Medieval Mentality

Passages that try to explain how the world works, with no judgement about how accurate or erroneous their explanations are.

Medieval Mentality

Death of the Great Frost Father

March 2, 2023 Saxo

“The cow supported herself by licking the stones that were covered with salt and hoar frost. The first day that she licked these stones there sprang from them, towards evening, the hairs of a man, the second day a head, and on the third an entire man, who was endowed with beauty, agility and power.” […]

Greek and Roman

The Dolphins of Tunisia

February 18, 2023 Saxo

“Dolphins are not afraid of humans as something alien, but come to meet vessels at sea and play and leap around them; they try to race ships and overtake them even when they are under full sail.” […]

Britons and Celts

History as a Science

February 12, 2023 Saxo

“The Word of God the Father was made flesh, and began to dwell amongst us, 5199 years after the beginning of the world, 2452 after the crossing of the Red Sea, 1206 after the taking of Troy. Seven hundred and fifty-two years had passed from the building of Rome, when Christ sanctified the world.” […]

Medieval Mentality

The Pleasure Contest

February 4, 2023 Saxo

“At once the slave from Madinah clasped his hands and began to caress them gently, while the one from Kufah, lying lower, rubbed his feet and took advantage of her position to slip up her hand from time to time and handle the principal merchandise.” […]

Medieval Mentality

The Grump of Christmas Eve

December 24, 2022 Saxo

“Glam replied, “you have all sorts of superstitions that I dismiss as worthless. People don’t strike me as being any better off now than they were in the days when they didn’t practice such things.” […]

Medieval Mentality

What Can Change the Nature of a Man?

November 6, 2022 Saxo

“Gentlemen, here is something that puzzles me, because I cannot account for it. How is it that in the kingdoms of Persia, which are such near neighbours of ours, there are folk so unruly and contentious that they are forever killing one another, whereas among us, who are all but one with them, there is hardly an instance of provocation or brawling?” […]

Medieval Mentality

Tricks of a Charlatan Priest

October 29, 2022 Saxo

“My master raised his hands to heaven, and turned his eyes up until scarcely anything could be seen but the whites. He prayed to the Lord not to require the death of the sinner, but rather to give his life back.” […]

Medieval Mentality

Forbidden Love Must Be Atoned

September 28, 2022 Saxo

“Thorstein paid to have a stone cell built for each of them and provided whatever else they needed to live. When the stone cells had been built, at an appropriate time and when everything was completed, they gave up their secular lives together of their own free will.” […]