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Ever wondered what happens when a prime minister g

Ever wondered what happens when a prime minister gets fired? Well it’s certainly not new! Here’s a story from the 15th Century told by Magdalen History third-year, Ioan!

This story isn’t for the faint hearted; imprisonment, gore, and abandoning a body on the beach at Dover… so even if things look bad sometimes, it’s not as bad as what happened to William De La Pole!

#williamdelapole #history #primeminister #government #houseofcommibs

Wait, why? Let me tell you: According to Einstein

Wait, why?

Let me tell you:
According to Einstein’s theory of General Relativity, gravity isn’t just a force pulling on objects; it is the warping of spacetime. Mass (like the Earth) curves the fabric of time and space around it.
The stronger the gravitational pull, the slower time passes. Meaning that « ticks » slower at sea level (closer to the Earth’s center) and « ticks » faster at high altitudes (further from the center).

So lying on a desert island on the beach is less ageing than climbing Everest… which may be true on many levels, but is ACTUALLY tru for your experience of time. Even if the difference is tiny ☺️

It’s a real government, I promise! #magdalencoll

It’s a real government, I promise!

#magdalencollege #kingsspeech #houseofcommons #government #universityofoxford

The Astronomicum Caesareum, or “The Emperor’s Astr

The Astronomicum Caesareum, or “The Emperor’s Astronomy,” is one of the most lavish and technically complex books ever printed. Published in 1540 by Peter Apian, a professor at the University of Ingolstadt, it was dedicated to the Holy Roman Emperor Charles V and his brother Ferdinand.
The amazing thing about it is that it’s a paper analogue computer, that the emperor used for casting horoscopes!
If you think that’s fascinating, you should consider studying history here. BUT if I were posting this before the 18th Century, you could have come to study Astrology here!

#astrology #history #oxforduniversity #magdalencollege

The word I’m talking about is Xenos. In Ancient G

The word I’m talking about is Xenos.

In Ancient Greece, the concept of Xenia was the ritualised law of hospitality. It was a sacred bond between a host and a stranger. Zeus was even known as Zeus Xenios, the protector of travelers. You’d provide a guest with food and shelter before even asking their name.

This tradition ensured safety in a world without hotels, turned potential enemies into allies, and could be passed along through families. Breaking this bond was seen as a moral failure and a religious crime.

You can still see the roots of Xenia today. It’s the origin of the word “xenophobia,” which is the fear of the stranger. Conversely, it’s also the root of “xenophilia,” or the love of foreign things.

Remember: a stranger is just a friend you haven’t met yet!

#magdalencollege #oxford #xenia #ancientgreece #classics

Dark academia but make it summer. #darkacademia

Dark academia but make it summer.

#darkacademia #summer #magdalencollege #universityofoxford #oxford

Magdalen’s going to its third consecutive Rugby Cu

Magdalen’s going to its third consecutive Rugby Cuppers final - is this going to be the one where we bring it home?

Come down and support the team on Saturday, at 6pm at Iffley Road. See you there!

#cuppersfinal #magdalenrugby #cuppers #rugby #universityofoxford

Could there be anything more perfect? #magdalencol

Could there be anything more perfect?
#magdalencollege #oxford #summervibes

Did you know that during the mid 20th Century, C S

Did you know that during the mid 20th Century, C S Lewis, and J R R Tolkien would often walk around Addison’s Walk discussing their work? Many parts of Middle Earth were inspired by the Oxfordshire countryside, but on days like this it’s easy to imagine hobbits walking around the water meadow.

In the 1950s, Magdalen was also the first place that Elvish was EVER spoken out loud. C S Lewis used to hold beer and Beowulf evenings, where students and fellows would get together for pints and discussion of old English. It was at one of these events that Tolkien first talked about the fact that he was creating a new language, and he spoke it aloud for the very first time to an audience in Lewis’ rooms in New Buildings! That’s pretty amazing, don’t you think?

#lordoftherings #lotr #lewis #tolkein #oxford

We love seeing our students on the lawns in Cloist

We love seeing our students on the lawns in Cloisters to welcome in the May!

If I took your picture today, just DM me and I’ll send it over to you 💕

#magdalencollege #oxford #maymorning

What a beautiful morning! So lovely to hear the Ch

What a beautiful morning! So lovely to hear the Choir of Magdalen College singing “Now is the Month of Maying”. For a flavour of the day, here’s a few snippets.

#magdalencollege #oxford #maymorning #spring #maymorningoxford

In case you missed it, or you just want to listen

In case you missed it, or you just want to listen to it again, here’s is the Choir of Magdalen College, Oxford singing “somewhere over the rainbow” from the top of the Great Tower for May Morning 2026.

up the May!

#magdalencollege #oxford #maymorning

UP THE MAY! In case you missed it, or you want t

UP THE MAY!

In case you missed it, or you want to see it again, here’s a taste of the Hymnus Eucharisticus from the top of the Tower on May Morning. It was so wonderful to see you all packed onto the High for another beautiful May Morning.

See you all again next year.

#maymorning #oxford #magdalencollege

We still can’t wait! We’re just reliving last year

We still can’t wait! We’re just reliving last year’s beautiful weather in preparation. Hope it holds for tomorrow. See you there!

#magdalencollege #maymorning #oxford

Are you excited about tomorrow?! See you on the

Are you excited about tomorrow?!

See you on the High at 6am!

#maymorning #oxford #oxfordmaymorning #universityofoxford #unilife

Trying to find somewhere that isn’t beautiful in t

Trying to find somewhere that isn’t beautiful in the UK is impossible!!!

#magdalencollege #oxford #oxfordstudent #universityofoxford #magdalen

We love learning new things, and if you do too you

We love learning new things, and if you do too you should consider studying here!

What’ve you learned recently that would blow my mind?

#magdalencollege #history #oxforduni #physics #englishlit

Here's another picture of the same view, but a lit

Here's another picture of the same view, but a little bit different.

#wisteria #magdalen #spring

It’s the start of Trinity! Welcome back! Here’s

It’s the start of Trinity! Welcome back!

Here’s an oldie, but a goodie, and a reminder that sometimes trends should come back around. We hope you’re ready for a magical and whimsical start to Trinity 2026. Good luck in your exams, and to our finalists, we hope you love your final term in Oxford. ENJOY IT!

#magdalencollege #oxford #wesanderson #universityofoxford #oxfordstudent

Never beating the prettiest College allegations.

Never beating the prettiest College allegations.

#magdalencollege #oxford #wisteria

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