Have you ever come across a term you’ve never heard of when reading a history book and exclaimed, “WTF is that?” If so, you aren’t alone. History, art, archaeology, and architecture are full of jargon that often leaves non-scholars clueless. Cue in Totally Historic’s badass glossary, where I cut through the bullshit and not only tell you WTF it is but why you should care.
Readers of “WTF is…” will learn important terms, expand their knowledge, and expertly show off in front of their friends because they know WTF an Ionic column is.
WTF is a Cloister?
A cloister is a covered walkway enclosing a courtyard in a monastery or church. Cloisters are quadrilateral, meaning they have…
WTF is the Library of Congress Classification System?
The Library of Congress Classification system (LCC) is a classification scheme that organizes books by discipline and subject categories. It…
WTF is the Dewey Decimal Classification System?
The Dewey Decimal Classification system (DDC) is a library classification scheme that organizes books by subject. It divides the world’s…
WTF is Encaustic Painting?
Encaustic painting is an art technique that uses hot beeswax mixed with powdered pigments. In the ancient world, artists applied…
WTF are Incunabula?
Incunabula are books printed before the year 1501. When Johannes Gutenberg invented printing with movable type in the mid-1400s, he…
WTF are Illuminated Manuscripts?
Illuminated manuscripts are handwritten books decked out with rich ornamentation in gold, silver, or vibrant colors. The word “manuscript” derives…
WTF is a Psalter?
A psalter is a book containing the Book of Psalms, a collection of 150 sacred Hebrew songs, poems, and prayers…
WTF is a Book of Hours?
A Book of Hours is a prayer book for private devotion from the late Middle Ages and the Renaissance. Widely…
WTF is a Codex?
A codex is an ancient book format, consisting of pages bound together along one side and protected by wooden covers….
WTF is a Palimpsest?
A palimpsest is a manuscript with re-used pages that were scraped or washed to erase existing text. The word comes…
WTF is Vellum?
Vellum is a type of parchment made from calfskin. Known for its fine quality, it was the luxe writing surface…
WTF is Parchment?
Parchment is a writing surface made from untanned animal skins, primarily sheep, goat, and calf. The best quality parchment, called…