Posts by Madeleine Muzdakis

Madeleine Muzdakis

Madeleine Muzdakis is a Contributing Writer at My Modern Met and a historian of early modern Britain & the Atlantic world. She holds a BA in History and Mathematics from Brown University and an MA in European & Russian Studies from Yale University. Madeleine has worked in archives and museums for years with a particular focus on photography and arts education. When she isn’t writing, she enjoys hiking, film photography, and studying law while cuddling with her cat Georgia.
Ancient Art
August 17, 2021

Ancient Egyptians Wore Gold Sandals With Matching Toe Caps To Be Buried In

The ancient Egyptians are known for their rich and ritualistic burials. Whether a pharaoh in the Valley of the Kings or a bureaucrat in a modest rock cut tomb, the items left in a grave were intended to facilitate the transition to the afterlife. Among these items were sandals—necessary for both the living and the dead. These funerary sandals could be similar to those work in life—made of leather typically, or even papyrus.

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History
August 5, 2021

3,700-Year-Old Babylonian Tablet Is Found to Be the Earliest Example of Applied Geometry

Even if you're not a mathematician, you may have heard of the Pythagorean theorem in school. This method of calculating the side lengths of right triangles is named for the 6th century BCE Greek mathematician and philosopher Pythagoras. Simply, the theorem states that the square of one leg of a right triangle, plus the square of the other leg, is equal to the square of the hypotenuse.

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Cityscape Photography
July 25, 2021

Alluring Neon-Night Photography of Osaka Pushes the Boundaries of Reality

Nights full of neon signs obscured by sleeting rain evoke a film noir ethos. Photographer, designer, and creator Omi Kim captures the nocturnal city and transforms ordinary sights into extraordinary visions. The Osaka, Japan-based creator specializes in street photography, portraiture, and graphic composites which push the boundaries of reality. Kim, who goes by Omi on Instagram, shoots series based on what he encounters in his photography.

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Infographic
July 15, 2021

Who Was Michelangelo? Get to Know the Renaissance Sculptor and Painter

World-renowned painter and sculptor Michelangelo—a star artist of the High Renaissance in Italy—remains one of the best known artists in the world, even nearly 500 years after his death. The iconic artist's star rose at an early age. At 24, a young Michelangelo Buonarroti presented a masterpiece of Renaissance sculpture—the monumental marble Pietà. Originally commissioned for Cardinal Jaen Bilhéres de Lagraulas as a funerary monument, the sculptural work was unprecedented in style and skill.

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My Modern Met

Celebrating creativity and promoting a positive culture by spotlighting the best sides of humanity—from the lighthearted and fun to the thought-provoking and enlightening.