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.
Creative Products
December 8, 2020

13 Fun, Elegant, and Artsy Hanukkah Menorahs for the Festival of Lights

Hanukkah begins next week; do you have your menorah ready? If not—or if you are feeling ready for a new design—check out our curated list of cool, artsy menorahs that will be unique conversation pieces during the Festival of Lights. A menorah has a branch for each night of Hanukkah (or Chanukah), with a special additional candle known as a shamash for lighting the others.

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Ancient Art
December 3, 2020

“Sistine Chapel of the Ancients”: Researchers Discover Thousands of Ice Age Rock Paintings in the Amazon

Deep within the dense Amazon rainforest in modern-day Colombia, early human settlers of the region had recorded their surroundings in rock art. Now, an 8-mile stretch of cliff decorated with thousands of drawings has been discovered deep in the remote site known as Serranía de la Lindosa. The collection of detailed illustrations dates back to between 11,800 years and 12,600 ago—just as the world was warming out of the Ice Age.

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History
November 26, 2020

Archeologists Discover an Advanced Water Filtration System in an Ancient Mayan City

As the first cities emerged in Mesopotamia thousands of years ago, water systems became critical in order to continually supply growing urban populations. Ancient Romans built giant aqueducts; the Greeks developed pressurized plumbing. Perhaps most famous for their stepped-pyramids, the Mayans were also among the ancient civilizations to develop a sophisticated use of water.

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Music
November 18, 2020

12 Facts You Might Not Know About the Legendary Band Fleetwood Mac

On June 18, 1977, Fleetwood Mac's song “Dreams” peaked at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 charts in the United States. Forty-three years later, record players have been replaced by Spotify. However, modern apps and music streaming bring new possibilities for classic rock. After a TikTok video featuring a man named Nathan Apodaca skateboarding to “Dreams” went viral this year, the song entered the charts once more.

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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.