New Books in History Ayoush Lazikani, "The Medieval Moon: A History of Haunting and Blessing" (Yale UP, 2025)
Dec 6, 2025
Ayoush Lazikani, a Lecturer at Oxford and author of *The Medieval Moon*, dives into fascinating medieval perspectives on the moon. She discusses how the moon represented both beauty and pain across cultures, from Persian love poetry to tales of lunar quests. Lazikani explores the moon's connection to medieval medical theories, cosmic miracles, and social ethics, illustrating its role in shaping identity and emotions. She beautifully argues for a global understanding of the medieval world through our shared relationship with this celestial body.
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Moon As A Global Medieval Lens
- Ayoush Lazikani noticed the moon was central across Christian and Islamic contemplative texts and East Asian traditions.
- She used that shared prominence to frame a global medieval history of the moon.
Riddles Mirror Lunar Unknowability
- Early medieval riddles treated the moon itself as a riddle because it changes form and disappears in daylight.
- The riddlic form let writers explore the moon's mix of knowability and mystery.
Personification Shapes Religious Identity
- Many cultures personified the moon as deities like Selene, Diana, or the Chinese goddess Chang'e (Shongi).
- These personifications shaped religious identities and practices across diverse medieval societies.
