#medievalbeasts
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Medieval squirrels were also known as "varius" and their fur was known as "vair". This plump squirrel is from a c1300-1325 version of "Der Naturen Bloeme". #medievalmanuscripts #medievalbeasts #squirrel #squirrels
A very short-legged and plump red-brown squirrel climbing a green hill towards the left. Its bushy tail is resting over its back. Image from British Library, Additional MS 11390 [Der Naturen Bloeme], folio 27v.
September 30, 2026 at 2:00 AM
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The medieval squirrel was said to use its upright tail as a sail when it wanted to cross water, although I haven't been able to find this illustrated. This squirrel is from a c1287 version of "Der Naturen Bloeme". #medievalmanuscripts #medievalbeasts #squirrel #squirrels
A red-brown squirrel seated on its hind-legs eating something, facing right. It has a very large bushy tail and unusually long forelegs. It is shown against a blue background inside a gilt frame on a manuscript page. Image from Lippische Landesbibliothek, Ms. 70 [Der Naturen Bloeme], folio 41v.
September 29, 2026 at 2:00 AM
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The medieval squirrel was said to be a "petty" animal that climbed trees. This particularly lovely squirrel is from the Ormesby Psalter (13th-14th century). #medievalmanuscripts #medievalbeasts #squirrel #squirrels
A red-brown squirrel eating a nut facing left. It has a very upright bushy tail and surprisingly long forelegs. Its ears are also very long and very upright. Image from Bodleian Library, MS. Douce 366 [The Ormesby Psalter], folio 38r.
September 28, 2026 at 2:00 AM
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The medieval pheasant was described as being a very beautiful and colourful bird. This pheasant is from the Alphonso Psalter (c1284). #medievalmanuscripts #medievalbeasts #pheasant #pheasants
A somewhat alarmed-looking bird with a red head, green throat, white belly and folded brown wings perched on a red flower within a decorative blue and red element on a manuscript page. Image from British Library, Additional MS 24686 [Alphonso Psalter], folio 18r.
September 24, 2026 at 2:00 AM
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The medieval pheasant was said to have feathers which were bright like fire and glittered. This image is from a 13th century "Liber de natura rerum". #medievalmanuscripts #medievalbeasts #pheasant #pheasants
Section of a manuscript page showing a block of red text above a gilt-framed picture of a right-facing brown bird with prominent wattles and a long blue curving tail. Image from Bibliothèque Municipale de Valenciennes, MS 320 [Liber de natura rerum], folio 100r.
September 23, 2026 at 2:00 AM
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The medieval pheasant ("phasius") was also known as the "gallus silvester" (wild cock) as shown in the text below this image from a c1350 version of "Der Naturen Bloeme". #medievalmanuscripts #medievalbeasts #pheasant #pheasants
A fierce-looking red-brown bird with a rooster-like tail, crown and wattles against a gilt background with stylised trees. Below the red and blue, gilt-cornered frame, the text reads "Gallus silvester". Image from Koninklijke Bibliotheek, KB, KA 16 [Der Naturen Bloeme], folio 89v.
September 22, 2026 at 2:00 AM
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This week's medieval beast is the pheasant which was named for its original home, the Greek island of Phasis. This lovely pheasant is from the Lutterell Psalter (c1325-1340). #medievalmanuscripts #medievalbeasts #pheasant #pheasants
A surprisingly accurate painting of a pheasant with a green head and long neck, a red-brown belly and very long tail and white-trimmed black wings folded over its back. Its legs and feet are painted white. It has a red-ringed eye and red wattles. The drawings on the reverse side of the page are visible like a watermark behind and around the drawing. Image from British Library, Additional MS 42130 [The Lutterell Psalter], folio 84v.
September 21, 2026 at 2:00 AM
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The blood of medieval turtledoves was said to help with eye ailments. This illustration of a mated pair is from an English bestiary (c1200-1210). #medievalmanuscripts #medievalbeasts #turtledove #turtledoves
Two grey turtledoves are perched on a green leaved plant with yellow and white flowers touching their beaks together. The illustration has a dark gilt background and is in a black-bordered blue circle on a manuscript page. Image from British Library, Royal MS 12 C XIX [Bestiary (First Family)], folio 53r.
September 17, 2026 at 2:00 AM
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The medieval turtledove was considered a symbol of the holy church which remained faithful to Christ even after his death. This illustration is from "Ter Duinen Aviary" (1190-1200). #medievalmanuscripts #medievalbeasts #turtledove #turtledoves
A concerned-looking white bird is walking towards the right in a lozenge set over the central part of a cross with red and blue text on each of its arms. There is red and blue text in a circle within the lozenge and black text on each four quarters of the page. Image from Grootseminarie Brugge, MS. 89/54 [Ter Duinen Aviary], folio 43v.
September 16, 2026 at 2:00 AM
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After the death of its only mate, the surviving medieval turtledove was said to never perch on anything green as in this image of three solitary turtledoves from the "Bestiaire" of Guillaume le Clerc (c1265-1270). #medievalmanuscripts #medievalbeasts #turtledove #turtledoves
A central dead tree has a solitary greenish-blue turtledove perched on its top with two other turtledoves on the ground on either side, each facing away from the tree. Although there is green beneath the tree, the ground and the tree where the turtledoves rest are brown. The illustration is bordered by a green washed frame and there is text visible above the top edge. Image from Bibliothèque Nationale de France, fr. 14969 [Bestiaire of Guillaume le Clerc], folio 50r.
September 15, 2026 at 2:00 AM
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The medieval turtledove was said to be so faithful to its mate that its mate died it would never take another. This gorgeous illustration is from the Aberdeen Bestiary (c1200). #medievalmanuscripts #medievalbeasts #turtledove #turtledoves
A pair of white doves sit at the top of a red-leaved stylised blue tree looking lovingly at each other. The illustration has a gilt background and is bordered by a red frame decorated with white lines on a manuscript page. Image from Aberdeen University Library, Univ. Lib. MS 24 [Aberdeen Bestiary (Second Family)], folio 31v.
September 14, 2026 at 2:00 AM
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The medieval lynx buried the stone created by its urine under sand to hide it. The stone, known as "ligurian" or "lyncurius", was said to cure kidney disease. This pained-looking lynx is from a c1225-1250 English bestiary. #medievalbeasts #medievalmanuscripts #lynx
A seated blue dog-like beast with feathery-style dots all over its coat has one of its front paws raised and its head extended while grimacing as if in pain. A large egg-like stone labelled "ligurian" is resting on its back paws. It has stylised trees on either side and is shown against a red panel in a gilt background and appears to be seated and extending beyond the bottom section of a double-banded red and blue frame on a manuscript page. Image from Bodleian Library, MS. Bodley 764 [Bestiary (Second Family)], folio 11r.
September 10, 2026 at 2:00 AM
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The medieval lynx was said to represent those who preach without authority while living a sinful life. This gloriously spotty lynx is from the Ashmole Bestiary (early 13th century). #medievalbeasts #medievalmanuscripts #lynx
A very spotty vaguely dog-like creature is curled up towards the front of this lozenge on a red rug looking backwards to a white goat lying at the other end of the rug. The front beast is coloured very well in various shades of blue with white outlined circles and red dots covering its whole coat. It has sharply pointed small ears and is lying on its long thin tail. The image is in a blue-bordered red circular lozenge set within a square golden frame. The outer frame and the lozenge interior have bright gilt backgrounds. Image from Bodleian Library, MS. Ashmole 1511 [The Ashmole Bestiary], folio 15r.
September 9, 2026 at 2:00 AM
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The medieval lynx's urine was said to have urine which hardened into a gemstone like a flame-coloured carbuncle. The illustrator of this image shows the gemstone in a different colour and forgets the lynx's spots. #medievalbeasts #medievalmanuscripts #lynx
A blue dog-like animal facing towards the left is standing still emitting a stream of urine which becomes a blue gemstone as it hits the ground. It has small rounded ears and an upraised head with an open mouth. It seems to be standing on a line of text. Image from Bibliothèque Nationale de France, lat. 6838B [Bestiary (Second Family], folio 4r.
September 8, 2026 at 2:00 AM
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Our medieval beast this week is the lynx which was described as resembling a wolf but with panther-like spots on its bike. This particular lynx is from a late 13th century English bestiary. #medievalbeasts #medievalmanuscripts #lynx
A happy-looking dog like beast running in a frame on a manuscript page. It faces to the right with its very long straight tail hanging out of the frame on the bottom left. The tail ends in a wavy trident. The beast is the same colour as the page with three rows of neat red dots on its back, the middle row running down its tail. It has what looks like a short curly mane over its head, shoulders and chests. It has short rounded ears and seems to have whiskers. It is shown with an open mouth with a very red tongue and seems to be smiling. It is shown in front of a stylised uncoloured tree on a deep blue background with red and white decorations. The image is surrounded by a red frame with gilt corners with handwritten text at the top, bottom and to the right. The long tail extends into an empty margin on the right. Image from Bibliothèque Nationale de France, lat. 3630 [Bestiary (Second Family)], folio 76v.
September 7, 2026 at 2:00 AM
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Our final pegasus is from a 13th century "Libera de natura rerum". Its horns seem more like quills. #medievalmanuscripts #medievalbeasts #pegasus
A blue-grey horse with raised red wings and four raised quill-like horns at the top of its head. It is facing right. The background is red with large gilt dots and the picture is shown within a black-bordered gilt frame with the tips of its wings and horns sticking out of the top of the frame and its back hooves resting on the black border of the bottom gilt frame. Image from Bibliothèque Municipale de Valenciennes, MS 320 [Liber de natura rerum], folio 76v.
September 3, 2026 at 2:00 AM
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And, of course, it wouldn't be a medieval beast without a dog-like version. This somewhat canid pegasus is from the oldest known version of "Der Naturen Bloeme" from c1287. #medievalmanuscripts #medievalbeasts #pegasus
A very dog-like brown beast with wings springing from its shoulders directly attached to its forelegs. It has antler-style horns at the back of its head. It appears to be looking at the viewer with a somewhat alarmed expression. The background is very close in colour to the dog and the image is surrounded by a black-bordered gilt frame with text above and below it. Image from Lippische Landesbibliothek, Ms. 70 [Der Naturen Bloeme], folio 40v.
September 2, 2026 at 2:00 AM
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The medieval pegasus followed the Greek mythology version in being a winged horse but was also described as having horns as in this illustration from a c1350 Flemish version of "Der Naturen Bloeme". #medievalmanuscripts #medievalbeasts #pegasus
A red-brown winged horse looking over its shoulder with long white horns curving downwards from the top of its head. It seems to be baring its teeth in a fierce expression. Its wings appear to be attached to its forelegs instead of its back. It is standing on green grass with a stylised tree behind it on a gilt background. It has a red and blue frame with gilt corners. There is a line of text above the top part of the frame. Image from Koninklijke Bibliotheek, KB, KA 16 [Der Naturen Bloeme], folio 67v.
September 1, 2026 at 2:00 AM
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The pegasus only appears in a few medieval encyclopedias. This pegasus is from a c1300-1325 Dutch version of "Der Naturen Bloeme". #medievalmanuscripts #medievalbeasts #pegasus
A winged brown horse with extremely long horns on its head and long tusks in its mouth appears to be springing out towards the left from a block of text. Instead of hooves, it seems to have paws with clear claws. Image from British Library, Additional MS 11390 [Der Naturen Bloeme], folio 23v.
August 31, 2026 at 2:00 AM
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Medieval partridges propensity to steal eggs was likened to the devil stealing souls from their creator but when those souls recognised their true parent they returned to God. This lovely little partridge dates to 1190-1200. #medievalmanuscripts #medievalbeasts #partridge #partridges
A plain brown bird strutting to the right on orange legs against a white spotted blue background. It is bordered by a black line and then red and blue Latin text on a manuscript page. Image from Grootseminarie Brugge, MS. 89/54 [Ter Duinen Aviary], folio 78r.
August 27, 2026 at 2:00 AM
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Medieval partridges had unusual sex lives with the males occasionally having sex with each other and the females said to be so lustful that wind blowing over a male can impregnate them. This image is from the Harley bestiary (c1236-1250). #medievalmanuscripts #medievalbeasts #partridge #partridges
Two slightly goggle-eyed birds embracing each other with their necks. They are very plain brown birds and are surrounded by a green border in a brown line frame with gold-coloured scroll-like blocks on either side. Image from British Library, Harley MS 3244 [Bestiary (Second Family)], folio 55r.
August 26, 2026 at 2:00 AM
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Although medieval partridges raised the chicks that hatched from the eggs they stole, the chicks flew back to their true mother when they heard her voice as in this image from a French bestiary (1309-1325). #medievalmanuscripts #medievalbeasts #partridge #partridges
Three flying brown birds are shown between two woeful-looking standing brown birds on the ground facing each other. The bird on the left has its beak open as if it is lamenting. The flying birds are slightly smaller than the standing birds. They are shown against a red background with clusters of white dots in a decorated red and blue frame with gold-coloured corners. Image from Bodleian Library, MS. Douce 308 [Bestiaire d'amour], folio 102v.
August 25, 2026 at 2:00 AM
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Our focus this week is the medieval partridge which was said to steal other birds' eggs and raise them as their own as in this image from the Ashmole Bestiary (early 13th century). #medievalmanuscripts #medievalbeasts #partridge #partridges
A large bird with a long neck is lifting eggs with its sharp open beak from a nest at its feet. The bird is white with fine red, green and black wavy stripes. It seems to be standing on rolling ground and is shown against a gilt background in a blue-ringed circular lozenge set within a black-bordered red/orange, green and red/pink rectangular frame. Image from Bodleian Library, MS. Ashmole 1511 [The Ashmole Bestiary], folio 66v.
August 24, 2026 at 2:00 AM
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When medieval nereids were dying, their laments were able to be heard at great distances. This nereid is from the oldest known copy of "Der Naturen Bloeme" (c1287). #medievalmanuscripts #medievalbeasts #nereid #nereids
A beast with the torso and head of a woman and the body and tail of a grey fish. The woman's torso is obviously hairy and is shown with folded arms over the breasts. It has long hair which reaches down its back. It seems to be cross-eyed and has unusually long fingers. It is facing right and is shown against a red background in a black-bordered gilt frame. Image from Lippische Landesbibliothek, Ms. 70 [Der Naturen Bloeme], folio 83v.
August 20, 2026 at 2:00 AM
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Medeival nereids were meant to epitomise everything that was kind and beautiful about the sea, although the artist of this 13th century nereid doesn't seem to have got the message! #medievalmanuscripts #medievalbeasts #nereid #nereids
Facing right, a large white fish with a prominent curved spine and a dark woman's head with a lot of curling hair is shown on a bed of green waves against a blue background in a black-bordered gilt frame. The woman's face is shown in a definite snarl. Image from Bibliothèque Municipale de Valenciennes, MS 320 [Liber de natura rerum], folio 117r.
August 19, 2026 at 2:00 AM