Bestiary

A Bestiary (from Latin bestiarum vocabulum, meaning “book of beasts”) was a highly popular and influential type of manuscript during the Middle Ages in Europe. It compiled descriptions, illustrations, and allegorical interpretations of animals—both real and mythical—along with plants, rocks, and even natural phenomena.

Origins and Purpose

The origins of the medieval bestiary can be traced back to a late antique Greek text called the Physiologus, written in Alexandria, Egypt, around the 2nd century AD. The Physiologus presented roughly 50 animals and their Christian moral significance. Later medieval compilers expanded upon this foundational text, incorporating information from ancient authorities like Pliny the Elder and local folklore.

The primary purpose of a bestiary was not zoological or scientific accuracy. Instead, it served as a moral and religious teaching tool. Medieval thought was deeply influenced by the idea that the natural world was a “book” written by God, and every creature within it possessed a hidden spiritual meaning or lesson. The bestiary aimed to decode this divine language.

Contents of a Bestiary

A typical bestiary would feature an illustration of an animal followed by a text detailing its physical characteristics, habits, and, crucially, its moral allegory.

• Real Animals: Familiar creatures were often assigned surprising symbolic meanings. For instance:
  • The Pelican: According to the bestiary, the pelican would revive its dead young by piercing its own breast and sprinkling them with its blood. This was interpreted as a powerful allegory for Christ’s sacrifice on the cross.
  • The Lion: Often depicted as the “king of beasts,” the lion’s supposed habits (like sleeping with its eyes open or roaring its stillborn cubs to life after three days) were seen as symbols of Christ’s resurrection.
• Mythical Creatures: Bestiaries frequently included creatures we now recognize as mythological or entirely fictional, treating them with the same seriousness as real animals.
  • The Unicorn: Described as a fierce, untamable beast that could only be captured if a pure virgin sat alone in the forest; the unicorn would approach and lay its head in her lap. This was widely understood as an allegory for the Incarnation of Christ in the womb of the Virgin Mary.
  • The Phoenix: The legendary bird that burned itself on a pyre only to be reborn from the ashes was a straightforward symbol of resurrection and eternal life.
  • Dragons, Griffins, and Sirens: These creatures often represented the devil, sin, or worldly temptations that Christians needed to avoid or overcome.

Legacy and Influence

Bestiaries were extraordinarily popular, second only to the Bible in wide circulation during the 12th and 13th centuries. Their influence extended far beyond the pages of manuscripts. The imagery and allegories found in bestiaries heavily influenced:

• Art and Architecture: The fantastical creatures of the bestiaries adorn the capitals, gargoyles, and stained glass windows of Romanesque and Gothic cathedrals.
• Literature: Writers from Dante to Shakespeare drew upon the rich symbolic language of the bestiary.
• Heraldry: The stylized depictions of lions, eagles, dragons, and unicorns in medieval coats of arms are direct descendants of bestiary illustrations.

While the scientific worldview eventually superseded the allegorical one, the legacy of the bestiary endures. It shaped the visual language of the Middle Ages and continues to influence modern fantasy literature, role-playing games, and our enduring fascination with mythical beasts.