Snail Knights and Butt-Trumpets: Why Medieval Marginalia Was the Internet of Its Time
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We tend to think of the Middle Ages as all doom, gloom, and divine judgement. But hidden in the margins of illuminated manuscripts, monks and scribes were quietly doing something radical: they were being weird, funny, and incredibly human.
From snails in full armour to demons farting into trumpets, marginalia was the medieval version of meme culture—chaotic, absurd, and oddly relatable.
Here’s why these bizarre little doodles were the original social commentary of their time.
Medieval Marginalia Wasn’t Just Decoration
Most of these illustrations weren’t planned. They were scribbled by monks working long hours copying sacred texts by hand. The margins became a playground for rebellious creativity—one that allowed them to cope with boredom, frustration, or simply entertain themselves and their peers.
Some scenes poke fun at authority, others parody religious symbols, and some are just straight-up nonsense. Sound familiar?
Marginalia = Medieval Memes
Let’s break it down:
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Random violence? Check (rabbits attacking people).
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Strange inside jokes? Check (snail duels, anyone?).
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Overly dramatic animals? Absolutely.
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Toilet humour? In spades.
These illustrations weren’t always meant for public consumption—just like private meme chats today. But they’ve survived for centuries, offering us a peek into the real minds of medieval people.
The Laughs Are Eternal
One of the reasons marginalia still resonates is because it’s timelessly bizarre. We still laugh at fart jokes and strange animals doing human things. It’s oddly comforting to know that 700 years ago, people were also doodling killer bunnies and snails with attitude during work hours.
Ars Jocularis: Carry the Chaos With You
At Ars Jocularis, we believe history is more fun when it’s weird. That’s why our phone cases showcase the strangest and most wonderful bits of marginalia—so you can carry a little medieval madness everywhere you go.
📱 Browse our latest designs and bring the ancient internet to your modern device.