Laura Katrine Skinnebach (CVM) presents her research into the automatons that medieval people both imagined and actually constructed. These included statues of Christ that bled, statues of Mary that expressed holy breast milk, and statues of Óðinn that answered riddles. Visitors to churches across medieval Europe would have frequently been confronted with statues which were something between giant marionettes and massive poseable action figures, and which could bleed, weep, gesticulate, and even speak. Laura introduces us to some of these ingenious contraptions of the Middle Ages. We ask where medieval thinkers drew the line between animate and inanimate – and how far ought we to think of these machines as forerunners of robots?
The Chronicles is produced by Kirsi Tilk of Tilk Sonics - kirsitilk.com
Music by Kirsi Tilk
Funded by Aarhus Universitets Forskningsfond
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
The Breakfast Club
The World's Most Dangerous Morning Show, The Breakfast Club, With DJ Envy, Jess Hilarious, And Charlamagne Tha God!