Marie Jaros
@mariejaros.bsky.social
Medievalist, PostDoc, curiously looking towards the early modern period, currently working on historical whales, but also Kingdom of Sicily, Italy and charters
@humboldtuni.bsky.social
@humboldtuni.bsky.social
Thank you for showing me this example! In Europe, there have been isolated depictions of killer whales since the mid-16th century that bear some resemblance to them.
September 11, 2025 at 8:42 AM
Thank you for showing me this example! In Europe, there have been isolated depictions of killer whales since the mid-16th century that bear some resemblance to them.
Yes, I know these well — and I love them! I've spent hours browsing through the collection.
Thanks!
Thanks!
September 11, 2025 at 8:35 AM
Yes, I know these well — and I love them! I've spent hours browsing through the collection.
Thanks!
Thanks!
Me too 😅
Thank you!
Thank you!
September 10, 2025 at 8:36 AM
Me too 😅
Thank you!
Thank you!
I absolutely agree.
September 10, 2025 at 7:50 AM
I absolutely agree.
I've just read your well-written text. I like what you're pointing out. Thank you very much for sharing!
September 10, 2025 at 7:48 AM
I've just read your well-written text. I like what you're pointing out. Thank you very much for sharing!
You're right — some very nice results, and a rabbit hole! 🙂 Did you see this wonderful depiction of the 'Whale' constellation?
www.europeana.eu/en/item/9200...
www.europeana.eu/en/item/9200...
September 10, 2025 at 7:17 AM
You're right — some very nice results, and a rabbit hole! 🙂 Did you see this wonderful depiction of the 'Whale' constellation?
www.europeana.eu/en/item/9200...
www.europeana.eu/en/item/9200...
The North-West Pacific is not the focus of the article I am currently writing. However, I am now curious to know how orcas are represented there. And are they classified as a species, or are they generally considered to be 'sea monsters'?
September 10, 2025 at 7:08 AM
The North-West Pacific is not the focus of the article I am currently writing. However, I am now curious to know how orcas are represented there. And are they classified as a species, or are they generally considered to be 'sea monsters'?
That's great! Thank you so much for finding that for me! This broadside describes a mass orca stranding near Ipswich in 1568 and features a remarkable illustration.
Here's the link to the only surviving copy: hdl.huntington.org/digital/coll...
See also: Zoologische Einblattdrucke, vol. 4, nr. 530
Here's the link to the only surviving copy: hdl.huntington.org/digital/coll...
See also: Zoologische Einblattdrucke, vol. 4, nr. 530
September 10, 2025 at 7:01 AM
That's great! Thank you so much for finding that for me! This broadside describes a mass orca stranding near Ipswich in 1568 and features a remarkable illustration.
Here's the link to the only surviving copy: hdl.huntington.org/digital/coll...
See also: Zoologische Einblattdrucke, vol. 4, nr. 530
Here's the link to the only surviving copy: hdl.huntington.org/digital/coll...
See also: Zoologische Einblattdrucke, vol. 4, nr. 530
Yes, it does. And it is not the only one... 🙃
Lippische Landesbibliothek, Ms. 70, f. 84r
Lippische Landesbibliothek, Ms. 70, f. 84r
September 9, 2025 at 3:13 PM
Yes, it does. And it is not the only one... 🙃
Lippische Landesbibliothek, Ms. 70, f. 84r
Lippische Landesbibliothek, Ms. 70, f. 84r
This hint is great — thank you very much! This might be one of the (in my case) missing links I was looking for.
September 9, 2025 at 12:28 PM
This hint is great — thank you very much! This might be one of the (in my case) missing links I was looking for.
It's older, but it's wonderful! Thank you very much for showing me this! 😍
September 9, 2025 at 9:22 AM
It's older, but it's wonderful! Thank you very much for showing me this! 😍
Oh yes, I'd completely forgotten about the whale book! (How was that possible?) You're right, I love browsing through it. Thank you!
September 9, 2025 at 8:57 AM
Oh yes, I'd completely forgotten about the whale book! (How was that possible?) You're right, I love browsing through it. Thank you!
Thank you very much 😊
September 8, 2025 at 4:57 PM
Thank you very much 😊
You are absolutely right. The brothers Olaus and Johan left Sweden in 1524 because of the Reformation. After Johannes died, Pope Paul III appointed Olaus as archbishop of Uppsala in 1544, while he was still in exile. Thank you for pointing out this inaccuracy!
August 18, 2025 at 7:41 PM
You are absolutely right. The brothers Olaus and Johan left Sweden in 1524 because of the Reformation. After Johannes died, Pope Paul III appointed Olaus as archbishop of Uppsala in 1544, while he was still in exile. Thank you for pointing out this inaccuracy!
A huge amount of ambergris. This substance, which comes from the bowels of sperm whales, was very valuable and was used in medicine and perfumery. Olaus seemed to confuse it with the sperm of these whales. 10/10
August 18, 2025 at 7:27 PM
A huge amount of ambergris. This substance, which comes from the bowels of sperm whales, was very valuable and was used in medicine and perfumery. Olaus seemed to confuse it with the sperm of these whales. 10/10
The 'Physeter' (sperm whale) was said to spray large quantities of water at ships, which could cause them to sink. 8/10
August 18, 2025 at 7:24 PM
The 'Physeter' (sperm whale) was said to spray large quantities of water at ships, which could cause them to sink. 8/10
The whale island is not to be missed! Sailors who mistake a big whale for an island anchor their boats and set foot on the animal to make a fire and cook a meal. Awakened by the heat, the whale dives down, pulling the sailors with it. 7/10
August 18, 2025 at 7:22 PM
The whale island is not to be missed! Sailors who mistake a big whale for an island anchor their boats and set foot on the animal to make a fire and cook a meal. Awakened by the heat, the whale dives down, pulling the sailors with it. 7/10
On the Faroe Islands, a caught whale is processed. It is fixed to the land with an anchor while men cut the blubber and fill barrels with it. 6/10
August 18, 2025 at 7:20 PM
On the Faroe Islands, a caught whale is processed. It is fixed to the land with an anchor while men cut the blubber and fill barrels with it. 6/10
The sailors from Denmark were less fortunate. 5/10
August 18, 2025 at 7:19 PM
The sailors from Denmark were less fortunate. 5/10
Other whales frighten sailors from Lübeck and must be driven away with loud wind instruments or by throwing barrels into the sea. 4/10
August 18, 2025 at 7:18 PM
Other whales frighten sailors from Lübeck and must be driven away with loud wind instruments or by throwing barrels into the sea. 4/10
Here, you can see a 'balena' — with its two blowholes (or tubes), apparently a member of the baleen whale family — being attacked by an #orca. This behaviour has indeed been observed in some species of killer whale. You can also see the whale's offspring drinking its mother's milk. 3/10
August 18, 2025 at 7:14 PM
Here, you can see a 'balena' — with its two blowholes (or tubes), apparently a member of the baleen whale family — being attacked by an #orca. This behaviour has indeed been observed in some species of killer whale. You can also see the whale's offspring drinking its mother's milk. 3/10