Maya Soifer Irish
@msoiferirish.bsky.social
History professor at Rice University. Russian-Jewish American, "rootless cosmopolitan." I study medieval Iberia and its history of religious coexistence and confrontation. I love cats, nature, art, historical fiction, travel, and classical music. 📚🖼️🌊🎼🌸🐈
The Texas Medieval Association's annual meeting is coming to Rice University in April! Consider submitting a proposal. Rice is very cool, I promise. 😃
#medievalsky
#medievalsky
November 11, 2025 at 5:58 PM
The Texas Medieval Association's annual meeting is coming to Rice University in April! Consider submitting a proposal. Rice is very cool, I promise. 😃
#medievalsky
#medievalsky
Good morning! Rise and shine!
September 16, 2025 at 2:31 PM
Good morning! Rise and shine!
So far my time in WI has been great. The weather’s been beautiful, and I added 2500 words to my book manuscript.
irh.wisc.edu/current-irh-...
irh.wisc.edu/current-irh-...
September 7, 2025 at 5:17 PM
So far my time in WI has been great. The weather’s been beautiful, and I added 2500 words to my book manuscript.
irh.wisc.edu/current-irh-...
irh.wisc.edu/current-irh-...
An interesting stamp from my collection.
July 8, 2025 at 9:47 PM
An interesting stamp from my collection.
Finished Chapter 4 of my book today. It took 113 days to write. I haven’t been this productive since grad school. Hooray for fellowships and teaching releases!
#medievalsky #academicsky
#medievalsky #academicsky
June 27, 2025 at 2:01 AM
Finished Chapter 4 of my book today. It took 113 days to write. I haven’t been this productive since grad school. Hooray for fellowships and teaching releases!
#medievalsky #academicsky
#medievalsky #academicsky
Gladiolus in my backyard on a rainy day. ⛈️
June 25, 2025 at 4:12 PM
Gladiolus in my backyard on a rainy day. ⛈️
Resting from his labors.
#AcademicCats
#AcademicCats
June 12, 2025 at 4:46 PM
Resting from his labors.
#AcademicCats
#AcademicCats
Starting in August, I’ll be a Kingdon Fellow at the Institute for Research in the Humanities at the U of Wisconsin - Madison. I’m looking forward to finishing my book and living in WI for a year. I’ve never been there!
June 9, 2025 at 3:32 PM
Starting in August, I’ll be a Kingdon Fellow at the Institute for Research in the Humanities at the U of Wisconsin - Madison. I’m looking forward to finishing my book and living in WI for a year. I’ve never been there!
Thing to do on a rainy morning #1: sleep like a cat.
May 30, 2025 at 4:14 PM
Thing to do on a rainy morning #1: sleep like a cat.
Rice University commencement. So proud of these students!
May 12, 2025 at 1:50 AM
Rice University commencement. So proud of these students!
Here is mine. I had to wear one as a member of the young “pioneers” communist organization in the Soviet Union.😜
April 13, 2025 at 6:02 PM
Here is mine. I had to wear one as a member of the young “pioneers” communist organization in the Soviet Union.😜
This duck looks like it’s conducting an orchestra.
April 9, 2025 at 2:08 AM
This duck looks like it’s conducting an orchestra.
It's always fun to tell students that this **is not** what they think it is, and discuss the continuities between the late Roman and medieval Christian religious traditions and imagery.
April 1, 2025 at 4:26 PM
It's always fun to tell students that this **is not** what they think it is, and discuss the continuities between the late Roman and medieval Christian religious traditions and imagery.
Happy International Hug a Medievalist Day!
Because we could all use a hug just about now.
(Bibliothèque nationale de France. Département des Manuscrits. Français 167, fol. 27v.)
#medievalsky
Because we could all use a hug just about now.
(Bibliothèque nationale de France. Département des Manuscrits. Français 167, fol. 27v.)
#medievalsky
March 31, 2025 at 9:01 PM
Happy International Hug a Medievalist Day!
Because we could all use a hug just about now.
(Bibliothèque nationale de France. Département des Manuscrits. Français 167, fol. 27v.)
#medievalsky
Because we could all use a hug just about now.
(Bibliothèque nationale de France. Département des Manuscrits. Français 167, fol. 27v.)
#medievalsky
Rice University’s Lovett Hall has an old fireplace with these lovely pseudo-medieval reliefs.
March 28, 2025 at 7:47 PM
Rice University’s Lovett Hall has an old fireplace with these lovely pseudo-medieval reliefs.
March 26, 2025 at 8:09 PM
A page from Biblia Latina, produced in Paris ca. 1330. The Museum of Fine Arts Houston. #mfah #medievalsky #houston
March 16, 2025 at 4:55 PM
A page from Biblia Latina, produced in Paris ca. 1330. The Museum of Fine Arts Houston. #mfah #medievalsky #houston
All of us right now.
March 13, 2025 at 11:03 PM
All of us right now.
KA-BOOM! The young French lady on a white horse and a serving maid carrying a little dog appear unperturbed by explosions during the Battle of Pavia (1525). Tapestries designed by Bernard van Orley, Museo di Capodimonte, Naples. Currently on view at #mfah in Houston.
#artsky #renaissanceart
#artsky #renaissanceart
March 13, 2025 at 10:07 PM
KA-BOOM! The young French lady on a white horse and a serving maid carrying a little dog appear unperturbed by explosions during the Battle of Pavia (1525). Tapestries designed by Bernard van Orley, Museo di Capodimonte, Naples. Currently on view at #mfah in Houston.
#artsky #renaissanceart
#artsky #renaissanceart
Miniature Qur’an manuscript, Spain (Valencia?), 12-14th centuries; the Houston Museum of Fine Arts.
#medievalsky
#medievalsky
March 10, 2025 at 4:51 PM
Miniature Qur’an manuscript, Spain (Valencia?), 12-14th centuries; the Houston Museum of Fine Arts.
#medievalsky
#medievalsky
Posey (2010-2025). 😢
March 4, 2025 at 5:38 PM
Posey (2010-2025). 😢
Jewish oil lamp, bronze. Mediterranean, 400–600 CE. One of the treasures of the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. Currently not on view.
#historysky
#mediterranean
#historysky
#mediterranean
February 26, 2025 at 5:19 PM
Jewish oil lamp, bronze. Mediterranean, 400–600 CE. One of the treasures of the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. Currently not on view.
#historysky
#mediterranean
#historysky
#mediterranean