Medieval LOLcats: British Library Reveals Meme's Ancient Origins (PICTURES)

Medieval LOLcats: British Library Reveals Meme's Ancient Origins

How long have LOLcats been around?

Earlier today HuffPost UK News declared that the world's favourite internet meme had been around since at least the 19th century.

We can do better.

Recently no less than the historiographical masters at the British Library said they had found the ancient origins of LOLcats in a bunch of medieval manuscripts.

"As it is today, the enmity between the cat and the mouse was well-established in the medieval imagination," the British Library said in a blog post.

It goes on to describe how cats were often used to illustrate stories, with Tom and Jerry-style battles with mice often on the pre-renaissance agenda.

Take a look at our favourite medieval LOLcats below - and please, no one send us in any pictures of Egyptian wall paintings or stone age Cave Art. We get it - Lolcatz Is For Everz.

Close

What's Hot