Life in the 12th century was short, brutal, and freakin' awesome! Between monster snails and Doctor Who villains, this 100% accurate illuminated manuscript is certainly illuminating.
Monster Snail Attacking Knight
Source: bl.uk
Some quick background. Versions of the above image have been floating around Tumblr for days because it's hilarious. A quick reverse image search led me to the Catalogue of Illuminated Manuscripts.
Searching for "monster snail" pulls up the Latin version of the Decretals of Gregory IX written sometime in the late 13th or early 14 century during the reign of Pope Gregory IX.
So while this manuscript may be a collection of Catholic Church Law, for our intents and purposes it is a time travel tourist field guide.
So! 20 things to do and see while visiting medieval Europe include:
Man Putting Child Into Oven
Do Not Visit Any Pub Or Restaurant Where You Cannot See The Kitchen.
Source: bl.uk
Woman Setting Windmill On Fire
Indulge Your Inner Fire Bug By Igniting Local Windmills And One-Legged Steampunk Musicians.
Source: bl.uk
