Meelis Friedenthal

Keynote lecture by Meelis Friedenthal @friedenthal.bsky.social at the University of Helsinki this morning

DNA reveals stone age teenager as chewer of 10,500-year-old ‘gum’ The prehistoric birch tar found in Estonia contained traces of saliva that were analysed by genetics experts

"Tartu University is analysing other historic artefacts ... including an 800-year-old cross depicting genitalia that makes a sound when worn.
The metal cross has a hinged piece in the shape of a vulva that covers and knocks against an engraved penis design when moved around." #MedievalSky

Into what languages? The quality of translation is very different - also depends on the available hardware.

Heute hatte ich Gelegenheit auf einen Text von vier russischen Historikern (based in USA) zu antworten, der letzte Woche in der FAZ erschienen ist. Der Text der vier war eine zutiefst persönliche Attacke auf mich, weil ich es gewagt hatte, Teile (!) der Imperiumsforschung zu 🇷🇺 zu kritisieren.
1/8

Le api – Meelis Friedenthal Premio dell’Unione Europea per la Letteratura nel 2013, “Le api” (”Mesilased”) è uno dei pochissimi titoli estoni approdati in Italia grazie all’impegno della casa editrice Iperborea e del tradutto…

My novel "The Bees" was published some time ago, but it is a real joy to see it still finds new readers. I'm grateful for this thoughtful and in-depth review from Italy.

laughinglyphes.wordpress.com/2025/06/21/l...

Are these reformers? The chaps bear some resemblance to the reformers side on this picture.

Kurmo Konsa ja Meelis Friedenthali „Alkeemia ajaloost” täidab eestikeelses mõtte-, teadus- ja tehnikaloos olulise lünga, kirjutab Raul Veede: keeljakirjandus.ee/ee/archives/...

*Confused historians of early modern medicine wake up to find themselves experts on current affairs*

A photo of the printing event in Mainz (from April 26-27th, 2025) showing a moment of the printing process: two men are lifting the paper from the woodblock. Copyrights from Markus Kohz.

A photo of the printing event in Mainz (from April 26-27th, 2025) showing the giant woodblick, and the giant printed paper open air. Copyrights from Markus Kohz.

Just in case if you missed this printing event in #Mainz: they publically printed a giant page of the Gutenberg bible in the format 5 x 7,20 meter. #bookhistory #skystorians

Not meant as an advertisment, but indeed we have "Ugandi resto".

Happy birthday to Vilnius University, which is 446 years old today

"Philosophi definiunt vocem esse aerem tenuissimum ictum vel suum sensibile aurium, id est quod proprie auribus accidit."

St. Gallen, Stiftsbibliothek, Cod. Sang. 904; Prisciani grammatica; 851 CE; Ireland (Bangor?, Nendrum?); p.3
(www.e-codices.ch/en/list/one/...)

My haul from that Finnish book sale

Okay, this is my newest very very favorite meme.

Olivi, Wycliffe, Hus, Luther, Occam? Pre-Cold War university resistance exists.

Looked at another way, the Baltic is a Mediterranean of the north - with Sweden as North Africa, Finland as Iberia, Estonia as Italy, Latvia as the Balkans, Lithuania as Greece and Poland as Turkey. Gotland is Crete…

My grandmother had several books at home that were censored with black ink, because there was a risk that Soviet officials might come to inspect and find "anti-Soviet" passages or pictures. People censored these parts themselves just in case - usually nothing happened, but the fear was quite real.

Sewing pattern for part of a shirt. It is clearly made from a dark brown manuscript page with small lettering written in two columns.

This is a sewing pattern. It is also a page from a late 14th century manuscript that is one of two primary sources for an important Icelandic saga (Sturlunga saga), but that was probably not important to the 17th century person who really needed a sewing pattern.
#upcycling

Boy sleeping on a grave

Boy sleeping on a grave https://www.wikiart.org/en/caspar-david-friedrich/boy-sleeping-on-a-grave

Early example, c1550s, of Sebastian Munster's Sea Monsters showing perils of the sea with fantastic sea beasties eating humans, attacking ships etc; hand coloured (later) ... lovely #seafever image ... maphouse.co.uk/antique-prin... 🦞🦈🦐🐳🪼🐟🏊

Same in Estonia.