Antony and Cleopatra
Beowulf’s Sword in Young Justice
Young Justice, the animated series about D.C. comic book sidekicks getting their own covert Junior Justice League, had a throw-away Beowulf reference in episode 19, “Secrets.”
In that episode, a villain named “Harm” (who obnoxiously always referred to himself in the 3rd person) steals Beowulf’s sword, which can only be wielded by the pure of heart — and as his heart is pure evil, it counts. Once he has learned the incantation to make the sword work (which is vaguely-Old-English sounding gibberish), he uses it to wreak a bit of havoc.
Beyond that, it isn’t really clear what sword this is supposed to be, since in the Old English poem Beowulf fights Grendel unarmed (heh heh), and in the battle with Grendel’s mother Unferth’s sword Hrunting fails, and the Beowulf has to kill her with a giant sword she happens to have lying around her lair.
One cool potential reference to Grendel, though — the sword is actually sheathed in what looks like a mummified arm. Not exactly canonical to the medieval poem, but cool nonetheless.
The Time Traveller’s Manual to a Medieval Wedding
Game of Thrones continues to promote an interest in medieval history and culture, and “The Time Traveller’s Manual to a Medieval Wedding” over at History Behind Game of Thrones uses the marriage of Charles the Bold and Margaret of York as the example.
Kid Beowulf and the Blood-Bound Oath (Scene 3)
Death of Shadowfax
Blanco, the horse that played Shadowfax in Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings movies, died last week.
Extended Godzilla Trailer
Adam WarRock’s “B.S.F.X.”
Adam WarRock left being an attorney for the nerdcore music scene years ago. Check him out.
Academics and Public Engagement
The Guardian Higher Education Network has an article asking, “Can Engaging with the Public Help Your Career in Academia?“Â In other words, is the stuff done by the academics here in any way helpful to their careers? Their answer is that it depends on how you do it.
Although you probably can help your career by writing for something like Professor Awesome’s University, the truth is that the academic world mostly rewards things that are invisible to the public. So, when you see our contributors to Professor Awesome’s University, remember that they’re not getting rich or famous by bringing all this awesome stuff to you … they’re inviting you to geek out about the coolest parts of their academic disciplines with them.
Viking Poop Found
I decided not to include a “feature image” with this story about medieval barrels found with poop inside, still in “excellent condition.” You’re welcome.
My only hope is that someday future scholars unearth a barrel of my poop and deem it “excellent” as well.
Medieval Magic Tricks
Medievalists.net has some 14th century medieval magic tricks (illusions, not witchcraft) to wow and amaze your friends. It’s from Secretum Philosophorum, not to be confused with the slightly more-popular Harry Potter and the Secretum Philosophorum.