Institute for Medieval Studies Leeds
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leedsims.bsky.social
Institute for Medieval Studies Leeds
@leedsims.bsky.social
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The Institute for Medieval Studies at Leeds is a major centre for interdisciplinary medieval studies. Home of the International Medieval Congress and the International Medieval Bibliography. https://ahc.leeds.ac.uk/medieval
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leedsims.bsky.social
If you are into sagas and poetry our next seminar is for you. Sign up to attend online: forms.office.com/e/ngg1zukWH3 More details at ahc.leeds.ac.uk/medieval/eve... #medievalsky #poetry #sagas #orkney #shetland #icelandic #northernisles #vikings @judithjesch.bsky.social @ragnasislands.bsky.social
Poster for a talk called Twisted Ribbons of Song: The Saga of the Earls of Orkney and poetry from or inspired by northern Scotland. Date: Tuesday 9 December, 5.30 pm, Baines Wing G36 (and online) Speakers Judith Jesch and Charlotte Eichler. Text: The medieval Icelandic Saga of the Earls of Orkney contains 82 stanzas composed from the tenth to the twelfth century by residents of and visitors to Orkney and Shetland. At this event, Judith Jesch, Professor of Viking Studies at Nottingham, will introduce the saga and its poetry and read selected examples in both Old Norse and her English versions. Award-winning Leeds-based poet Charlotte Eichler will read some of her published and unpublished poems inspired by the Saga and by visits to Orkney and Shetland as part of Judith’s Ragna’s Islands project. Photos of book cover of Judith's translation of the saga (which includes four Lewis chessmen) and picture of Charlotte on Fair Isle writing amidst stones and grass
December 3, 2025 at 12:01 PM
leedsims.bsky.social
This Thursday. In person or hybrid. To sign up for online attendance click forms.office.com/e/L834SBHzKX. #medievalsky #medievalwarfare #museums #materialculture
Poster for a talk. Title: Thursday 27 November 2025 5.30 pm: Going Deeper with the Royal Armouries, Parkinson 1.08 (in-person and online). Text says: Museum staff will showcase some of the museum’s medieval ties: from early Islamic arms and armour, through Victorian medievalism in fakes and architecture and the oldest surviving European fight book I.33, to swords as talismans and sources of information. Speakers: Natasha Bennett, curator of the Asian & African collections; Stuart Ivinson, the librarian and specialist in historical martial arts both as a practitioner and as a teacher and researcher; Iason-Eleftherios Tzouriadis, curator of European Edged Weapons (and former Leeds student); Mark Bennett, the Royal Armouries' research manager who works on fortifications. Image is a detail of piece of metal armour showing an edge, two rivets, marks of usage, and a tiny symbol that looks like a rose
November 25, 2025 at 4:40 PM
leedsims.bsky.social
Interested in learning more about the oldest museum in the UK and its research? Sign up to attend our next seminar online or come along on 27 November at 5.30 pm GMT: forms.office.com/e/L834SBHzKX. More info at link in bio (scroll down to events) #medievalsky #royalarmouries
A detail of a piece of metal armour (a cuisse) in the Gothic style, about 1490, showing a beveled edge, two rivets, and the general silvery patina of something very old. From Austria (III.2562) © Royal Armouries.
November 9, 2025 at 7:19 PM
leedsims.bsky.social
Happy Halloween from Leeds IMS - and from the friendly bats on this cloister window from Lisbon cathdral #medievalsky #gothicarchitecture #sedelisboa #bat #Halloween
Close up of a stone bat sculpture. Both wings outstretched and a big grin on its face. Dark in colour Stone walls and tiled Portuguese houses photographed from below. In centre there is a large gothic arched window with two lights. The bat sculptures are on the capital on the column dividing the two lights. There's no glass as it opens onto the cathdral cloister. Probably dates from the renovations of the early 20th century, although the cloister is originally 14th century. Bright blue sky above and to right Close up of same window with a bat in the centre capital.
October 31, 2025 at 2:42 PM
leedsims.bsky.social
Today! 5.30. Sign up forms.office.com/Pages/Respon...
Proto-reconstruction of public audience space in Caliph Harun al-Rashid's palace at Raqqa (797-808 CE) using Blender: © Patricia Valle Abd and Rhiannon Garth Jones. The photograph shows a person walking across a highly polished floor in which the ceiling lights are reflected. The walls have patterned panels. The room is quite dark.
October 28, 2025 at 3:36 PM
leedsims.bsky.social
We are delighted to announce our research seminars for this semester in Leeds. All will be hybrid. Keep an eye out for links to register for zoom nearer the time or come in person. All welcome! #medievalsky #medievalresearch
September 30, 2025 at 2:20 PM
leedsims.bsky.social
The Gros Horloge in Rouen in 1927 from an antique photo album bought in Yorkshire last week. Unknown traveller with keen interest in medieval churches, some later destroyed in WW2. Anyone out there with interests in early 20th century tourism? #medievalsky #medievalarchitecture
Black and white old photograph of a clock in an arch way, timbered houses, a cobbled street, and pedestrians in 1920a clothing.
September 10, 2025 at 4:11 PM
leedsims.bsky.social
Come and do an MA or PhD in Medieval Studies at the University of Leeds. To see what we are like: www.youtube.com/watch?v=g1Do... ahc.leeds.ac.uk/medieval #medievalsky #medievalstudies
Members of the Leeds Institute for Medieval Studies visiting Whitby Abbey in June 2025. Group of people looking at a gothic ruin. Beautiful view of hills and blue sky behind. Green grass in foreground.
August 6, 2025 at 5:28 PM
leedsims.bsky.social
Congratulations to all three of our PhD graduands yesterday: @deaconjh.bsky.social, Samuel Bradley and @florencehrscott.bsky.social standing with Karen Watts, Alan Murray, Charley Roe, Jonathan Jarrett and Melanie Brunner #leedsmedieval #medievalsky
Group of eight people three of whom are dressed in formal green and gold academic gowns and black hats with gold tassles
July 23, 2025 at 4:41 PM
leedsims.bsky.social
Members of the Yorkshire Archaeological and Historical Society running a stall @imc-leeds.bsky.social. Close partners of Leeds IMS but also has prehistoric, industrial and family history sections. Rich manuscript holdings in @lulgalleries.bsky.social. To join the society: www.yas.org.uk
Four people behind a stall full of books
July 16, 2025 at 10:15 AM
leedsims.bsky.social
Sarah Charles' stall at the @imc-leeds.bsky.social medieval fair was an added bonus today. It was wonderful to see all the materials for making manuscripts. I had never seen oak galls before #IMC2025 #manuscripts
Sarah Charles holding up her book and standing at her stall Pigments in shells displayed on a table including lapis and vermilion. Lots of bright colours A glass dish containing round nut-like oak galls A wax tablet with stylus pen on a string
July 10, 2025 at 9:14 PM
leedsims.bsky.social
Fascinating round table on Chinese and European approaches to the concept of the Global Middle Ages #IMC2025 @imc-leeds.bsky.social Really insightful comments from Linhai Liu, Catherine Holmes, Longguo Li and Hilde De Weerdt. Chaired by Rutger Kramer
Four people seated in a large room with screens behind showing the same scene. From L to R: Catherine, Hilde, Linhai, Longguo
July 10, 2025 at 11:13 AM
leedsims.bsky.social
Medieval Studies in Action 2 was equally amazing. Papers by Matthew Woodcock and Julie Bayley on impact in our field in UK and the rich opportunities. And then a response from Camila Roxana Marcone about impact in the US. All chaired by Joanna Phillips @lahri.bsky.social #IMC2025
A group of people presenting. Camila seated listening to Julie, Matthew and Joanna Camila and Joanna discussing impact in US context both seated
July 9, 2025 at 5:41 PM
leedsims.bsky.social
An excellent set of talks on Medieval Studies in Action at @imc-leeds.bsky.social #IMC2025. Kit Heyam, Alex Brodie-Wray and Emmie Price-Goodfellow discuss collaboration, impact and media. Chaired by Joanna Phillips. @lahri.bsky.social
Four people in a row answering questions with screen behind them. L to R: Kit, Alix, Emmie, Joanna
July 9, 2025 at 3:16 PM
leedsims.bsky.social
one of the most profound quotes from @imc-leeds.bsky.social so far: 'a person raises a foot and begins to walk down the road of learning, but even when his hair turns white, one does not have the end in sight' (Xiao Yi d.555). Quoted by @medievalacademy.bsky.social speaker Xiaofei Tian this evening
Lisa Fagin Davis on right introduces Xiaofei Tian on left. Both women stand at a lectern with the red IMC banner behind and the speaker's title slide above: The margins of knowledge: A place for the extraordinary in an ordinary world
July 8, 2025 at 7:18 PM
leedsims.bsky.social
I couldn't resist buying this @imc-leeds.bsky.social dragon - on sale for the first time at #IMC2025. It is very cute. For its story go to www.imc.leeds.ac.uk/a-dragons-ta...
A cloth bag and a red notebook both with a dragon design that is quite curvy and attractive
July 8, 2025 at 1:47 PM
leedsims.bsky.social
Things I learned today @imc-leeds.bsky.social #IMC2025 there were medieval lending libraries and book groups (from Sabrina Corbellini). And there were book reading participation certificates issued in Islamicate world (from Konrad Hirschler) #medievalsky
July 7, 2025 at 10:14 PM
leedsims.bsky.social
Sita Steckel introduces the keynote speakers for #IMC2025. We have begun!
Speaker at a lectern with red IMC banner behind her. Official photographer behind her
July 7, 2025 at 8:18 AM
leedsims.bsky.social
A wonderful Leeds IMS trip to Whitby on the Yorkshire coast last Saturday. Really great fun visiting the abbey in glorious sunshine #medievalsky #whitbyabbey
A group of people walk with their backs to the camera across green grass towards the ruined east end of a large gothic church. Blue sky, white clouds, and a little bit of sea in background
July 2, 2025 at 4:44 PM
leedsims.bsky.social
The International Medieval Congress team are packing all your folders for next week. Lovely golden yellow lanyards this year. Come to the Institute for Medieval Studies reception on Monday at 6 for a bite to eat and a catch-up #IMC2025
Cardboard boxes of yellow card folders fade into the distance in a large room
July 1, 2025 at 12:12 PM
leedsims.bsky.social
Deadline for Leeds MA in Medieval Studies scholarships is 9 June. Available for both part-time and full-time home students ahc.leeds.ac.uk/dir-record/s... #medievalsky #MAscholarships Selby Abbey Jesse window of 1340 #medievalstainedglass
A very large stained glass window with seven lights (panels) and intricate stone tracery at top, showing a Jesse tree in the three central panels. This is the family tree of Jesus with a figure of a man (Jesse) asleep at the bottom dreaming of his descendants as a succession of prophets who rise up through the window with Mary and baby Jesus at top. Selby Abbey, Yorkshire. Window built 1340 but glass replaced in 20th century because of fire damage.
June 6, 2025 at 11:42 AM
leedsims.bsky.social
Study for an MA or PhD Medieval Studies in the UK at Leeds. Find out how the Middle Ages still influence modern culture even commercials. Registration free for enrolled students at Leeds International Medieval Congress @imc-leeds.bsky.social ahc.leeds.ac.uk/medieval #medievalsky #medievalmasters
Photographs taken from YouTube of TV commercials inspired by the Middle Ages. Top left to bottom right: KitKat commercial from 2017 - two men consult an IKEA style manual to build a giant catapult with a huge allen key; Tetley tea commercial from 2014 - four people in medieval costume drink from white china teacups; Budlight Super Bowl advert from 2018 - panoramic battle scene with dragon and light sabre type sword; Nespresso coffee commercial from 2018 with a group of people in medieval costume including George Clooney in full armour drinking from a glass cup. See instagram @leedsims for full links and analysis. No endorsement or sponsorship intended for any products.
May 23, 2025 at 2:21 PM
leedsims.bsky.social
Gateways to a new life. Come and do an MA Medieval Studies at Leeds. Deadline for scholarships for UK lower income applicants 9 June #medievalsky #doamasters #MAscholarships new video: www.youtube.com/watch?app=de... Apply: courses.leeds.ac.uk/7820/medieva... ahc.leeds.ac.uk/history/dir-...
Five photographs of gates: top left to right: a redbrick gatehouse with steeple (Steintor, Rostock, Germany - late 16th century replacement of a medieval stone gate); stone gateway with heraldic plaque above and green trees behind (16th century gate, Scone Palace, Scotland); stone gateway with battlements and cobbled street going through it, sunlight streaming through (Bragança castle, Portugal); stone gatehouse with gothic window above and redbrick porch to side (Salisbury cathedral close, England). All photos by Iona McCleery.
May 15, 2025 at 1:41 PM
leedsims.bsky.social
The Leeds Institute for Medieval Studies reception at Kalamazoo is this evening at 8.30 pm in the Fireplace Lounge. Some of my favourite Kalamazoo scenes so far - the ice cream is an especial favourite! #medievalsky #kalamazoomedievalcongress
From top L to bottom R - an electronic sign saying Medieval Housing, a book fair, the main atrium of the student centre at Western Michigan University, campus green trees, campus geese with one of the valley dorms behind, lunchtime icecream and cookie
May 9, 2025 at 5:42 PM
leedsims.bsky.social
For medievalists attending the International Congress for Medieval Studies at Kalamazoo next week (location of photos taken last May). The Leeds Institute for Medieval Studies is hosting a reception next Friday 9 May at 8.30 pm local time. Please join us #medievalsky #kalamazoomedievalcongress
Photograph of a distinctive white, metal bridge across a blue lake against a blue sky surrounded by green trees. A family of geese cross the same bridge
May 2, 2025 at 10:53 AM