Medieval Monks Invented the Selfie (and the First Filters)

Historians are still recovering from a discovery that’s rewriting the history of self-expression. Deep in a silent monastery, illuminated manuscripts have revealed that medieval monks were already perfecting the art of the selfie. Each page bursts with scenes of robed brothers gathered for reflective photo ops, armed with polished shields, artful poses, and impeccable lighting.

In these gilded pages, one monk carefully angles a gleaming shield while others peek into its reflection, arranging robes and grinning as if for posterity. A few look caught mid-pose, mouths open as though calling out the medieval equivalent of “cheese.” It seems solemn vows did little to dim the urge for a flattering portrait.

Some illustrations even hint at mischief. Photobombing monks appear in the background, wielding walking sticks like props or flashing what experts insist may have been the original “peace sign,” though it likely translated to something more practical, perhaps “two loaves of bread, please.”

The margins sparkle with gold leaf and tiny, hand-drawn “likes,” clear evidence that medieval artists had their own idea of social validation. A few pages go completely overboard, packed with sparkles, cherubs, and floral flourishes that shout “look at me” in shimmering Latin calligraphy.

But the highlight of the collection is a single image of a monk pursing his lips in what scholars unanimously identify as the world’s first duck face. His expression, both earnest and oddly self-aware, has earned him the title of history’s first influencer.

Researchers are still debating whether these “shieldies” were shared among the cloister’s residents or reserved for feast-day exhibitions. Either way, the message is clear: monks weren’t just chronicling history, they were striking a pose in it.

So the next time you tilt your phone for the perfect selfie, know that you’re walking in ancient footsteps, following a tradition of reflection that began not with smartphones, but with shields, sparkles, and a divine sense of good lighting.