François Antoine slaying the Beast of Gévaudan, 18th century. (Photo: Wikimedia Commons, Public Domain)

Legends about werewolves are ancient. Mentions of men morphing into wolves appear in ancient Near Eastern, Nordic, and Greek literature and myths. The sensational nature of the mythical creature captures a sense of horror and magic that has endured from these ancient mentions to the modern Twilight. But the fearsome werewolves were particularly sensationalized in certain periods. For example, in 18th century France, a mysterious beast known as the Beast of Gévaudan savaged a rural village, killing over one hundred of the locals. This created a media frenzy surrounding just what this creature might be. Perhaps a werewolf?

Between 1764 and 1767, something “like a wolf, yet not a wolf” stalked the French locals, targeting women and children specifically. Described as much larger than an average wolf, it had a long tail like a feline. Its coloring was reportedly brown with a long black stripe and boasted talon-like claws. It stalked its prey and caused brutal damage, even decapitating many victims. While some survived these attacks by fending off the creature, it seemed to recover from wounds and escape efforts to capture it. The frequent attacks were so troubling and shocking that King Louis XV put a reward out for the animal and sent his hunters to try and capture it.

Near Chazes, the king's personal gunbearer shot a massive wolf, believed to be the monster. However, attacks continued for several more years. Across the Atlantic and the English Channel, newspapers worldwide reported on the beast and the deaths it caused. In 1767, the attacks finally concluded when a hunter, Jean Chastel, shot a massive creature. Autopsy records reveal there was still some confusion over whether it was, in fact, a wolf, but human remains were discovered inside the beast's digestion. The townspeople could finally rest easy, but the mystery of the beast has endured.

Today, the creature is often associated with werewolf legends, but many theories exist. Certainly, it may have just been one or more massive wolves, as wolf attacks were not uncommon in early modern Europe. Depictions of the beast are only mildly helpful, as they are likely vastly exaggerated and based on hearsay.

But its brown coloring and the stripe have created suspicion that a hyena or juvenile male lion escaped an aristocrat's menagerie and began terrorizing the neighborhood. Still, further speculation, especially based on the decapitations, has suggested a serial killer. This tragedy for the French village has continued to fascinate for centuries, inspiring a werewolf game similar to Mafia called Les Loups-garous de Thiercelieux (The Werewolves of Millers Hollow).

A French village was terrorized by a creature that has gone down in history as the Beast of Gévaudan.

Villagers attack the beast. (Photo: Wikimedia Commons, Public Domain)

The Wolf of Chazes on display. (Photo: Wikimedia Commons, Public Domain)

This mysterious werewolf-like creature captured the attention of trans-Atlantic audiences.

The London Magazine depicts the beast in 1765. (Photo: Wikimedia Commons, Public Domain)

h/t: [Open Culture, History.com]

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READ: Meet the Mysterious Beast of Gévaudan, France’s 18th-Century “Werewolf”

Photo: Sotheby's

An exciting piece of history in American photography has just found its new home. A daguerreotype of Dolley Madison, wife of James Madison, was recently acquired by the Smithsonian after being sold by Sotheby's. It is believed to be the oldest image of a First Lady of the United States.

The picture from 1846 features Madison, then in her late 70s, wearing a crocheted shawl with her curls peeking out from under her famous turban. Her gaze is piercing, but shows a bit of amusement. “She’s got this little hint of a smile,” Emily Bierman, the global head of the auction house’s photography department, told The New York Times. “You can tell she was a commanding and venerable woman.”

Dolley Madison served as First Lady from 1809 to 1817, and has been credited for creating the role of First Lady as we now know it. By becoming the unofficial hostess of the White House, Madison held events and functions that welcomed politicians with rivaling views, fostering bipartisan cooperation among the nation's leaders. She was also praised for her bravery during the War of 1812, when she helped save a portrait of George Washington after the British set the White House on fire.

The black-and-white photograph of Madison was taken by John Plumbe Jr. at his studio in Washington, D.C., the city Madison called home until her death in 1849. Plumbe, a Welsh-born immigrant, tried to create a daily publication featuring portraits of “interesting public characters.” As a result, he became one of the most famous 19th-century photographers in the U.S. He was also an entrepreneur who established studios in more than a dozen cities.

Sotheby's didn't disclose the identity of the sellers, who found the portrait while going through a relative's estate. It is unclear how or when the family acquired the historic picture, but after noticing the daguerreotype featured Madison, they reached out to the auction house for an estimate. Since daguerreotypes are made directly onto chemically treated plates, they are unique and even more precious objects than regular photographs where negatives are involved.

While the auction house expected the portrait to sell for an estimate of $50,000 to $70,000, in the end it sold for $456,000. The sum was paid by the Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery, meaning the photograph will reside in the museum’s permanent collection.

“The National Portrait Gallery is delighted to have acquired this exceptional work on behalf of the nation,” says Ann Shumard, senior curator of photographs at the museum. “It will now be preserved in perpetuity for the public.”

An 1846 portrait of Dolley Madison, thought to be the oldest image of a First Lady of the United States, was recently acquired by the Smithsonian.

Photo: Sotheby's

The portrait features Madison, then in her late 70s, wearing a crocheted shawl with her curls peeking out from under her famous turban.

Photo: Sotheby's

While Sotheby's expected the portrait to sell for an estimate of $50,000 to $70,000, in the end it sold for $456,000.

Photo: Sotheby's

h/t: [Smithsonian Magazine]

All images via Sotheby's.

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READ: Oldest Known Photo of a First Lady Is Acquired by the Smithsonian for $456K

A Sig Corps pigeon has a message capsule attached to its leg. (Photo: Signal Corps Archive via Wikimedia Commons, Public domain)

World War II saw technological and scientific advancements, like penicillin or the radar, that we still use today. But the war also saw the troops turn to more unorthodox methods for coordination. Among these was the use of pigeons to deliver messages. Many of them were strapped to tiny parachutes and placed in crates that were later dropped behind enemy lines in occupied France. Their work earned them medals after they flew to England carrying messages attached by the resistance.

“Thousands of racing pigeons were used by the Allies in the war and they saved lives and brought very important intelligence back from the French about the Germans,” explained Stewart Wardrope to the Daily Mail in 2013. Wardrope is the general manager of the Royal Pigeon Racing Association.

“The British dreamed up all sorts of ways of getting them to the French Resistance. They strapped them in little parachutes so that they couldn't fly off and dropped them out of the planes over a pre-arranged position.”

It is believed over 250,000 homing pigeons were used during the war.

Issues later arose with this technique, as there were problems with pigeons flying into the wings of faster aircraft, and anyone with a racing pigeon in France was considered a spy. However, these earlier attempts resulted in some interesting memorabilia from World War II: the tiny parachutes that took these birds to the ground.

One such item was found in an old shoebox, along with other D-Day documents, in the home of Mrs. Ellington, a recently deceased woman in England. The little parachute, made out of white cloth, includes a line and a vest for the pigeon—likely made of the same materials as a bra. This device is now on display at the House on the Hill Museum in Standsted Mountfitchet, Essex, as a reminder of the labor these animals performed during the war.

“Homing pigeons served the Army Air Forces very capably and valiantly during World War II. They transmitted countless messages within numerous theaters of operation and, as a result, contributed much to the Allied war effort,” says the National Air and Space Museum. “These message-carrying pigeons served bravely during times of war.”

During World War II, many pigeons were strapped to tiny parachutes and dropped behind enemy lines. Their work earned them medals after they flew to England carrying messages attached by the resistance.

 

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‘The British dreamed up all sorts of ways of getting them to the French Resistance. They strapped them in little parachutes so that they couldn't fly off and dropped them out of the planes over a pre-arranged position.”

 

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One of such items was recently found in an old shoebox, along with other D-Day documents, in England–a reminder of the labor these animals performed during the war.

 

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h/t: [Good News Network]

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Photo: Stephen Kent Johnson

Fifty-five years after the historic Stonewall Rebellion sparked the fight for queer equality, the Stonewall National Monument Visitor Center (SNMVC) has opened its doors. Located at 51 Christopher Street in the same site as the Stonewall Inn, it is the first LGBTQIA+ visitor center in the National Park System, since the site was named a National Monument in 2016.

The visitor center encompasses 2,100 square feet and is dedicated to welcoming visitors from all walks of life. According to a statement released by SNMVC, it will “offer an immersive experience featuring a rich tapestry of LGBTQIA+ history and culture through a variety of engaging programs, including in-person and virtual tours, informative lecture series, captivating exhibitions, a dedicated theater space, and inspiring visual arts displays.”

One such display includes the Wall of Solidarity, which is an interactive wall installed by Google. It features digital screens that demonstrate the lasting impact of the Stonewall Rebellion around the world. Panels called The West Wall give a comprehensive overview of the events that led up to the riots in 1969 and speak to the involvement of the NPS in the fight for LGBTQIA+ equality. The panels were put together by activist Mark Segal, who participated in the Stonewall Rebellion (aka Stonewall Riots or Stonewall Uprising) and is a founding partner of the SNMVC.

Photo: Stephen Kent Johnson

Other exhibitions that employ art, technology, and music all help tell the rich tale of Stonewall's history and its reverberations across generations. Pride Live Co-Founders Diana Rodriguez and Ann Marie Gothard, two queer women of color, spent six years bringing the SNMVC to life as a way to honor and preserve the legacy of Stonewall.

“This experience has been a tremendous opportunity for both of us to give back to a community that has given us so much over the years,” shares Gothard. “It is recognition of the rebels who started this journey 55 years ago. It’s also a symbol of solidarity with LGBTQ+ youth growing up today who will always have a place they can come to and discover what our community is all about.

“So, we offer this gift to all generations of queer people: a home away from home. Today we connect the past and present here at the Stonewall National Monument Visitor Center. And together with all of you, I know we will continue to build a bright and equitable future for our community.”

The star-studded opening on June 28, 2024 featured a performance by Elton John, as well as remarks by President Joe Biden and First Lady Dr. Jill Biden, underscoring the significance of the moment. Now open to the public, free of charge, the center is visitable from Tuesday to Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

A new visitor center has opened in the site of the historic Stonewall Rebellion.

Photo: Courtesy of Getty

The 1969 event was a crucial moment in the fight for LGBTQIA+ rights.

Photo: Courtesy of Mark Segal

Photo: Courtesy of Mark Segal

The center, which is part of the National Park Service, features interactive exhibits about the history of Stonewall and its lasting influence.

Photo: Stephen Kent Johnson

Photo: Stephen Kent Johnson

Photo: Stephen Kent Johnson

Photo: Stephen Kent Johnson

The star-studded opening underscored the significance of the event.

Photo: Courtesy of Getty

Photo: Courtesy of Getty

“We offer this gift to all generations of queer people: a home away from home,” declared co-founder Ann Marie Gothard.

Photo: Stephen Kent Johnson

Photo: Stephen Kent Johnson

Photo: Stephen Kent Johnson

Photo: Stephen Kent Johnson

Stonewall National Monument Visitor Center: Website | Facebook | Instagram

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READ: New LGBTQ+ Visitor Center Honors the History of the Stonewall Rebellion

White Shield – Arikara, 1908 (Photo: Edward S. Curtis via Library of Congress, Public domain)
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In what he perceived as a race against time, due to the American expansion and the intervention of the federal government, photographer and ethnologist Edward S. Curtis spent more than 30 years documenting Native Americans and their traditions.

Curtis referred to Native Americans as a “vanishing race,” and as such, wanted to document the customs and traditions of a wide variety of Native American tribes. To do so, he would need to secure wealthy patrons, allowing him to travel to different Indian territories, including a wide exploration of the American West.

In 1906, with the sponsorship of J.P. Morgan, Curtis undertook the production of what was set to be a series of 20 volumes with 1,500 photographs of Native Americans. Initially, five years was designated for the project, but its ambitious scale pushed Curtis well beyond the deadline. Under the original terms of the sponsorship, Morgan paid out $75,000 over five years in exchange for 25 volumes and 500 original prints. This was enough for Curtis to purchase his initial equipment to make the arduous voyages to each tribe, but money quickly grew scarce.

Curtis was on the move for more than three decades, living among dozens of tribes. During this time, he photographed well-known Native Americans, such as Geronimo, Red Cloud, Medicine Crow, and Chief Joseph. Interested in more than just photography, Curtis wished to capture a full view of Native American culture. While visiting more than 80 tribes, he created 10,000 wax cylinder recordings of Native American language and music, certainly an important component for preserving the tribes' legacy.

Cheyenne Warriors, 1905 (Photo: Edward S. Curtis via Northwestern University, Public domain)

To Curtis' dismay, The North American Indian was not the success he had envisioned—partially due to the onset of WWI, as well as diminishing interest in Native American culture. Less than half of the projected 500 sets were printed and scholars were skeptical of Curtis' observation skills. His images were posed, and he often paid people to perform in staged scenes or dances. While Curtis' imagery is a romanticized view of these indigenous populations, it is still valuable.

While there remains controversy over Curtis' choice to strategically eliminate traces of contemporary life from his later photographs, Laurie Lawlor, author of Shadow Catcher: The Life and Work of Edward S. Curtis, sees it differently. “When judged by the standards of his time, Curtis was far ahead of his contemporaries in sensitivity, tolerance, and openness to Native American cultures and ways of thinking. He sought to observe and understand by going directly into the field.”

Ultimately, he took over 40,000 images of the tribes he visited and documented a wealth of information about tribal culture. This includes folklore, clothing, traditional foods, housing, leisure activities, and ceremonies such as funerals.

It's estimated that today, production of the volumes would cost more than $35 million dollars. Incredibly, we can still view his work today. This is all the more amazing when one considers that Curtis destroyed all of his glass plate negatives. Curtis carried out this brutal act with his daughter after his ex-wife was granted ownership of his photo studio in their divorce.

There are many ways to still see Curtis's work. In 2004, Northwestern University digitized The North American Indian and placed it online. The Library of Congress also has a collection of more than 2,400 silver-gelatin photographic prints, about one-third of which are Curtis's Native American portraits.

If you are someone who loves to have a physical copy in their hands, Taschen published The North American Indian: The Complete Portfolio in 2015.

Born in 1868, photographer Edward S. Curtis spent over 30 years documenting Native American culture.

Self-portrait, 1899. (Photo: Edward S. Curtis via Wikimedia Commons, Public domain)

He visited over 80 tribes and took over 40,000 images to create his 20-volume opus, The North American Indian.

Navajo child, 1904 (Photo: Edward S. Curtis via Library of Congress, Public domain)

Óla – Noatak, 1928 (Photo: Edward S. Curtis via Library of Congress, Public domain)

Chief Garfield – Jicarilla, 1904 (Photo: Edward S. Curtis via Northwestern University, Public domain)

While his photographs are often staged and show his romanticized view of Native Americans, they are still historically valuable.

Maricopa women gathering fruit from Saguaro cacti, 1907 (Photo: Edward S. Curtis via Library of Congress, Public domain)

Apache man, 1903 (Photo: Edward S. Curtis via Library of Congress, Public domain)

His work ranges from portraits to photos of daily life, housing, and ceremonies.

A Smoky Day at the Sugar Bowl – Hupa, 1923 (Photo: Edward S. Curtis via Northwestern University, Public domain)

Qahátīka Girl, 1907 (Photo: Edward S. Curtis via Northwestern University, Public domain)

Blackfoot Finery, 1926 (Photo: Edward S. Curtis via Northwestern University, Public domain)

Today, his work has been digitized by Northwestern University and the Library of Congress.

Pakílawa – Walapai Chief, 1907 (Photo: Edward S. Curtis via Northwestern University, Public domain)

Yanktonai River Camp, 1908 (Photo: Edward S. Curtis via Northwestern University, Public domain)

This article has been edited and updated.

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About the writer's marriage in 1724. (Photo: James Beck/National Trust)

London is a historic city full of relics of the past. But modern minds may find it difficult to feel transported to the bustling wharfs full of merchants and sailors, the Inns of Court with wigged lawyers boasting ink-stained fingers, or the enormous parks through which the noble and plebeian alike would parade in nice weather. In the early 18th century, London was already a rapidly growing city of about 680,000 people.

Young people arrived from the countryside to make their fortune and pursue their pleasure. Among these youthful arrivals was Ben Browne, who grew up in Westmorland and, like many modern 20-somethings, moved to the big city for work. Starting his training as a law clerk, Browne wrote a series of letters home to his father, which are a treasure trove of information on life in London and the enduring emotions of youth.

Of the letters, 65 survived and were bound in the 19th century by a descendant of the family. Book conservator Ann-Marie Miller recently rebound them to preserve the words for centuries to come. Through the process, “I feel as if I have also got to know young Ben, with his solicitous turn of phrase and the flourish of his handwriting,” she shares. Now, anyone can read these recollections online.

Browne was 27 years old when he arrived in London from his hometown of Troutbeck in 1719. He made the 300-mile journey on horseback, making his way to the city to start his career. The young Browne would stay in London for 16 years.

A prominent theme throughout the letters is his requests for additional funds from his parents to support a London lifestyle. Rent, wigs, hose, and more were necessary to be remotely stylish. Once, his father even sent a wig from home.

Ben defends his spending, writing he “humbly hope you will not take it amiss that the money you sent me is all gone nor think me Extravagant for I pay 8d of wood and sometimes more for washing which goes cost a deal of money tho’ I am sparing as I can in all things…” Despite this “sparing” approach, the young man certainly enjoyed eating and drinking with friends, as well as collecting books. The latter hobby was discovered by assessing the inscriptions and purchase dates of the family collection, and Ben's father may never have known.

Other times, the son asked about acquaintances in common, passing news back and forth. In one letter, he hit his parents with a big announcement: his marriage in 1724. Mary Branch worked for Browne's employer, a lawyer to whom he was apprenticed as a clerk. This work could entail long, even 12-hour days of document copying, but clearly, Browne found time for romance. He asked his father, to “compleat mine and my wife’s happiness these come to beg of you to write to me or [master] expressing the gratefull sense I have of all his kindness and tender regard he has allways had for me…”

These letters are as much a testament to a life lived in 18th-century London as they are to the enduring relationship between young people and their parents—rebellion, dependence, and love.

The letters, along with other items in the Browne family archive, are now on display at the family's former home, Townend, in England's Lake District. The home, which is now run by the National Trust, will exhibit this material until November 1, 2024.

This 18th-century letter collection gives insight into the highs and lows of life as a 20-something in bustling London.

Long work days in 1719. (Photo: James Beck/National Trust)

h/t: [Smithsonian Magazine]

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READ: Fascinating 18th-Century Letters Detail Life as a Twenty-Something Living in London

Excerpt from “Tabulae primi mobilis” by Giovanni Bianchini. (Photo: Biblioteca Medicea Laurenziana, Florence via Historia Mathematica)

For centuries, the earliest known use of the decimal point appeared in 1593, when the German mathematician Christopher Clavius wrote it in an astronomy book. Since then, it has radically changed the course of mathematics. However, it was recently discovered that the first documented use of the decimal point was not in 1593 but over 100 years before in Renaissance Italy.

When the Venetian merchant Giovanni Bianchini wrote Tabulae primi mobilis in the 1440s, he used the decimal point to calculate the coordinates of the planets. By doing this, Bianchini invented the system of decimals, which would, in turn, make scientific calculations far more accurate. Years later, Clavius would borrow Bianchini's decimal point, leading to confusion about the true origins of the mathematical symbol.

In a recent NPR episode, Glen Van Brummelen, a historian of mathematics, recounted how he discovered Bianchini's invention. In the episode, Brummelen said, “I was working on the manuscript of this astronomer, Giovanni Bianchini. I saw the dots inside of a table—in a numerical table.”

“And when he explained his calculations, it became clear that what he was doing was exactly the same thing as we do with the decimal point. And I'm afraid I got rather excited at that point. I grabbed my computer, ran up and down the dorm hallway looking for colleagues who still hadn't gone to bed, saying, this person's working with the decimal point in the 1440s. I think they probably thought I was crazy.”

You can listen to the rest of the episode here.

A mathematical historian recently discovered that the decimal point is about 150 years older than we thought. It was first used in a text by Venetian merchant Giovanni Bianchini in the 1440s.

Excerpt from “Tabulae primi mobilis” by Giovanni Bianchini. (Photo: Biblioteca Medicea Laurenziana, Florence via Historia Mathematica)

h/t: [Open Culture]

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READ: The Decimal Point Is a Lot Older Than We Thought

 

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When looking up the history of fashion, it's almost irresistible to browse through that various styles of garments made for women over the years. Tracing the history of female fashion is a colorful adventure filled with diverse silhouettes. Unbeknownst to many, male fashion history can be just as compelling. And no one has made a better case for this than multi-hyphenate model-stylist-photographer Wisdom Kaye. The stylish young man has compiled an insightful “High Fashion Time Travel” video, going back thousands of years—and even daring to peek into the future—to show the evolution of male outfits.

Kaye begins his fashion voyage in a place rarely regarded for the clothes of the time—the year 10,000 BCE, or the Paleolithic era. But rather than commissioning a bespoke outfit or turning to a museum archive, the model recreates the furs and capes of the era with garments designed and sold by contemporary luxury retailers. In fact, he does so for every decade, century, and millennia he showcases.

After 10,000 BCE, Kaye's fashion timeline skips forward to the age of empires and ostentatious robes before showing us suits from the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries, like the ones depicted in museum portraits and historical documents. After the turn of the 20th century, Kaye relishes in slowing down and savoring the intricacies of each decade's fashion, even showing how outfits evolved every few years. It's as if he's challenging the notion of 70s or 90s fashion and conveying how intricate and mutating they were.

Towards the end of his voguish video, he presents how outfits have changed before our eyes over the last couple of decades. His fashion expertise captures the evolution in broad strokes—something that's hard to notice happening, when you're in the middle of it all or if you're not a fashion connoisseur. As the cherry on top, he takes a few seconds to predict the fashion of the years 3000 and 3333—the latter much more experimental than the former. With a little luck, just like he nailed each look from the past, he will ace his vision of the future.

To stay up to date with his daily fashion and creative styling, you can follow Kaye on Instagram and TikTok, where he often experiments with looks inspired by followers' requests.

Wisdom Kaye is an extremely stylish model who shares his fashionable everyday looks.

 

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He has made a name for himself as a man who expresses himself and his passions through fashion.

 

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Kaye also shows how to translate pop culture favorites into wearable fashion.

 

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@wisdm8 Replying to @west ♬ original sound – Wisdom Kaye

@wisdm8 Replying to @user9381720148560 ♬ original sound – Wisdom Kaye

His knowledge of fashion history is apparent in the way he styles himself.

@wisdm8When y’all thought i was 30 when i was 19♬ original sound – Wisdom Kaye

 

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Given his expertise in style, he can even make skinny jeans look cool.

 

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In one of his most impressive compilations, Kaye time travels through history, showing how men's fashion has evolved over the centuries and even millennia.

@wisdm8 Replying to @Richmond okeke ♬ original sound – Wisdom Kaye

Wisdom Kaye: Instagram | TikTok | YouTube

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READ: Stylish Guy Shows How Male Fashion Has Evolved Over the Last 12,000 Years

(Photo: Richard Mortel via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0)

Tibet's Sakya Monastery is home to many wonders. Founded in 1073, its collection includes some of the oldest Tibetan artwork, as well as 84,000 ancient manuscripts and books. Given its remote location, the contents of this library may seem out of reach for international scholars. Luckily, in an attempt to preserve these ancient documents, the Sakya Monastery Library began digitizing its assets in 2011 and is well underway in its mission.

Most of the library's collection is made up of Buddhist scriptures. This relates back to the monastery being the most important seat of the Sakya school of Tibetan Buddhism. However, the library also contains pieces of literature, as well as works on history, philosophy, astronomy, mathematics, agriculture, and art. Among its most compelling assets are volumes of palm-leaf manuscripts, which have survived the passage of time thanks to the arid climate of the region, and the heaviest scripture in the world, which weighs 1,100 pounds.

“Following the advice of His Holiness, the 41st Sakya Trizin, the Ven. Khenchen Appey Rinpoche (1927-2010) stressed the importance of collecting, digitizing and publishing important texts to ensure an authentic and complete transmission of the Dharma to future generations,” writes the team. “Recovering and publishing many volumes of important scriptures from the Sakya tradition, Rinpoche has made an immeasurable contribution to the Dharma in general and to the Sakya tradition in particular.”

Given the sheer size of the endeavor, it wasn't until 2022 that all books were indexed. So far, only 20% have been fully digitized and are available in the original Tibetan. Following the mission to preserve these texts for future generations, the works are available under a Creative Commons license for educational and scholarly purposes.

These priceless resources can be browsed on the Sakya Digital Library website.

Tibet's Sakya Monastery Library is home to 84,000 ancient manuscripts and books.

(Photo: Richard Mortel via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0)

In an attempt to preserve these ancient documents, the Sakya Monastery Library began to digitize its assets in 2011, making the work accessible to international scholars.

(Photo: Richard Mortel via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0)

Given the sheer size of the endeavor, it wasn't until 2022 that all books were indexed. So far, only 20% have been fully digitized and are available in the original Tibetan.

(Photo: Richard Mortel via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0)

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READ: Ancient Library in Tibet Creating Digital Archive of Its 84,000 Scriptures

@erik_kwakkel Speaking of cats, this is definitely the mark of one angry feline in the State Archives of Dubrovnik. pic.twitter.com/v1GpVTJR

— Emir O. Filipovic (@EmirOFilipovic) September 27, 2012

Today, cats are the kings and queens of the internet. Their popularity amongst humans is nothing new though. Felines have accompanied humankind for centuries for a variety of reasons. Medieval monks often kept cats in their monasteries because their kitty companions protected their food stores from rodents. Cats were also employed to limit the rodent population, as mice and rats were known to nibble on manuscript pages, ruining them. But occasionally, cats also caused damage to these precious manuscripts by walking over them when the ink was still drying. They'd even urinate on the now-antiquated tomes, proving that cats have been a menace for centuries.

Finding firsthand sources that prove how meddlesome and carefree cats have always been may be rare, but they do exist. One prime example comes from 1420 that details its cat-astrophic ruination. The manuscript—currently stored in The Historisches Archiv in Cologne, Germany—is truly illuminating, though probably not in the way the monk intended it to be. Two pages have been left noticeably unfinished, with a drawn picture of a cat and accusatory fingers pointing at scribbled handwriting on the right page.

The scribe's notes, when translated into English, read: “Here is nothing missing, but a cat urinated on this during a certain night. Cursed be the pesty cat that urinated over this book during the night in Deventer and because of it many others [other cats] too. And beware well not to leave open books at night where cats can come.” It's good to know that 600 years later, cats haven't really changed, as any cat owner could attest.

You can find more information on the relationship between monks and their cats on Medieval Fragments.

h/t: [Open Culture]

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READ: 15th-Century Manuscript Covered in Medieval Cat’s Paw Prints and Urine