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Brandon W. Hawk

@brandonwhawk.bsky.social
3K followers 1.4K following 2.1K posts

Professor of English at Rhode Island College (views my own). I’m a nerd for medieval things, biblical apocrypha, Star Wars, LotR, & Magic (TCG). He/him. “Read some fucking apocrypha.” linktr.ee/brandonwhawk

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Reposted by Brandon W. Hawk
Elizabeth Boyle @thecelticist.bsky.social · 4h
"... the manuscript’s folded sheets may have originally been piled on top of each other as “singulions” ... but were mis-bound in a more typical “nested” arrangement at some point in the mid to late 15th century." Something sensible about the Voynich manuscript?! Mirabile dictu! 😱 #MedievalSky
theguardian.com
A medieval manuscript has confounded scholars for centuries. Have they been reading it wrong all this time?
Researchers argue incorrect binding of Voynich manuscript radically changes ideas about its drawings and indecipherable text
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NASSCAL @nasscal.bsky.social · 2h
Added to e-Clavis: Manuscripta apocryphorum ~ Erlangen, Universitätsbibliothek Erlangen-Nürnberg, H62/MS.B 3 (13 c.), a fragment of Gospel of Nicodemus in Middle High German verse. www.nasscal.com/manuscripta-...
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Arthur Urbano 🌍📷🏛️🛫🇮🇹🤌😷 @arturoviaggia.bsky.social · 20h
And now some of our publishers are scooping up the $$$.
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Asheesh Kapur Siddique @asheeshks.org · 03/10/2026
Higher ed leaders are doing "decline of public trust" discourse in order to avoid talking about all the things they've done to undermine their institutions, including exploiting contingent faculty labor, attacking student protest, and underfunding the humanities
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Brandon W. Hawk @brandonwhawk.bsky.social · 22h
Ahhh, yes, the age-old trick of setting boundaries on data to confirm what the data-wranglers want data to show: a classic move that nobody who's ever paid attention to an introduction to statistical methods class would be able to recognize.
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Matt Gabriele @profgabriele.com · 22h
This is useless data, then
He doesn’t think it should be used for rankings of programs at different schools for multiple reasons, including a number of data limitations. For example, the data set excludes earnings data from workers in several settings, including employees of certain nonprofits, independent contractors, federal employees and more. 

The data set is also limited to workers who remained in Virginia, and does not include those who moved out of state for jobs post-graduation.
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Brandon W. Hawk @brandonwhawk.bsky.social · 23h
Last night I watched Lee Cronin's The Mummy & it freaked me out: horror with kids in danger does more than other types, but the daughter's name being "Katie" & looking like my own "Catie" disturbed me more than I expected going into the movie. So now that's lingering in my head for spooky season.
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TOEBI @toebi.bsky.social · 05/10/2026
📢Happy #medievalmonday, #medievalsky! 📜The #OldEnglish Resource of the Week 📖 Old English Biblical Prose: Translation, Adaptation, Interpretation ✍️ Francis Leneghan 📲 Boydell and Brewer: boydellandbrewer.com/book/old-eng...
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Brandon W. Hawk @brandonwhawk.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
TODAY! This morning I'm still working on incorporating a few more discoveries about this into my presentation. I'm excited to share my work very much in process, bringing together #apocrypha, #EarlyChristianity, #MedievalSky, & #CelticStudies.
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NASSCAL @nasscal.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
Added to e-Clavis: Manuscripta apocryphorum ~ Vatican, Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana, Pal. gr. 1 (10th/11th c.) feat. Hypomnemata by Symeon Metaphrastes (Michael, Cornelius, Thecla, and John). www.nasscal.com/manuscripta-...
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Kenneth F. Duggan 🇨🇦 @kfduggan.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
Medieval Hunting Deaths: A Thread Hunting could be very dangerous (not just for animals) in the Middle Ages. Accidents happened and everyone from kings and earls to lowly peasants could be killed by a stray arrow, a hanging branch or a wild animal defending itself. 🧵7
A man in blue awkwardly holds a bow in front of him. He appears to have misfired the arrow, which is up near his face and facing the wrong way.
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Brandon W. Hawk @brandonwhawk.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
If you ever meet Taylor or someone else worthy of the task, let them know I asked for it.
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Jacqueline Murray @jacquelinemurray.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
Greetings early medievalists. I am wondering if there is an English translation of Gregory of Tours History of the Franks that has superseded Thorpe's Penguin version and is easily/widely available? Many thanks. #medievalsky
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Brandon W. Hawk @brandonwhawk.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
It is *so good*. Not long ago I got it in my head that I wanted to hear a modern cover of the entire album, like by Taylor Swift or someone totally outside of the original genre, to see how it would sound for a newer era.
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Brandon W. Hawk @brandonwhawk.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
Last night my brother went to a Smashing Pumpkins concert for the 30th anniversary of Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness, & I am so jealous. How is the age of such music supposed to make any of us feel?
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NASSCAL @nasscal.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
Added to e-Clavis: Manuscripta apocryphorum ~ Vatican, Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana, Vat. gr. 1636 (dated 1064) feat. Miracle of Michael, Acts Philip, and Epistle of the Presbyters and Deacons of Achaea. www.nasscal.com/manuscripta-...
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Clare Downham @downham.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
Available for pre-order (Hive is the cheapest offer just now £12.49) #medievalsky #booksky #skystorians #history www.penguin.co.uk/books/452352...
penguin.co.uk
The Vikings in Britain and Ireland
The impact of Scandinavian invaders on the peoples of the Britain and Ireland was incalculable. Raiders on a sometimes large scale, they initially attacked coastal and river settlements, but ended up ...
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Brandon W. Hawk @brandonwhawk.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
Today I'm preparing my presentation for this workshop on Friday. Folks interested in #apocrypha, #EarlyChristianity, #MedievalSky, & #CelticStudies: I hope to see you there!
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Dr Irina Manea @shieldofskuld.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
The questions that truly matter. #medievalsky #vikingsky shieldofskuld.substack.com/p/did-the-no...
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Brandon W. Hawk @brandonwhawk.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
So cool: look, #MedievalSky, it’s parchment-making in action!
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Brepols @brepols.net · 30/09/2026
𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗥𝗶𝘀𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗩𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗮𝗰𝘂𝗹𝗮𝗿 𝗪𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗮𝗹𝗮𝗲𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗽𝗵𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗣𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 / 𝗟'𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗱𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗲 𝘀𝗰𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝘃𝗼𝗹𝗴𝗮𝗿𝗶. 𝗟𝗮 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘀𝗽𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗮 𝗽𝗮𝗹𝗲𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗮 Irene Ceccherini, Teresa De Robertis (eds) More Info: bit.ly/4xPzvQV #Palaeography #ManuscriptStudies #Latin #Translation
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David Gould @drdavidgould.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
My book on historic rabbit warrens in England is published on 13th Nov by Liverpool Uni Press and I'm pleased to have received my advance copies. The perfect Xmas gift for any rabbit warren-obsessed nerd, of which there are no doubt many such people. #landscapearchaeology #rabbits #medievalsky
Me in a dapper shirt pointing at the cover of my soon to be published book.
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Biblical Archaeology Review @biblicalarchaeology.org · 30/09/2026
Passing tombs on the way to Jerusalem www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/b…
biblicalarchaeology.org
Piety and Prestige in Late Second Temple Jerusalem
For centuries, travelers and pilgrims entering Jerusalem from the north and east had gazed upon the monumental tombs cut into the cliffs of the Kidron Valley. T
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Brandon W. Hawk @brandonwhawk.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
I love this. I knew I could count on medievalist folks to have examples.
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Brandon W. Hawk @brandonwhawk.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
Hey #MedievalSky, does anyone have something to answer this question from the medieval period? Now I’m personally curious if anyone has ever seen a medieval author writing about having an “earworm” (to use a recent term) like this. (Link to full reddit post below.) www.reddit.com/r/AskHistori...
Screenshot of Reddit question on r/AskHistorians, with the title, “Do we have any historical record of someone describing having a song stuck in their head prior to the advent of audio recording and playback?” (For full text of the post & comments, follow the link in the skeet.)
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Elizabeth Boyle @thecelticist.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
Substack post by Ranke de Vries which not only shows that AI won't be taking over Medieval Irish Studies any time soon (thankfully), but also makes an eloquent case in favour of sitting with the difficulty of manuscript transcription. #MedievalSky rankedevries.substack.com/p/ai-and-med...
rankedevries.substack.com
AI and medieval Irish manuscripts
Just no.
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Brandon W. Hawk @brandonwhawk.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
It’s a collection of Latin preaching texts (more of less) assembled in 10th-century Brittany, with all sorts of Hiberno-Latin & Irish associations.
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Brandon W. Hawk @brandonwhawk.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
Join us for a great time talking about #apocrypha! I’m really looking forward to presenting this project—it’s a fresh work in progress & it’s always fun to cross between medieval & apocrypha studies. #MedievalSky
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Abby @arobertswrites.com · 25/09/2026
Yeah in his analysis of John Cassian for example McGuire finds that John isn't so much concerned with friendships/positive relationships between monks as he is with preventing conflict and argument.
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Brandon W. Hawk @brandonwhawk.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
It seems like every year at this time, my kids bring something to me that lays me out for a few days: that time, dear readers, is this week. I am sick. I do not like being sick.
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NorseMap @norsemap.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
Look at this wonderful image of the Codex Regius manuscript (GKS 2365 4º) as displayed in the Edda building in Reykjavík. It was submitted by contributor DocRife today via the iViking app. Stunning! Full record here: norsemap.eu/s/main/item/... #Manuscripts #iViking #NorseMap #Norse #MedievalSky
norsemap.eu
Codex Regius manuscript displayed at the Edda Building in Reykjavik (Iceland)
Codex Regius of the Poetic Edda as displayed in 2026 at the Edda Building in Reykjavik, Iceland. This is one of the most famous Icelandic manuscripts, and the source of most poems in the Eddic tradit...
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Jon Dell Isola @medievaljon.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
Interesting looking series of articles perhaps relevant to #medievalsky
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Sarah E. Bond @sarahebond.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
αἰαῖ! The latest Pasts Imperfect is out. @sentantiq.bsky.social discusses new work on Homer & a book on the Iliad's gendered voices. Then, Jefferson's children with Sally Hemings, mapping coin circulation in the Roman Empire, new ancient world journals via @yaleclassicslib.bsky.social & more. ἄγετε!
pasts-imperfect.ghost.io
Pasts Imperfect (9.24.26)
This week, noted ailurophile and Homerist Joel Christensen sings to us about new scholarship helping us to make sense of Homer and highlights a new book on lamentation and glory in the Iliad. Then, re...
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Stewart J. Brookes @stewartbrookes.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
Very sad to learn of the passing of Julia Boffey. This sums up my experience: “Generous with her time, gentle in spirit […] not only befriending but inspiring, others with her brilliant scholarship and interesting insights, always kindly and courteously offered” earlybooksociety.org/announcements/
earlybooksociety.org
Early Book Society
for the study of manuscripts and printing history
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Brandon W. Hawk @brandonwhawk.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
Ahhh, once again down a rabbit hole because somebody in the nineteenth century made an unsubstantiated claim & subsequent scholars have picked it up to repeat it for the last ~150 years.
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Brandon W. Hawk @brandonwhawk.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
I’m still collecting answers to this question if others have recommendations. #MedievalSky
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Matt Gabriele @profgabriele.com · 23/09/2026
please to see that my latest academic article is out now: "Ghost in the Machine. Crusade Medievalisms in the 21st-century United States" I take on the ghost of Samuel Huntington and some right-wing tropes in scholarship open access so free to read --> www.degruyterbrill.com/document/doi...
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NASSCAL @nasscal.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
Added to e-Clavis: Manuscripta apocryphorum ~ Oxford, Bodleian Library, Barocci 230 (11 c.) a Metaphrastic menologion for September with texts on Thecla, Michael, John, and Cornelius. www.nasscal.com/manuscripta-...
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Brandon W. Hawk @brandonwhawk.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
These people can't even get their metaphors right: in an argument about Aslan, they appeal to the biblical image of Jesus as Lamb... not the biblical image of him as Lion. Also: wait until they find out about all those religious texts about Jesus as Mother. #MedievalSky
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Orddu, Orwen, or Orgoch @troynovaunt.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
These people haven’t read The Passing of Saint Mary of Egypt and it shows
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Ennius @enniusredloeb.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
Countdown for the launch of Jonah! As a lunch Jonah did not come up to scratch. BnF MS Latin 10426; Biblia sacra (known as the Saint Louis Bible); 13th century (c. 1270); Paris; f.476v @gallicabnf.bsky.social
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Caroline Dodds Pennock @carolinepennock.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
Well, this isn't dystopian AT ALL.
theguardian.com
Meta bans ads for Virginia Woolf play in Spain because they relate to feminism
Theatre told that Facebook and Instagram filter out ads mentioning ‘social topics’ such as civil rights or feminism
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The Magdalen Writing @nebroadwe.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
Hey, #medievalsky, I need help with some extremely abbreviated Latin manuscript used as binder's waste. Does anybody know what this is? It's tentatively identified as a philosophy text but I can't make out enough of it to say yea nor nay. Here's one side of the leaf:
flickr.com
Early parchment ms. bifolium (written in dark ink in double columns frame ruled in ink with pricking visible in remaining margin and 1 tear sewn up) from a Latin philosophy text used as binder's waste
Early parchment ms. bifolium (written in dark ink in double columns frame ruled in ink with pricking visible in remaining margin and 1 tear sewn up) from a Latin philosophy text used as binder's waste...
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Ennius @enniusredloeb.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
21st September is the feast of St Matthew, Apostle and Evangelist. Bodleian Library MS. Auct. D. 2. 16; Gospels; 10th century; France, Brittany, Landevennec; f.28v @bodleian.ox.ac.uk
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Brandon W. Hawk @brandonwhawk.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
Wow, my brain literally autocorrected for you: I just read it & processed the homonym without realizing!
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Brandon W. Hawk @brandonwhawk.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
Oh, yeah, & we can point out that C. S. Lewis himself (& his bestie J. R. R. Tolkien, with whom he shared & discussed his work) was a medievalist & all too well aware of the fluidity of gendering for God across the centuries of Christianity.
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Brandon W. Hawk @brandonwhawk.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
#MedievalSky, surely this is a time to shine for medievalists who can talk about the long tradition of considering God & Jesus in feminine & non-binary terms--not just maleness.
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Brandon W. Hawk @brandonwhawk.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
Great to know!
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NorseMap @norsemap.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
After a hot Norse summer of incredible finds, we are transitioning into hoard autumn 🍁 The beginning of September brought the news of the 18,5kg Rebild hoard, the largest silver hoard ever found in Denmark! [photo credits: Nordjyske Museer] #NorseMap #MedievalSky
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Brandon W. Hawk @brandonwhawk.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
#MedievalSky folks, where are some good places for publishing note-length articles these days? The most obvious are Notes & Queries & Medium Ævum, but what other journals accept shorter pieces on medieval topics?
To feed the algorithm & catch attention: photo of Vatican, Reg. lat. 49, folio 49v (part of the so-called Catechesis Celtica, about which I have something to say)
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