The Medieval Moon : A History of Haunting and Blessing by Ayoush Lazikani

A vivid new history of how medieval people around the world perceived the moon  

When they gazed at the moon, medieval people around the globe saw an object that was at once powerful and fragile, distant and intimate—and sometimes all this at once. The moon could convey love, beauty, and gentleness; but it could also be about pain, hatred, and violence. In its circularity the moon was associated with fullness and fertility.

Yet in its crescent and other shifting forms, the moon could seem broken, even wounded.   In this beautifully illustrated history, Ayoush Lazikani reveals the many ways medieval people felt and wrote about the moon. Ranging across the world, from China to South America, Korea to Wales, Lazikani explores how different cultures interacted with the moon.

From the idea that the Black Death was caused by a lunar eclipse to the wealth of Persian love poetry inspired by the moon’s beauty, this is a truly global account of our closest celestial neighbour.

Format:Hardback 272 pages, 16 color illus.
Publisher:Yale University Press
Imprint:Yale University Press
ISBN:9780300278286
Published:26 Aug 2025
Classifications:Europe, General & world history, European history, Medieval history, Popular astronomy & space
Weight:484g