December 22 – Zoomorphic initials
Today, rather than featuring a specific fantastic beast, we are highlighting the gradual. The gradual or graduale was a music book used in liturgy for… Read More »December 22 – Zoomorphic initials
Manuscript Collection
December 20 – Drolleries
Last week we featured a small dragon which comes from our 15th century Rouen Book of Hours (ms38938). This devotional text includes 13 large full-page… Read More »December 20 – Drolleries
December 15 – Blemmye
Though perhaps not strictly a fantastic beast, we had to include the unusual blemmye in this calendar. The blemmye or mythical headless man has been… Read More »December 15 – Blemmye
December 13 – Dragons in manuscripts
From our wonderful manuscripts, we have four depictions of dragons to share with you. A dragon in our 17th-18th century manuscript copy of “The Book… Read More »December 13 – Dragons in manuscripts
December 10 – Griffin
The griffin, griffen or gryphon has the body, legs and tail of a lion and the head and wings of an eagle. As the lion… Read More »December 10 – Griffin
December 6 – Merfolk
Mermaids and mermen are mythological sea creatures, usually with bodies that are half human and half fish. Often sighted by sailors, the mythology of mermaids… Read More »December 6 – Merfolk
D’Arcy Wentworth Thompson and his mathematical friendships
Following on from last year’s project with Alice and Indre, interns from the School of Mathematics, this year we had two more interns working with… Read More »D’Arcy Wentworth Thompson and his mathematical friendships
December 2 – The Unicorn
As the first University in Scotland, we thought it would be fitting to start the St Andrews Library’s Special Collections advent calendar with the most… Read More »December 2 – The Unicorn
‘The teaching of politics at the University of St Andrews, 1600-1650’
In the final report by our 2019 visiting scholars, Karie Schultz reflects on her time at St Andrews. Earlier this summer, I had the opportunity… Read More »‘The teaching of politics at the University of St Andrews, 1600-1650’
Letters from a Jewish patient in the ‘German house’ in Agra in 1930s Switzerland
Ines Neffgen from Bonn spent last year in St Andrews as part of her PhD programme, working with Professor Frank Müller. She asked to volunteer… Read More »Letters from a Jewish patient in the ‘German house’ in Agra in 1930s Switzerland
“There dwells some wish in every heart”: the friendship between James David Forbes and Sir George Biddell Airy
One of our 2019 Visiting Scholars, Daniel Belteki of the University of Kent, shares with us some of his research into James David Forbes and… Read More »“There dwells some wish in every heart”: the friendship between James David Forbes and Sir George Biddell Airy
‘Alhallow Evin’ in Scotland
The appearance of carved pumpkins (or turnips in Scotland), spooky decorations and plentiful sweet treats marks the arrival of Halloween. In the Christian calendar, Halloween,… Read More »‘Alhallow Evin’ in Scotland