Bestiary with theological texts
Date:
Early thirteenth century
Location or Findspot (Modern-Day Country):
United Kingdom
Medium:
Parchment
Dimensions:
22 × 16 cm
Description:
Medieval bestiaries are compendia of animals and mythical creatures, often describing the allegorical (particularly Christian) or moralizing importance of different animals. One of the pages reproduced here shows the phoenix gathering branches for a fire and lying dead on an altar. Christian readers would have understood his self-sacrifice and resurrection in terms of Christ's crucifixion and resurrection. The entry on the unicorn presents similar comparisons: the unicorn attacked by hunters is like Christ, and the maiden holding the unicorn in her lap is like the Virgin.
Relevant Textbook Chapter(s):
9
Repository and Online Resources:
• Turn the pages of this bestiary on the British Library website.
• Watch Elizabeth Morrison and Larisa Grollemond (senior curator and assistant curator of manuscripts at the Getty) discussing the medieval bestiary
tradition.
Tags:
Animals,
Latin,
Christian,
Western European,
Northern European
