THE CHRONICLE

Step into the library…

For this blog, we’ve captured the feeling of stepping into a beautiful, tranquil library, looking out onto the rolling English countryside as you browse through our posts.

We’ve created a labyrinthine collection for everyone, whether you are an interested adult learner, dreaming of donning a velvet smoking jacket and immersing yourself in a fireside expedition through canonical scholarship or a budding researcher, eager to equip yourself for exciting fieldwork. For university and A level students, your studies should not be just a matter of cramming knowledge into your head: here, you can relax, immerse yourself in your specialism and enjoy it!

Browse blog categories below, or scroll down to see our latest posts.

Classics

Religious Studies

Anthropology

History and Art History

People and Wildlife in South Asia

All Posts

Beautiful Bodies and Divine Geometry: An Introduction to High Renaissance Art and Architecture

In our last post, we saw that Renaissance art aimed at more human-orientated depictions of reality and human emotions using techniques to create volume and spatial depth, such as linear perspective, foreshortening, and chiaroscuro. In the High Renaissance, these trends continued, but there was an extra emphasis on compositional geometry and the perfection of the human form. Find out more in this post and meet some of the biggest stars of the High Renaissance—Leonardo, Michel

2 days ago

Reviving Antiquity: An Introduction to Early Renaissance Art and Architecture

Explore the brilliant new techniques of early Renaissance painting, the rise of Florence as a cultural centre and the powerful Medici family in this introduction to the early Renaissance! Part two in our Introduction to Art series. Fra Angelico’s Annunciation (c. 1443) In our last post , we introduced the art and architecture of medieval Europe . We saw that medieval art of the Byzantine style favoured devotional, Christian subjects, lavish use of gold and flattened, elongate

Apr 6

Illumination in the Dark Age: An Introduction to Medieval Art and Architecture

From the Byzantine churches of Constantinople and Greece to the thirteenth century Gothic Cathedrals, the medieval period has a lot to offer! Delve into the frescoes and mosaics, illuminated manuscripts, tapestries and golden chalices of the dark ages in this quick introduction to Europe’s medieval art and architecture. Part one in our Introduction to Art series. Folio from the eighth century Lindisfarne Gospels Introducing the Medieval Period The Medieval Period is usual

Mar 30

The Secret History of Paris

Paris is so full of history, art, high fashion and intellectual life that it can feel overwhelming to try to get to know it. Most of the “secrets” in this blog post are actually quite well-known—but they’re things that many people feel they should know about but don’t know where to start. Dr. Orton explains that the secret to getting to know Paris is to take cue from its history… Paris has always been a symbol of culture and sophistication, and many people feel that to be r

Mar 23

The Yew Tree: Durability, Divination and Death

Many of our native trees have a special association with Anglo-Saxon paganism. In this week’s post, Dr. Orton investigates the yew tree. Part of our Trees and Anglo-Saxon Paganism series , in which we explore the links between our native British trees and Anglo-Saxon paganism!* This series is more academically dense than some of our other posts. For a quicker, more accessible read, take a look at our posts about our baby tawny owls , polecats or animals that live in ou

Mar 16

The Rowan Tree: A Symbol of Protection

Many of our native trees have a special association with Anglo-Saxon paganism. In this week’s post, Dr. Orton investigates the rowan tree. Part of our Trees and Anglo-Saxon Paganism series , in which we explore the links between our native British trees and Anglo-Saxon paganism!* This series is more academically dense than some of our other posts. For a quicker, more accessible read, take a look at our posts about our baby tawny owls , polecats or animals that live in

Mar 9

The Birch Tree: A Symbol of Femininity and Fertility

Many of our native trees have a special association with Anglo-Saxon paganism. In this week’s post, Dr. Orton investigates the birch tree. Part of our Trees and Anglo-Saxon Paganism series , in which we explore the links between our native British trees and Anglo-Saxon paganism!* This series is more academically dense than some of our other posts. For a quicker, more accessible read, take a look at our posts about our baby tawny owls , polecats or animals that live i

Mar 2

Dreaming Spires and Limestone Mandala: Oxford’s Secret History

Dr. Orton spent a year studying for her Masters’ degree in the historic city of Oxford. Here, she lets us into the secrets of Oxford slang, its literary history and world-class university and the city’s best drinking-spots. Magdalen College My time as a student at Oxford University flew by quickly. I was researching Himalayan religions, studying Tibetan and doing fieldwork in the Indian Himalayas all over the course of one academic year, so there was a lot to cram in. I di

Feb 23

The Oak Tree and the God of Thunder

Many of our native trees have a special association with Anglo-Saxon paganism. Last week, we looked at the ash tree and its link to Woden and the runes . In this week’s post, Dr. Orton investigates the oak tree and its possible links to the god of thunder! Part three of our Trees and Anglo-Saxon Paganism series, in which we explore the links between our native British trees and Anglo-Saxon paganism!* This series is more academically dense than some of our other posts. For

Jan 19

The Ash Tree: England’s Link to the Ancient Runes

We’ve planted our own native woodland and named it Woden’s Wood, after the Anglo-Saxon god Woden , Allfather of the English people ! Many of our native trees have a special association with Anglo-Saxon paganism. In this week’s post, Dr. Orton investigates the ash tree, England’s link to the ancient runes! Part of our Trees and Anglo-Saxon Paganism series, in which we explore the links between our native British trees and Anglo-Saxon paganism!* This series is more acade

Jan 14

Native British Trees and Anglo-Saxon Paganism

Introducing our new series, in which we explore the links between our native British trees and Anglo-Saxon paganism!* This post serves as a caveat for the historical claims in the following posts, as well as the use of certain terminology, before we get to the investigation of different trees in the main series! This series is more academically dense than some of our other posts. For a quicker, more accessible read, take a look at our posts about our native woodland or anima

Jan 8

The Pagan Festival of Yule

In our last post, we dived into the debate about the pagan origins of Christmas . But it’s also illuminating—and fairer to both Christians and pagans—to think about the festivals separately, so this week, we are taking a look at the pagan festival of Yule! For Northern European pagans, the season of Yule was a time for feasting and merrymaking, vows, ghosts and witches. The power of the spirits was at its height on Yule’s eve. Not only was it a season of darkness in the wi

Dec 15, 2025

Is Christmas Pagan?

In our last post, we looked at how the Christmas story has inspired philosophers, artists, dramatists and theologians throughout the ages. It seems like every year, there are debates about the origin of the Christmas festival in Europe—most notably whether the early Christians appropriated a pagan festival for their own religion. But things are not so straightforward, as Dr. Orton discovers! A Level students will find this a useful summary of some of the background topics

Dec 8, 2025

The Christmas Story: The Annunciation and Nativity

The Christmas story is one of the most important and influential narratives in world history. It has inspired philosophers, artists, dramatists and theologians throughout the ages and has enormous significance for Christians today. Dr. Orton investigates… A Level students will find this useful background for some of the topics you will need for your exams. For university-level scholars or independent researchers , we’ve included clickable links to useful literature and can

Dec 5, 2025

The Snake and the Sensei: Reflections on the History of Karate

Dr. Orton explores the martial art of Karate and reflects on the lessons we can learn from its history. Sacred Fountain at Castle Peak from Eight Views of the Ryūkyū Islands by Hokusai (1832) In his autobiography, Gichin Funakoshi (sometimes called “the father of modern Karate”) re-tells the story of how the great Okinawan Karate master Sokon Matsumura* defeated another master without striking a single blow. Matsumura had initially told a strong, well-built engraver tha

Nov 30, 2025

The Sacred Forest Shrines of Japan

Dr. Orton explores the history of Shinto and Buddhism in Japan, the academic debate about Japanese religion, Inari (the fox deity) and the country’s beautiful forest shrines. For university-level scholars or independent researchers , we’ve included clickable links to useful literature and canonical scholarship you need to be acquainted with to get started. For everyone else , enjoy this introduction to Japan’s sacred forest shrines! Takinoo Inari Shrine in Nikko Religion in

Nov 25, 2025

The Black Madonna, Our Lady of Czestochowa

The Black Madonna of Częstochowa, an icon of the Virgin Mary and child, is a national symbol of Poland and motherhood. It is also a miracle-working icon and protector of the Polish people. Dr. Orton investigates the folklore and history of Poland’s most important painting. Copy of the Black Madonna at Jasna Gora I recently had the good fortune to visit the famous Jasna Góra monastery of Częstochowa, Poland’s spiritual capital and home to one of the world’s most important

Oct 6, 2025