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Marie Jaros

@mariejaros.bsky.social

910 followers 360 following 140 posts

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

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Marie Jaros @mariejaros.bsky.social · Apr 8

A whale of good news! 🐳
Today I signed a contract with the @uniwalespress.bsky.social to write the book "Introduction to the Medieval Whale"!
I am very grateful for the opportunity.
Excited to dive into the depths of medieval whale history. Join the voyage!
🖼️Bodleian Library MS. Ashmole 1511, f. 86v

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Reposted by Marie Jaros

Marie Jaros @mariejaros.bsky.social · Jan 12

The best drawing of an orca I have ever seen!
In 1817 Bernard O'Reilly travelled to Greenland and through the North West Passage. His travelogue (whose authenticity has been questioned) contains this great picture
wiki.app.uib.no/marinelexicon/…)

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Marie Jaros @mariejaros.bsky.social · 27d

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.

Marie Jaros @mariejaros.bsky.social · 27d

Yes, I know these well — and I love them! I've spent hours browsing through the collection.
Thanks!

Marie Jaros @mariejaros.bsky.social · 28d

Me too 😅
Thank you!

Marie Jaros @mariejaros.bsky.social · 28d

I absolutely agree.

Marie Jaros @mariejaros.bsky.social · 28d

I've just read your well-written text. I like what you're pointing out. Thank you very much for sharing!

Marie Jaros @mariejaros.bsky.social · 28d

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...

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Marie Jaros @mariejaros.bsky.social · 28d

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'?

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Marie Jaros @mariejaros.bsky.social · 28d

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

Marie Jaros @mariejaros.bsky.social · 29d

Yes, it does. And it is not the only one... 🙃

Lippische Landesbibliothek, Ms. 70, f. 84r

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Marie Jaros @mariejaros.bsky.social · 29d

This hint is great — thank you very much! This might be one of the (in my case) missing links I was looking for.

Marie Jaros @mariejaros.bsky.social · 29d

It's older, but it's wonderful! Thank you very much for showing me this! 😍

Marie Jaros @mariejaros.bsky.social · 29d

Oh yes, I'd completely forgotten about the whale book! (How was that possible?) You're right, I love browsing through it. Thank you!

Marie Jaros @mariejaros.bsky.social · Sep 9

Dear #MedievalSky & #SkyStorians, could you help, please? I am looking for depictions of orcas from before 1700
I already know:
Olaus Magnus, Sebastian Münster, Pierre Belon, Guillaume Rondelet, Conrad Gessner, as well as the ones on bestiary.ca (s. pic) & the mural in Greifswald
Thanks in advance!

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Marie Jaros @mariejaros.bsky.social · Sep 8

Thank you very much 😊

Marie Jaros @mariejaros.bsky.social · Sep 8

Who could fail to recognise the #whale ( #cetus ) with its characteristic shape and scales?
#melvillemonday #historicalwhale

Jacob van Maerlant, Der naturen bloeme (1300); Berlin, Staatsbibliothek, Ms. germ. f. 52 digital.staatsbibliothek-berlin.de/werkansicht?...