi, especially when the sun comes out.
October 27, 2025 at 3:18 PM
Always good to be in Assisi, especially when the sun comes out.
"My name is Stefano ... I am about 14 years old. My job is to go to school and do tasks around the house."
Possibly my youngest #monkabulous canonisation trial witness so far, testifying to a miracle basically involving a beating on the school yard.
Possibly my youngest #monkabulous canonisation trial witness so far, testifying to a miracle basically involving a beating on the school yard.
October 26, 2025 at 6:04 PM
"My name is Stefano ... I am about 14 years old. My job is to go to school and do tasks around the house."
Possibly my youngest #monkabulous canonisation trial witness so far, testifying to a miracle basically involving a beating on the school yard.
Possibly my youngest #monkabulous canonisation trial witness so far, testifying to a miracle basically involving a beating on the school yard.
Reposted by Jan Machielsen
#earlymodern scholars, take note.
A neat tool I just came across: Viabundus, a digital road map of northern Europe 1350-1650, that lets you calculate contemporary travel routes/times. In 1500, going Amiens → Köln by horse took almost 7 days and 13 toll payments.
#medievalsky
www.landesgeschichte.uni-goettingen.de/handelsstras...
#medievalsky
www.landesgeschichte.uni-goettingen.de/handelsstras...
October 25, 2025 at 1:00 PM
#earlymodern scholars, take note.
San Lorenzo on the barbecue.
The #earlymodern altar of San Lorenzo in Panisperna.
What is remarkable about Rome is how, despite the mass tourism, you can still find places to be totally alone with amazing art.
The #earlymodern altar of San Lorenzo in Panisperna.
What is remarkable about Rome is how, despite the mass tourism, you can still find places to be totally alone with amazing art.
October 25, 2025 at 9:12 AM
San Lorenzo on the barbecue.
The #earlymodern altar of San Lorenzo in Panisperna.
What is remarkable about Rome is how, despite the mass tourism, you can still find places to be totally alone with amazing art.
The #earlymodern altar of San Lorenzo in Panisperna.
What is remarkable about Rome is how, despite the mass tourism, you can still find places to be totally alone with amazing art.
An #earlymodern memorial to an 18 year old cardinal (Roberto de' Nobili) who died much too young.
(In San Bernardo alle Terme)
(In San Bernardo alle Terme)
October 25, 2025 at 8:39 AM
An #earlymodern memorial to an 18 year old cardinal (Roberto de' Nobili) who died much too young.
(In San Bernardo alle Terme)
(In San Bernardo alle Terme)
Good to know that the traffic in Rome has always been bad. 😝
October 24, 2025 at 12:20 PM
Good to know that the traffic in Rome has always been bad. 😝
Behold Clio, the muse of history, happily reading!
(From the Museo di Roma)
(From the Museo di Roma)
October 24, 2025 at 11:52 AM
Behold Clio, the muse of history, happily reading!
(From the Museo di Roma)
(From the Museo di Roma)
One for @christinekooi.bsky.social ! A statue of Alexander Farnese in the Capitoline museums.
October 23, 2025 at 12:36 PM
One for @christinekooi.bsky.social ! A statue of Alexander Farnese in the Capitoline museums.
Such a delightful Virgin with child with possibly the world's smallest patron at the bottom, who almost looks like he could be looking up her skirt! (In the Aracoeli.)
October 23, 2025 at 12:23 PM
Such a delightful Virgin with child with possibly the world's smallest patron at the bottom, who almost looks like he could be looking up her skirt! (In the Aracoeli.)