Anglo-Saxon Prognostics: Texts and Studies
I am preparing a monograph-length study and edition of the corpus of Anglo-Saxon prognostics in Latin and Old English, a diverse group of over fifty texts and calendars forecasting the outcome of everyday events such as birth, sickness, dreams, weather and harvest. These texts are found in many manuscripts, but have received surprisingly little scholarly attention; they have never been edited in one volume, and never studied in the context of the monastic culture in which they flourished. A study of the prognostics offers fascinating insights into monastic life, medicine, pastoral care, the transformations of classical learning in the Middle Ages, and the complex interconnections between orthodox religion, popular belief, science and magic.
[Grant products]
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Project fields:
Medieval Studies
Program:
Fellowships for University Teachers
Division:
Research Programs
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Totals:
$40,000 (approved) $40,000 (awarded)
Grant period:
8/1/2007 – 5/31/2008
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