A Medieval Book of Magical Stones: The Peterborough Lapidary
A Medieval Book of Magical Stones: The Peterborough Lapidary

Author: Francis Young

Publisher: Lulu.com

Published: 2016

Total Pages: 152

ISBN-13: 099264044X

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

A Medieval Book of Magical Stones is the first translation of the longest and most comprehensive medieval English treatise on the occult powers of stones and gems, the Peterborough Lapidary. Lapidaries (encyclopaedias of the 'virtues' of stones and minerals) were an essential resource for practitioners of natural and ritual magic as well as medicine. This late fifteenth-century manuscript from the library of Peterborough Cathedral describes 145 stones, portraying them as living beings whose properties range from giving the bearer the power to command spirits and foretell the future to healing numerous illnesses and communicating with spirits and the dead, along with instructions on how to release latent occult power from within stones. Many of the proposed uses of stones resemble the concerns of medieval necromancers, such as invisibility, love magic, power over animals and the creation of magical mirrors. pp. xliii+106; 2 column text; introduction; bibliography; analytical index; 8 b/w illustrations

The Elements in the Medieval World
The Elements in the Medieval World

Author:

Publisher: BRILL

Published: 2024-11-21

Total Pages: 457

ISBN-13: 9004712437

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

The fourteen chapters and poem of this volume reflect the centrality of the element Earth in medieval thought and life, a centrality inherited from classical antiquity, and fundamental too in Judaeo-Christian and Islamic traditions. The chapters also reflect the multifarious nature of the ways that Earth was experienced and understood in the Middle Ages. Contributors are Sophie E.D. Abrahams, Daniel Anlezark, Marilina Cesario, Catherine Clarke, James Davis, Stephen J. Davis, Virginia Iommi Echeverría, Andrew Fear, Danielle B. Joyner, Hugh Magennis, Francesco Marzella, Tom C.B. McLeish, Patrick Naeve, Bernard O’Donoghue, Sinéad O’Sullivan, Alexandra Paddock, Elisa Ramazzina, Hannah E. Smithson, Sigbjørn O. Sønnesyn, Sinéad O’Sullivan, and Margaret Tedford.

Magic as a Political Crime in Medieval and Early Modern England
Magic as a Political Crime in Medieval and Early Modern England

Author: Francis Young

Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing

Published: 2017-10-30

Total Pages: 276

ISBN-13: 1786732912

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

Treason and magic were first linked together during the reign of Edward II. Theories of occult conspiracy then regularly led to major political scandals, such as the trial of Eleanor Cobham Duchess of Gloucester in 1441. While accusations of magical treason against high-ranking figures were indeed a staple of late medieval English power politics, they acquired new significance at the Reformation when the 'superstition' embodied by magic came to be associated with proscribed Catholic belief. Francis Young here offers the first concerted historical analysis of allegations of the use of magic either to harm or kill the monarch, or else manipulate the course of political events in England, between the fourteenth century and the dawn of the Enlightenment. His book addresses a subject usually either passed over or elided with witchcraft: a quite different historical phenomenon. He argues that while charges of treasonable magic certainly were used to destroy reputations or to ensure the convictions of undesirables, magic was also perceived as a genuine threat by English governments into the Civil War era and beyond.

Drugs in the Medieval Mediterranean
Drugs in the Medieval Mediterranean

Author: Petros Bouras-Vallianatos

Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Published: 2023-11-02

Total Pages: 445

ISBN-13: 1009389750

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

Adopts a pan-Mediterranean approach to the study of medieval medicine and pharmacology, which permits a deeper understanding of broader phenomena such as the transfer of scientific knowledge and cultural exchange. Of great importance to medical historians, medieval historians and scholars of Byzantine, Islamicate, Jewish, and Latin traditions.

The Art of Colour
The Art of Colour

Author: Kelly Grovier

Publisher: Thames & Hudson

Published: 2023-05-10

Total Pages: 260

ISBN-13: 0500778337

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

Did you know that the ultramarine that shimmers at the centre of Vermeers Milkmaid connects that masterpiece with 6th-century Zoroastrian paintings found on the walls of cave temples in Bamiyan, Afghanistan? Or that the surging waves that crest and curl in Hokusais perilous Great Wave off Kanagawa owe their absorbing blue lustre to an alchemist who was born in Frankensteins Castle in 1673? And were the Pre-Raphaelites really obsessed with a murky brown hue derived from the pulverized remains of ancient mummies? (Spoiler: they were.) Invented by prehistoric cave-dwellers and medieval conjurers, cunning conmen and savvy scientists, the colours of art tell a riveting tale all their own. Over ten scintillating chapters, acclaimed author Kelly Grovier helps bring that tale vividly to life, revealing the astonishing backstories of the pigments that define the greatest works in the history of art. Interwoven between these chapters is a series of features focusing on key moments in the evolution of colour theory from the revelations of the Enlightenment to the radicalism of the Bauhaus while reproductions of carefully selected artworks help illuminate the narratives twists and turns. The history of colour is an epic saga of human ingenuity and insatiable desire. Read this book and you will never look at a work of art in quite the same way.

Self Publisher Paperback Publication Guide
Self Publisher Paperback Publication Guide

Author: Azhar ul Haque Sario

Publisher: epubli

Published: 2024-10-02

Total Pages: 180

ISBN-13: 3759885616

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

Unleash your inner author! This guide dives deep into the ten best platforms for self-publishing your paperback masterpiece. We'll uncover the secrets of getting your words out there, from worldwide distribution to pricing sweet spots and top-notch print quality. Whether you're dreaming of conquering global markets or simply want your book in the hands of eager readers, this guide has you covered.

Self Publishing Platforms Explained
Self Publishing Platforms Explained

Author: Azhar ul Haque Sario

Publisher: epubli

Published: 2024-10-02

Total Pages: 293

ISBN-13: 3759885640

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

Alright, let's dive into the world of self-publishing with a fresh perspective. Imagine you're at a cozy coffee shop, chatting with a friend who's just spilled the beans on their secret dream to become an author. You pull out this book, "Self-Publishing Platforms Explained," and their eyes light up like a kid in a candy store. This isn't just another dry how-to manual. It's like having a savvy mentor in your back pocket, ready to guide you through the twists and turns of the publishing jungle. We kick things off by tackling the elephant in the room - copyright. Don't worry, we won't bore you with legalese. Instead, think of it as learning the rules of the game before you start playing. Now, picture yourself standing at a crossroads. Each path leads to a different self-publishing platform, each with its own quirks and perks. We'll walk these paths together, starting with the behemoth that is Amazon KDP. It's like the New York City of publishing - if you can make it there, you can make it anywhere. For the polyglots among us, Babelcube is your ticket to reaching readers in languages you never thought possible. It's like finding a magic wand that turns your words into a universal language. By the time you finish this book, you'll feel like you've just completed a crash course in publishing, taught by your coolest professor. You'll know the ins and outs of formatting, pricing, and marketing your book across multiple platforms. It's like being given a Swiss Army knife for your writing career - versatile, practical, and always handy. Remember, in this brave new world of publishing, you're not just an author - you're a literary entrepreneur. This book is your trusty sidekick, ready to help you conquer the publishing world, one platform at a time. So grab your pen (or keyboard), pour yourself another cup of coffee, and let's turn that manuscript into a published masterpiece. The world is waiting for your story - let's give it to them!

Shakespeare and the Resistance
Shakespeare and the Resistance

Author: Clare Asquith

Publisher: PublicAffairs

Published: 2018-08-21

Total Pages: 253

ISBN-13: 1568588119

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

Shakespeare's largely misunderstood narrative poems contain within them an explosive commentary on the political storms convulsing his country The 1590s were bleak years for England. The queen was old, the succession unclear, and the treasury empty after decades of war. Amid the rising tension, William Shakespeare published a pair of poems dedicated to the young Earl of Southampton: Venus and Adonis in 1593 and The Rape of Lucrece a year later. Although wildly popular during Shakespeare's lifetime, to modern readers both works are almost impenetrable. But in her enthralling new book, the Shakespearean scholar Clare Asquith reveals their hidden contents: two politically charged allegories of Tudor tyranny that justified-and even urged-direct action against an unpopular regime. The poems were Shakespeare's bestselling works in his lifetime, evidence that they spoke clearly to England's wounded populace and disaffected nobility, and especially to their champion, the Earl of Essex. Shakespeare and the Resistance unearths Shakespeare's own analysis of a political and religious crisis which would shortly erupt in armed rebellion on the streets of London. Using the latest historical research, it resurrects the story of a bold bid for freedom of conscience and an end to corruption that was erased from history by the men who suppressed it. This compelling reading situates Shakespeare at the heart of the resistance movement.

Encyclopedia of Mythological Objects
Encyclopedia of Mythological Objects

Author: Theresa Bane

Publisher: McFarland

Published: 2020-05-29

Total Pages: 228

ISBN-13: 1476639205

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

Curious about the chains that bound Fenriswulf in Norse mythology? Or the hut of Baba Yaga, the infamous witch of Russian folklore? Containing more than one thousand detailed entries on the magical and mythical items from the different folklore, legends, and religions the world over, this encyclopedia is the first of its kind. From Abadi, the named stone in Roman mythology to Zul-Hajam, one of the four swords said to belong to the prophet Mohammed, each item is described in as much detail as the original source material provided, including information on its origin, who was its wielder, and the extent of its magical abilities. The text also includes a comprehensive cross-reference system and an extensive bibliography to aid researchers.

A Lapidary of Sacred Stones
A Lapidary of Sacred Stones

Author: Claude Lecouteux

Publisher: Simon and Schuster

Published: 2012-12-04

Total Pages: 251

ISBN-13: 1594775087

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

A comprehensive dictionary of sacred and magical gem lore that draws on the rarest source texts of Antiquity and the Middle Ages • Reveals the healing and magical virtues of familiar gemstones, such as amethyst, emerald, and diamond, as well as the lore surrounding exotic stones such as astrios, a stone celebrated by ancient magicians • Examines bezoars (stones formed in animals’ bodies) and “magnets” that attract materials other than metal • Based on ancient Arabic, Greek, Jewish, and European sources, ranging from the observations of Pliny the Elder to extremely rare texts such as the Picatrix and Damigeron’s Virtue of Stones Our ancestors believed stones were home to sacred beings of power, entities that if properly understood and cultivated could provide people protection from ill fortune, envy, and witchcraft; grant invisibility and other magical powers; improve memory; and heal the sick from a wide variety of diseases. These benefits could be obtained by wearing the stone on a ring, bracelet, or pendant; through massage treatments with the stone; or by reducing the gem into a powder and drinking it mixed with water or wine. Drawing from a wealth of ancient Arabic, Greek, Jewish, and European sources--from the observations of Pliny the Elder to extremely rare texts such as the Picatrix and Damigeron’s Virtue of Stones--Claude Lecouteux provides a synthesis of all known lore for more than 800 stones. He includes such common examples as the emerald, which when engraved with the figure of a harpy holding a lamprey in its claws will banish panic and nightmares, and beryl, which when appropriately carved can summon water spirits or win its owner high renown, as well as more exotic stones such as astrios, a stone celebrated by ancient magicians and whose center glows like a star. Lecouteux also examines bezoars--stones formed in animals’ bodies--as well as “magnets” that attract materials other than iron, such as gold, flesh, cotton, or scorpions. This comprehensive dictionary of sacred and magical gem lore, drawn from the rarest sources of Antiquity and the Middle Ages, represents a one-of-a-kind resource for gem enthusiasts and magical practitioners alike.