Aristocracy · Faith · Moscow · Mores · Humour

Prince Yusupov served the Moscow Metropolitan goose instead of fish and lost half his property

Abdul Mirza Yusufov, christened Dmitry and granted the title of Prince Yusupov by Feodor Ioannovich, once decided to play a joke on the Metropolitan of Moscow and served him goose on a fast day in the guise of fish. The Metropolitan was deeply offended and petitioned the Tsar to punish

NB! · Archive · Faith · Art · Humour

Drawing from a grammatical compendium of Isidore of Seville, 9th century

Drawing from a grammatical compendium of Isidore of Seville, 9th century. One man stabs another with a knife, holding him by the hands, while they kiss. Do not think of that sort of thing; it is most likely Cain and Abel

Engraving captioned “Clairvoyance and Spirit Impression”: above mountains and two cities, spirit faces appear in the clouds with lines running down to the cities.

NB! · Archive · Faith · Science · Humour

Nineteenth-century diagram of communication between cities via the spirit world

This nineteenth-century diagram shows how cities are connected by way of the upper world of spirits. Let me remind you that the telegraph has already been invented.

NB! · Faith · Art · Observations

The Meeting of Abraham and Melchizedek, Rubens

The Meeting of Abraham and Melchizedek, Rubens. A question for the connoisseurs: what is the fellow in the bottom right corner up to?

NB! · Archive · Faith · Monarchies · Saint Petersburg

Portraits of Nicholas II and Alexandra Feodorovna in Russian-style costume at the ball marking the tercentenary of the House of Romanov, captioned “the royal martyr” and “the royal martyress”

NB! · Architecture · Faith · Moscow

In St Basil's Cathedral there are steps in front of the windows; in fact this is an architects' ruse to increase the insolation of the church interiors: a stepped surface reflects more sunlight

Faith · Monarchies · Humour

In 1414, at the Council of Constance, where the verdict on Jan Hus was pronounced, Sigismund I, Holy Roman Emperor, used the word schisma in the feminine, contrary to the rules of Latin grammar, and when the error was pointed out to him, replied…

In 1414, at the Council of Constance, where the verdict on Jan Hus was pronounced, Sigismund I, Holy Roman Emperor, used the word schisma in the feminine, contrary to the rules of Latin grammar, and when the error was pointed out to him, replied: «Ego sum rex Romānus et supra

NB! · Archive · Faith · Art · Books

One of the earliest images of witches on broomsticks, from the 1451 book "The Flights of Witches" by Martin Le Franc

Faith · Observations · Science · Mores · Society

Britain's switch to the Gregorian calendar in 1752 and the 11 days that disappeared

On 2 September 1752 Great Britain switched from the Julian calendar to the Gregorian, some 170 years after Pope Gregory XIII proposed abandoning the outdated system of reckoning time. And so, in Britain in 1752, 2 September was followed directly by 14 September. Eleven days vanished from the history of

Faith · Art · Observations · Humour

The Magi, called magicians and kings, and the three parts of the medieval world

At different times the Magi were called sorcerers and kings. And they represent, naturally, the three parts of the world known in the Middle Ages: Africa, Asia and Europe. Though, you know, I rather got carried away: Magi are all very well, but how are we to know what they

Illuminated initial of a medieval manuscript: three crowned men lie in one bed under a pink cover, with a golden angel above them.

NB! · Faith · Art · Books · Humour

Three Magi in One Bed in Medieval Christian Book Miniatures

A picture of three kings in one bed is a common sight in medieval Christian books. They are not up to what you thought. These are the Magi (wise men, kings), to whom an angel is bringing glad tidings

NB! · Faith · The East · Books · Observations · Humour

A 45-metre demon from an Urdu-language book about an island where terrifying voices can be heard, where King Solomon shut away the vanquished unclean spirits

A 45-metre demon from an Urdu-language book about an island where terrifying voices can be heard, where King Solomon shut away the vanquished unclean spirits. This demon, apparently, licked its victims to death. I am perfectly willing to believe it and have no wish to meet him