Wrestling (medieval)

Wrestling is a martial art which makes use of various techniques to prevent its purpose: to annul the opponent.

Por luta entende-se a arte marcial com técnicas diversas para evitar a sua finalidade: anular o adversário.

Anonymous (13th)-'a decorated initial with two wrestling men'-miniature    London-British Library (Ms Arundel 157, fol. 95v)

Anonymous (15th)-'the wrestling of Hercules and Achelous'-miniature    London-British Library (Ms Ovidd's Metamorphoses Ms Royal 17 E IV, fol. 136r)

Anonymous (13th)-'wrestlers'-miniature    London-British Library (Aristotle; libri Naturale Ms Harley 3487, fol. 34r)

Anonymous (13th)-'boy and girl wrestling'-miniature    Oxford-Bodleian Library (Ms Ouseley Add. 1, fol. 6a)

Anonymous (13th)-'Entellus and Dares wrestling'-miniature    London-British Library (Ms King's 24, fol. 88)

Medieval and renaissance pharmacy

Until the industrialization of medicine, pharmacies were the places where pharmacists dispensed medical prescriptions.

Até à industrialização dos medicamentos as farmácias eram os locais onde os farmacêuticos executavam o receituário médico.

Anonymous (14th century)-'an apothecary's shop'-miniature on vellum-(1300-1310)    London-British Library ms Sloane 1977, fol 49v (Mattheus Platearius; Tractatus de herbis)

Emili Casals i Camps (1843-1928)-'medical practitioner taking a lady's pulse in a pharmacy'-ca 1882

Anonymous (15-16th century)-'an apothecary's shop'-fresco    Issogne (Italy)-Castello

Anonymous (14th century)-'the bazaar at kûfa'-miniature    Paris-BNF ms Supp Turc 978, fol 41 (Mahzan al-Asrâr)

Anonymous (15th century)-'an apothecary's pharmacy'-miniature    Paris-BNF ms Fr 218, fol 111

Anonymous (15th century)-'theriac'-miniature    Paris-BNF ms lat 9333, fol51v (Tacuinum sanitatis)

Medieval food

There are several copies of the manuscript Tacuinum Sanitatis. It displays various illuminations dedicated to food. They depict the technology in use at the time.

No manuscrito Tacuinum Sanitatis, de que se conhecem vários exemplares, encontram‑se diversas iluminuras dedicadas à alimentação. Nelas se mostra a tecnologia da época.

Anonymous (14th century)-'hunting'-miniature    Paris-BNF NAL ms. 1673, fol.  91v (Tacuinum Sanitatis)

Anonymous (14th century)-'making unleavened bread'-miniature    Paris-BNF NAL ms. 1673, fol. 55  (Tacuinum Sanitatis)

Anonymous (14th century)-'making millet bread'-miniature    Paris-BNF NAL ms. 1673, fol. 56 (Tacuinum Sanitatis)

Anonymous (14th century)-'dispute between drunks'-miniature    Paris-BNF NAL ms. 1673, fol. 88v (Tacuinum Sanitatis)

Anonymous (14th century)-'collecting truffles'-miniature    Paris-BNF NAL ms. 1673, fol. 39v (Tacuinum Sanitatis)

Medieval art (Arte medieval)

Medieval religious or profane works of art, both sculptures as illuminations, are artistically very valuable. There are a lot of books with exquisite illuminations, which enable us to assess the kind of life led by urban and rural societies.


Existe grande riqueza artística nas obras medievais de carácter religioso ou profano tanto a nível de escultura como de iluminuras. Conhecem-se imensos livros com belíssimas iluminuras, pelas quais se pode avaliar o tipo de vida das sociedades urbana e rural.

Unknown (14th century)-'courtly scenes'-mirror case-ivory relief Paris-Musée du Louvre (Department des Arts Decoratives- MMR 197)

Unknown-'the presiding consul Areobindus games'-leaf of a diptych-ivory relief-Constantinople-506 AD Paris-Musée National du Moyen Âge (Cluny)

Unknown (7th century)-'votive crown of Visigoth king Reccesuinth'-gold and precious stones Madrid-Museo Nacional de Arqueologia (Treasure of Guarrazar)

Unknown (12th century)-'dragon slayer'-miniature Dijon-Bibliothèque Municipale (ms St Gregory's Moralia in Job)

Master de l'Échenivage (15th century)-'reconstitution of the Temple of Jerusalem'-miniature Paris-Bibliothèque National de France (ms Fr 2629, folio 17-William of Tyre; Histoire d'Outremer

Medieval Banquet (Banquetes medievais)

Characterized by exquisite diners’ garments, the presence of roasted meat cut with a knife and eaten by hand, wine, usually drunk in bowls, and bread. Sometimes there were music performances.


Caracterizavam-se por vestuário requintado dos comensais, presença de carnes assadas cortadas com faca e comidas à mão, vinho geralmente bebido por malgas, pão. Realizavam-se com ou sem acompanhamento musical.

English unknown weaver-'banquet of the William I the Conqueror'-tapestry (wool embroidered on a linen background)-ca 1080 Bayeux-Musée de la Tapisserie de la Reine Mathilde

Limbourg Brothers (Herman, Jean or Jannequin, Paul or Pol)-'January'-miniature-(1412-1416) Chantilly-Musée Condé (Les très riches heures du Duc de Berry, folio 2r)

Unknown-'State banquet'-woodcut Virgil; Georgics, Peacock, Lyon (1517)

Leonhard Beck after Hans Burgkmair drawing (ca 1480-1542)-'splendid banquet'-woodcut-(1509-1510) in The life and reign of Emperor Maximilian I

Albrecht Altdorfer (ca 1480-1538)-'banquet'-drawing