#historical research

[imaginebetterfutures]

Useful (not AI) Tools for Writing

For years I've been compiling a list of useful tools for writing (fiction and non-fiction) and I thought it might be fun to share it.

What am I missing? What do you use and love? I'd love to keep building this list!

Historical Research

General plug: Librarians!!! They want to help you.

Search for words/signs in Brooklyn

Encyclopedia of Hair

Underwear, a history

Newspapers.com

Historical (and modern) meeting minutes

Find a grave

Political TV Ad archive

Oral Histories

Columbia

National Archives

MoMA

Archives of American Art

The Oral History Review

Words

Wordnik

Dictionary of American Regional English

Scrivener built in name generator

Lose the very

Scene Setting / Images

Animals & Plants by geolocation (also good for general scene setting)

Flickr world map

Past weather by zip code

Google Maps streetview / Google Earth

General Inspiration

Oblique Strategies

Worldbuilding

Tarot decks (my personal favorite is this one)

The Thing from the Future

The Picture Game

Misc

Data is Plural -- a newsletter full of interesting datasets

[the-merry-otter]

Posy Rings

With the rise of courtly love in the late medieval period came a range of different tokens to demonstrate such love. Jewellery was a popular choice - as it still is now!

Posy rings are a ring for the finger, sometimes plain, sometimes with a jewel, that contains a phrase of devotion or love as an inscription. These were sometimes in Latin, but most often in French, which was considered the language of courtly love, and was pretty widely spoken in the upper classes.

(Left: pense de moy - “think of me” c. 1400-50)

(Right: de tout mon coer - “with all my heart” c. 1400)

Love inscriptions were often repeated, indicating there were “stock phrases” for jewellers to use.

ANYWAY so I was explaining this to my boyfriend bc I enjoy infodumping (you may have noticed), and he promptly decided to kill me by going “oh like the one ring from Lord of the Rings 😁”.

Like, sure I GUESS

[thegoldensanctuary]

Part X Changes Under Louis XV

10.1 The New Fireplace

AN O1/1796 item 528

On Sunday, January 22, 1758, the King, feeling cold during his toilette in the Grand Bedchamber, requested that a tiled stove be installed to warm the room. By the next day, the stove was already in place and operational. However, the very letter informing Marigny (Head of the King's Buildings) about the royal decision also mentioned an unfortunate incident involving a similar stove in the antechamber of his sister, Madame de Pompadour. The pipe of her tiled stove caught fire, though fortunately, the flames were quickly extinguished.[200]

Nevertheless, on March 25, 1758, Gabriel, the King's chief architect, decided to add a new fireplace in the bedchamber instead.[201] The precise justification behind this decision is not explicitly stated, but it is likely that either aesthetic concerns or safety considerations—given the recent fire—prompted the change. The inability to find marble matching the existing one, which resembled Brèche Violette, led the administration to consider removing the old fireplace and replacing it with two new fireplaces of the same marble. The southern wall between the bedchamber and the Bullseye Antechamber had to be disassembled to accommodate the new chimney pipe, utilizing the existing chimney in the antechamber, which was also rebuilt in the process.[202]

Two provisional marble fireplaces were installed temporarily. On June 7, 1761, Marigny ordered their demolition and replacement with the new ones.[203]

Some drawings from the time of the project still exist (see fig.), yet no detailed work report regarding the various stages of the project has been found. However, records indicate that payments made to Trouard, the principal marble sculptor of the Crown, in 1761 significantly exceeded those of the preceding and subsequent years, suggesting substantial work at Versailles during this period.

O/1/1770, folder 4, n°6

10.2 Restoration and Enhancement of the Winter Set (Number 1881)

The Winter Set 1881 bed underwent its first recorded restoration in 1736, under the direction of Dutrou and Saillor. The embroideries were restored, and the fleur-de-lys crimson brocade used for the lining of the valances was replaced with crimson Gros de Tours, while the case curtain was entirely remade.[204]

On November 28, 1761, the Garde-Meuble diary recorded the second restoration of Set 1881. The embroideries were again restored, and those from the stools were transferred onto new crimson velvet. As in the previous restoration 25 years earlier, the embroidery work was carried out by Dutrou. Additionally, two new fire screen frames were commissioned, crafted by Foliot and gilded by Bardou, to match the new fireplaces.[205]

In 1765, Louis XV ordered a more comprehensive enhancement and restoration of the Winter Set, which had begun to appear outdated after 64 years of use. Several artisans were commissioned:

Capin for the upholstery

Chasblier for the embroidery

Bardon for the gilding of sculpted wood

Pitoin for the gilding of metal parts

The L’Héritier brothers for supplying golden braids and fleurets for the embroidery

Foliot for the wooden sculptures

10.2.1 The Bed

The most notable addition during the 1765 enhancement was the incorporation of rich sculptural elements onto the upper canopy, mounted on carved joinery. Foliot, responsible for this work, provided a detailed description:

"To be used in the King’s Bedchamber at the Palace of Versailles: The crown of the Winter Bed, measuring three feet in height and seven and a half feet in length, composed in the middle of trophies of war, including banners, shields, weapons, and other instruments, enriched by laurel branches grouped together. The upper section consists of a piece of architecture featuring a lion’s head holding in its mouth a ribbon suspending the trophy. The corners are adorned with corsets of armor supporting the structure, flanked by palm branches. At the front of the crowned canopy, garlands of oak and laurel extend along the piece, forming festoons at the corners where the corsets of armor are located. The sculpture was carved from a ten-foot-long piece of wood, following the creation of a quarter-scale wax model."[206]

Foliot charged 6,400 livres for this work. The gilding was executed by Bardon, whose report provides additional details about specific sculptural elements:[207]

Three sculpted pieces adorned with shields, palms, and oak leaves

Four corsets of armor

Four garlands

Some elements, such as banners, laurels, and the lion, mentioned in Foliot’s report, are not explicitly listed in Bardon’s work but were certainly included to maintain the harmony of the composition.

A crucial note in Capin’s report describes the new canopy shape as ‘bulging’, indicating its convex architectural form. This explains why Chasblier had to entirely remake the valances to match the revised canopy structure:

"The great valances at the front and sides were almost entirely re-embroidered [...]. The embroidered fringe follows the contour of the new crowned canopy."[208]

Finally, the 1775 General Inventory of the Garde-Meuble provides another significant detail not previously mentioned. The description of Set 1881, which had been reassigned inventory number 116 in the embroidery chapter, states:

"The canopy of gilded and sculpted wood, featuring at its front a cartouche bearing the coat of arms of France."[209]

The gilding of the canopy was initially imperfect, as a 1766 report notes that a new order was issued on November 3, 1766, for craftsmen to fix the gilding on-site at Versailles.

9.2.2 – The Armchairs and Stools

In his 1765 report, Capin mentioned the presence of two armchairs, twelve stools, and a third armchair listed as being acquired “by augmentation.” This term, used by the Garde-Meuble, referred to alterations that extended beyond mere restoration, often involving the addition of new elements or the reassembly of upholstery onto a different wooden structure. A notable precedent is set 1379, which was created by augmentation of set 867.

Given the intent to modernize the Grand Bedchamber, particularly the bed, which was deemed somewhat too sober for its prestigious setting, it is plausible that the original 1701 armchairs were also replaced on this occasion with more contemporary designs. The work detailed in Capin’s report describes standard upholstery procedures, including the application of gold braids and gold nails, which further aligns with this hypothesis.

If we accept this assumption, their creation can potentially be traced to a 1765 work report by Foliot the Elder. On August 2, 1765, the same date his son was commissioned to sculpt the canopy ornaments for the King’s bed, Foliot the Elder was entrusted with crafting a bulging canopy frame for Versailles[210]. His next recorded order, on August 7, concerned the creation of two armchairs.

It is worth noting that Foliot the Elder habitually included seats immediately following beds in his work reports—an example being his Polish-style bed frame, executed following the October 4 order, which, like his son’s commission, was later supplemented with two armchairs and eight regular chairs. These pieces are subsequently mentioned by Capin in relation to their upholstery. Based on this pattern, it is reasonable to assume that the two armchairs mentioned immediately after the canopy commission in August 1765 were indeed intended for the Grand Bedchamber.

The upholstery work carried out by Capin in 1765 did not constitute a full restoration of the embroideries. This is evident from the fact that the armchairs and stools were sent to the Garde-Meuble on May 28, 1766,[211] necessitating a comprehensive refurbishment of the embroidery a year later. Aleau was tasked with this embroidery work,[212] and several notable modifications emerge from the associated report:

The twelve stools, originally adorned with campanes, were now embellished with gold fringes.

The two armchairs now featured textiles on the armrests, with no further mention of campanes or fringes, strongly suggesting a stylistic transition away from the Louis XIV aesthetic. The structure was likely revised so that the seat was now fully enclosed by a visible wooden frame.

Finally, the woodwork, much like that of the canopy, was re-gilded and repaired by Bardou, following an order dated November 3, 1766.[213]

9.2.3 – The Firescreen

As previously noted, the 1701 fireplace was removed on November 28, 1761, and replaced with two new fire screens, executed by Foliot and gilded by Bardou. The textile panels of these screens repurposed the velvet of the tablecloth, which was destroyed in the process. Much like the seating elements, the embroideries on these velvet panels were later restored by Aleau in 1766.[214]

[200] AN O1/1796, item 528; a copy of that letter can also be found in AN O1/1811.

[201] AN O1/1811.

[202] AN O1/1797, item 156.

[203] AN O1/1812.

[204] AN O1/3312, f⁰ 49 v⁰.

[205] AN O1/3317, f⁰ 130 v⁰.

[206] AN O1/3617 – Foliot’s work report.

[207] Ibid. – Bardon’s work report.

[208] Ibid. – Chasblier’s work report.

[209] AN O1/3345, f⁰ 237 v⁰ - 238 r⁰.

[210] AN O1/3617 – Foliot the Elder’s work report.

[211] AN O1/3346, p. 383.

[212] AN O1/3618 – Aleau’s work report.

[213] Ibid. – Bardou’s work report.

[214] Ibid. – Aleau’s work report.

[thespookydookie]

hot researchers don't gatekeep so something i cannot recommend enough if your field is 19th - 20th century (first half) and especially imperial german militaria are these two channels: plw history and feldpost - beautifully presented content and a wide range of topics+additional english subtitles for those who don't speak german;

additionally, for those who do speak german, i would recommend the most recent episode of the "don't forget history" podcast, hosted by the lads from plw history - beautiful episode and a lovely insight into the reality of militarism and its ties to ptsd reception explained by the guest from feldpost.

[yeoldenews]

@lesbrarians I don't have the whole diary photographed, but here's a post where I go through the research process I used to identify this diary's author.

[authorkarajorgensen]

Want to see a cool research thing? It's a collection of digitized menus from the 1800/1900s at the New York Public Library.

Perfect for my historical fiction peeps or culinary historians

[ashintheairlikesnow]

New book! Sadly, not enough on WWI but still a great research read and actually really funny as well as being an excellent historical resource. TONS of firsthand sources thanks to court records, letters, and more.

Plus, the bibliography is giving me like a whole list of books to get ahold of.

One thing I found interesting in the WWI section was multiple referenced soldiers either explicitly used traditionally feminine names for themselves, were known to prefer to dress and be interacted with as women, or in one case wore chosen female clothing to court and explicitly identified as female there. The fucking courage to be utterly yourself during your court martial.

This book is such a lovely new layer to a part of history I have been researching for a long time.

Highly recommend!

[gracehosborn]

New Findings For Alexander Hamilton’s Artillery Company!!

Today I came across “new” (new to me, anyway--nor have I seen a Hamilton biographer or scholar mention this) Captain Hamilton information and I feel bad for the people within my vicinity inside my campus library who had to hear my shocked squeal.

Within the Henry Knox Papers of the Gilder Lehrman Collection held by the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History is an “Artillery record book” which was written by Colonel Samuel Shaw for Knox’s regiment of artillery between January 12, 1777 and March 24, 1777. The book itself is only 16 pages (which includes the cover page), but it contains all sorts of troop movements, artillery inventory, and other notes.

The following (under the cut) is a chronological rundown of all the times Hamilton or his men are mentioned in the book, along with the images themselves (as unfortunately the database that the Knox Papers were digitized to, American History 1493-1945, is limited to institutional access. However, it can be found here):

First up, on page five (seen above), Colonel Shaw wrote a series of "memos," or tasks needing completion. One of these, as seen at the top of the page, included "To enquire of Capt Hamilton whether his men were entitled to the Bounty of Ten Dollars which they received of Lieut Reed 1 Jany [January] 1777 --". The start of the new year came of course on the heels of the Battle of Trenton fought on December 26, 1776, wherein Hamilton's cannons played a major role.

Next (and the most interesting to me), on page twelve (seen above) Shaw wrote a series of troop movements. Dated February 3, 1777, the colonel wrote that "Lieut [John] Bean, with 8 men of Capt Hamilton's Coy [Company] came [up?] from Bucks County and marched to join the Detachment with Genl [John] Sullivan and Capt [Sebastian] Bauman --". At this time, Hamilton was still in recovery from the illness he developed prior to Trenton, and the only other remaining officer in his company was his Third Lieutenant Thomas Thompson. This would thus mean that Hamilton and Thompson were left to watch over those that remained with the company while Bean and eight enlisted men were away.

Lastly, on the final page of the record book (seen above) a series of discharges for men in Hamilton's company were written on March 24, 1777. By that time, Alexander Hamilton had joined Washington's staff as an aide-de-camp. Colonel Shaw, and another person who has not been identified, explicitly wrote:

Morris Town March 24, 1777

This is to certify that Lieut John Bean has Received his Discharge this day Sign'd by General Knox, N B the above person Belong'd to the late Capt Hamilton's Compy [Company] of the State of N[ew] York Likewise has 24 days pay due --

March 24, 1777 Discharged Martian Laulen[,] Isaac Johnston & Will'm [William] Hackett Matross's in the Late Capt Hamilton's Compy, Rais'd in the State of New York By order of General Knox . . . .

Also had seven men of the above mentioned compy Qualifyed [Qualified] to be true to the Independent States of America --

Note: the names of the matrosses discharged were cross-referenced with the names found in Alexander Hamilton's artillery company pay book for making my above transcription.

This entire record makes me extremely happy. I have new dates and more minute details and therefore a more concrete timeline surrounding Hamilton and the men of his company, yay!! Lately I have become very interested in the company's continuing service in the American Revolution after Hamilton's departure, and this record just gave me some fascinating information that links to some other information I have found on the whereabouts of some of these men written about above. But this is daring to open a can of worms that should be saved for a later post.

Frankly, it does not surprise me that I have not read about this record previously. It is so detailed and routine that it doesn't stand out necessarily on its own in the wider scope of things. However, as regards The American Icarus (and another project I may or may not be considering tackling?), this new information is very interesting and helpful. And I hope someone else here finds it interesting too.

[gingersnaptaff]

HI me again back with another Welsh law bonanza. For some reason I don't know, u guys really liked the Gwenhwyfar divorce post I did a few weeks back, so allow me to shed some light on how divorces worked as well as marriage payments, and the role of a queen in Welsh law. (Which doesn't have much on it but is FASCINATING.)

Also, I am SUFFERING from cramps so I apologise if I ramble.

First off, Marriage Laws.

So, as previously discussed there were two ways a woman could marry: she could either be given by her family, or she could elope. Now, a woman who eloped would still be entitled to the same monetary payments as a woman who was given in marriage by her kin,

So, the Dues Payable are as follows: Amobyr, Cowyll, Agweddi, Gwaddol, Argyrfreu, and Wynebwerth.

I'm gonna cover Amobyr and Cowyll today, as well as do a lil write-up about Queenship so yeah.

It's a maiden fee! Now, this and the Cowyll are BOTH maiden fees, however, they differ as Cowyll - and we'll get onto it later - is a fee maybe to the lady herself. Sort of a wedding morning gift, I guess. 'Sorry I slept with u, or not, have some money.' Which, is extremely crass.

The Amobyr was fixed to a lady's status and it goes from King, Chief Bard or Storyteller, Chief Officers (so a Distain, which is what we Welsh would call a Seneschal), Minor Officer's daughters, Uchelwyr (so knights or lords), and then your middling noblemen, to peasants, foreigners, and slaves.

It's essentially equal to the revenue the father would get for his land, but EVERY SINGLE WOMAN would get it, regardless of status. High-born or low. The amount's payable regardless of whether you have one penny or seven thousand.

Now, amobyr could be recovered by suit as it was payable to the King and was essentially like protection money. If you made off with somebody's amobyr you were in BIG TROUBLE. HOWEVER, and I really love this fact, the King's daughter's amobyr would be payable not to him BUT TO THE QUEEN, as well as other daughters of high rank like your Pencerddau, chief groom, etc.

Amobyr was payable once a couple had cohabited for the first time, and even had to be payable if a man boasted that he'd shagged a woman and gotten her pregnant, but actually hadn't. Presumably because a) these laws are BIG on honour bonds and things and because you'd lied you'd tarnished that woman's honour and your own, and b) you'd kinda claimed that Lady as yours because you've made her unchaste.

Because it's a maiden fee it - like the Cowyll ' could only be paid ONCE. No more, no less. If you were a widow or wanted remarry, you can't get the amobyr again. Also, if you'd eloped with a dude and your family had caught you before you'd consummated your relationship they didn't have to pay cuz you're still a virgin. Also, if you were raped then the rapist had to pay amobyr to your family in recognition of that.

Finally, a lady who'd had a fling which had resulted in a bastard child* but she hadn't declared who the father was, then she was responsible for the amobyr. However, if she HAD declared who the father was then he had to pay the amobyr instead.

The Cowyll, as I've already said, is a personal payment to the lady that's made on the first morning after marriage.

Now, in North Wales it's always given as money even if you're a King's daughter, BUT if you're in the South then you get la lovely chunk of land. So if you married a prince of Gwynedd, bad luck, just money for u. If you married a Prince of Deheubarth then you are QUIDS IN! (THAT'S YOURS FOR LIFE BABYYYYY)

(Ignore the Agweddi for today. Or don't. Think of it as a tantalising glimpse into the next law I'm gonna cover.)

Cowyll is both paid to just married women AND those who were violated against their will. The wife / lady who had been violated had the right to specify what they wished for their cowyll to be in service of. If she didn't then it just went on stuff for the couple, so I'd imagine whatever the medieval equivalent of IKEA flat pack furniture would've been, that would've been what they'd have chosen.

Also, it's kept entirely separate from the husband's property so he Could Not pinch from it, or use it in service of himself. You couldn't even be deprived of it if you'd had an affair or did any naughty business. That's YOUR MONEY AND BY GOD YOU CAN KEEP IT. Even if you divorced your husband or he you, you would be allowed take your cowyll with you.

Now, finally, QUEENSHIP.

(Particularly handy if you are, like me, doing an Arthurian-inspired, Welsh-set novel and you GOTTA KNOW WHAT GUINEVERE DOES.)

There is not a lot on it because it isn't something that's studied that much (idk why. Wales has tonnes of cool Queens even if they didn't become regent) but we make do with what we can!

You, as King, could marry ANYBODY (Within reason, nobody is marrying a peasant girl) within what would be termed your Cenedl (that's your family.) or out of it.

Kings, we know, often married their first cousins, or second cousins to keep the balance of power within Wales (you gotta remember Wales wasn't united back then! Gwynedd, Powys, and Deheubarth fuckin squabbled like dogs over bones, and Do Not get me started on the littler kingdoms like Arwystli or Senghenydd.)

Seriously, Gwenllian ap Gruffudd ap Cynan (Gwynedd) eloped with Gruffydd ap Rhys (Deheubarth) and they were like distantly related. Or, Gwenllian's brother and v famous boi, Owain Gwynedd married his first cousin, Cristina (and, in doing so, ensured that after his death Gwynedd would have a power vacuum because of squabbling that wouldn't be sorted until Llywelyn Fawr took the throne and overthrew his uncles. It's always fuckin Gwynedd. Even Gwenllian's son, The Lord Rhys, married one of his first cousins, who was also named Gwenllian.)

*Gets slapped with a wet fish* Sorry, I was rambling.

Now, kings did also marry for political alliances. Gruffudd ap Cynan himself married Angharad ferch Owain (can u sense a theme with the names?) because she was from a well-off, noble family who had ties to the Anglo-Saxons when Gwynedd was in a bad spot with the Norman's. Llywelyn Fawr married Joan, the illegitimate daughter of King John of England, when relations became... tense, shall we say.

So, lemme go over some stuff regarding laws real quick before I tell u why I've highlighted these three ladies. (Cuz they're fun and I'm in love with them- uh, you what?)

So all the Codes (North, South, Mid) attach the following to the Queen: a steward, priest, chief groom, door-keeper, and a handmaiden. In Gwynedd she was also given a page, a separate cook (presumably because of poisoning attempts), and a candle-bearer (would LOVE to be that. No joke.) Whereas in Deheubarth she was given a groom of the rein, a sewer, and a footholder. (For all u lovers of the Fourth Branch of the Mabinogi out there this is a win for u.)

The line of Cunedda which (and, fuck me, I can't believe I'm saying this) IS BASICALLY ALL OF THE KINGDOMS OF WALES allowed for transition of royal dignity through a the female as well as the male. That means u could contest ur throne using your mam's blood and status as well as your dad's. Owain Glyndŵr, as I have previously mentioned, did this when he started his rebellion against Henry IV, as his mother descended from both the houses of Gwynedd and Deheubarth and his father descended from Powys. Truly, the people's Prince.

Now, a queen had her own privy purse (Go her), and one-third of the income the king received went to the Queen for her personal use. She also received land grants that went directly to her.

Now, finally, why tf did I highlight those three Queens that I spoke about earlier? Okay, so, Queens couldn't be regents, BUT they absolutely could and did use their power in any way they could.

Angharad ferch Owain was the mother of Owain Gwynedd, Gwenllian, and Cadwaladr. Owain Gwynedd ruled Gwynedd after his dad died in 1137 and led Gwynedd to become Wales' most successful kingdom at that time. He is also the reason why the Prince of Wales is called the Prince of Wales. ANYWAY. He and Cadwaladr had a falling out in 1143 and Angharad, not liking the way Cadwaladr was being treated, took his side. (Dunno why, he killed her step-grandson, Anarawd. Like, Angharad pls. Priorities, del.)

So, Owain ordered his son, Hywel, (yes him of bardic fame) to BURN DOWN Cadwaladr's castle in Aberystwyth. Cadwaladr, enraged, hot-footed it to Ireland where he and the Vikings invaded Gwynedd in an attempt to make Owain give him his lands back.

Angharad supported Cadwaladr by allowing him to beach his forces in her lands of Abermenai in Ynys Môn (Anglesey.) and also tried to intercede on her son's behalf with his brother. Anyways, the brothers were reconciled (for a brief period. Cadwaladr was aligned with the Normans so he remained a thorn in his big bro's side.) and Angharad lived until 1162. Her death led Owain Gwynedd into a melancholic spell.

Gwenllian ferch Gruffudd ap Cynan waged war against the Normans during the Great Revolt. Fighting against the Normans was very much a family affair for, you see, her brothers Owain (previously mentioned cousin-marrier) and Cadwaladr also waged war against the Normans at this time, and their dad, Gruffudd ap Cynan also fought against them SO HE COULD BECOME KING OF GWYNEDD. After her husband left Deheubarth to go and plead with her father for troops and aid men flocked to her and they waged a guerrilla war against the Normans until 1136.

This pains me to say but a Welsh lord betrayed Gwenllian after the Normans - seeking to win back the territory that Gwenllian and Gruffydd ap Rhys had recovered - waged war against them. She and her two eldest sons, Morgan, and Maelgwn died. Morgan in battle, and Maelgwn and Gwenllian were beheaded at Castell Cydweli.

After her death, South Wales rose in rebellion against the Normans. Her brothers, once word reached Gwynedd, invaded Norman-controlled Ceredigion (which was Deheubarth's territory.) and won back Aberystwyth, Llanfihangel, and Llanbadarn. The Welsh battle cry for many years was 'Dial Achos Gwenllian!' Revenge for Gwenllian.

Finally, Joan, Lady of Wales. She's referred to as Siwan in Welsh. She was the daughter of King John (as previously said.) She often mediated between her father and her husband, Llywelyn Fawr. The Brut y Tywysogion writes: 'Llywelyn, being unable to suffer the king's rage, sent his wife, the king's daughter, to him, by the counsel of his leading men, to seek to make peace with the king on whatever terms he could.' I'll probably do a full post about her at some point but yeah, she's cool!

Anyways, hope u enjoyed this!

Okay, hywl fawr!

[museeeuuuum]

How can historians use AI to study the past? What ethical considerations should be taken into account? Check out my latest video where I discuss the pros and cons of using AI in historical research.

[michael-svetbird]

ETRUSCAN ANTEFIXES | Villa Giulia Museum: Modern reconstruction of Etruscan temple roofs in life size with reproduced antefixes.

👉 Pics 1 and 4 - Temple of Apollo [ETRU reconstruction] originally built around 510 BC in Etruscan city of Veii [Portonaccio archaeological site], north of Rome. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portonaccio

👉 Pic 2 - Temple of Alatri, "a model with the real dimensions of an Etruscan-Italic temple.. constructed between 1889 and 1890, on the basis of ruins found in Alatri in the immediately preceding years. The building repeats the decorative designs of the architectural terracottas of the original temple that dates between the 3rd and 2nd centuries BC. This reconstruction is one of the oldest experiments of open-air musealization of an archaeological complex." [txt ©ETRU] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alatri

👉 Pic 3 - Reconstruction of a temple roof with original antefixes. From Falerii Novi [probably from the Sanctuary of Mercury], 6 BC https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Falerii

Featured in 'Etruscan Antefixes: Aesthetically Distinguished, Mysteriously Charged' article ANTIQVVS Magazine | Autumn 2024 Issue https://www.antiqvvs-magazine.com

Museo Nazionale Etrusco di Villa Giulia, Rome | ETRU

Web : https://www.museoetru.it/en

FB : @ VillaGiuliaRm

IG : @ museoetruscovillagiulia

X : @ VillaGiuliaRm

YT : @ museoetruTV

ETRU | Michael Svetbird @michael-svetbird phs ©MSP ©Antiqvvs Magazine | 28|09|24 The photographed objects are collection items of ETRU [Non-commercial fair use | No AI | Author rights apply | Sorry for the watermarks]

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[victusinveritas]

[thegoldensanctuary]

slightly anachronistic walk through 18th century Versailles. The main anachronism is : the set shown grand bedchamber and the council cabinet are winter sets(1881 and 3318) while the one in the new bedchamber, the green one(the 4000) is a summer set, the proper set in that room one should have been winter set 2691, but since the colour scheme of gold and crimson of that set is also in way already represented in the previous rooms I thought that the saxon green of summer 4000 could add a bit more variety.

Besides those details the rest is fairly accurate, except perhaps some of the fireplace clocks which are still place holders.

All the cc shown in the clip is still WIP.

[jamesfitzjamesdotcom]

FitzLetters Book (future publication)

And of course there's this beast of a book: Fitzjames' correspondence 1825-1845! First had it printed back in 2022 but now had it printed again after corrections & adding more letters. There's no text of mine/footnotes yet. More editing to do first. I have a different idea for the cover but this looks nice for now. ❤️

The letters are divided by the ships Fitzjames served on. A treasure trove of information, not just about Fitzjames but also early 19th century (naval) history. Over 550 pages! I typed all of this. 😵‍💫 Will also find a publisher for this after finishing the Fitzjames biography by the end of this year, hopefully!

[schweizercomics]

A year ago today I gave a lecture on using historical research to inform your costume design. If that's the sort of thing that might be useful to you, you're in luck, because Cartoon Crossroads Columbus recorded it and posted it up!

[redbreastedbird]

Hi again!! What's your opinion of people drawing/writing Amina (and her mother and sisters, for that matter) wearing a hijab? Thanks :)

Oh this is interesting!!

Okay, so I have two answers. One is that as a fan, you can interact with a character however you want. If you want to imagine a hijabi Amina, you are so welcome to do so - that version of her is yours, and it belongs to you. She stopped being my character alone when I published a book about her - we all share her now!

My second answer, though, is that in terms of historical accuracy, no, she most likely wouldn’t have worn the hijab. This was something that came up in my research, and that I found super fascinating. Obviously fashions were very different then, but also (as far as I understand, please know that I am not an expert on this) the way people expressed their faith was quite different. It wasn’t as usual for wealthy Egyptian Muslim women to wear the hijab - instead they tended to wear (among other things) this devastatingly cool little hat/scarf combo:

I actually went into creating Amina’s character intending her to be a hijabi and came out of it realising that she wouldn’t have worn the hijab! (NB - again, please note that I’m sure some wealthy women did, and also that I think it was more common for working class women to do so. I’m not making any absolute statements here!)

While I’m on the subject of Egyptian women in the 1930s, I remember that I had to cut out a scene where Amina’s mother ran a women’s poetry/writing group. There was a real literary scene in Cairo in the 1930s, loads of women were published poets and writers and thinkers - it was really such an interesting time and I wish I’d been able to include more about that!