For medieval people, the apocalypse was not some distant prophecy—it was an imminent reality shaping their lives.
In Medieval Apocalypse, historian Dr. Eleanor Janega embarks on a journey through England and France to uncover how our ancestors understood the end of days. From the terrifying visions of the Book of Revelation to the vivid warnings carved into church walls, the apocalypse was woven into their art, literature, and daily existence.
Dr Eleanor Janega investigates the apocalyptic messages stamped into great cathedrals, beautifully illuminated in manuscripts and woven into great tapestries. Through these works, the medieval world wrestled with the ultimate questions: who would be saved, and who would be damned?
Dr. Janega explores a world where faith and fear collided, and where the apocalypse wasn’t just a story—it was a certainty.
If you enjoyed the Mystery Play, you can see one with your own eyes…On Saturday 26 April 2025, a cycle of medieval mystery plays will be performed by various troupes around St Edmund Hall’s grounds: https://www.seh.ox.ac.uk/mystery-cycle
For even more Apocalypse, on 8th April, Dr. Eleanor Janega and Prof. James Palmer uncover and celebrate every clawed and winged monster that foretold the end of the medieval world in History Hit's podcast Gone Medieval https://lnkfi.re/rzjPMB
Up Next in Stories from the Road
-
Versailles: Palace of Science
Versailles, the magnificent royal palace near Paris, home to a grandiose monarchy that was swept away in the Revolution. But there was another side to Versailles - this was also a Palace of Science.
In this special film, Dr. Maddy Pelling visits the Science Museum in London to explore a remarkab...
-
In Search of the Great Viking Army
In 865 AD, England was invaded by the Great Heathen Army. The Great Viking Army, as it was also known, was made up of a coalition of Scandinavian warriors mainly from Denmark and, legend has it, four of the five sons of Ragnar Lothbrok, including Halfdan Ragnarsson, Ivar the Boneless, Bjorn Irone...
-
Mayflower 400: Beyond the Journey
On 16 September 1620, 400 years ago, a merchant ship called the Mayflower departed from Plymouth, England, on a voyage to America. Its passengers sought a new life, for some this meant religious freedom and for some a fresh start in a new land. They would go on to be known as Pilgrims, and influe...
21 Comments