Table of contents:
- 1. Ravenna monster
- 2. Manticore
- 3. Gorgon
- 4. Lamia
- 5. Wannabe dog
- 6. So
- 7. Basilisk
- 8. Monster Leonine
- 9. Harpy
- 10. Moon Woman
- 11. Lamb tree
- 12. Four-legged duck
- 13. Griffin
Video: 13 scariest monsters from the medieval bestiary
2024 Author: Richard Flannagan | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-15 23:55
In ancient times, people believed that amazing animals live in remote corners of the Earth: manticores, gorgons and griffins. These creatures are firmly embedded in the culture and myths of medieval man. In this review, a story about the most terrible monsters, which people used to consider real animals.
1. Ravenna monster
According to an Italian pharmacist, this monster was born in the city of Ravenna in 1511 or 1512. It was almost certainly a child with a serious illness or genetic disorder. The Ravenna monster is described as a man with a horn on his head. He has two wings like a bat, he stands on one eagle's leg with claws. An extra eye on the knee.
According to the chronicles, Pope Julius II ordered not to feed the monster child so that he would die of hunger. The rumor about him spread throughout Europe, dozens of images and engravings appeared, differing from each other. Depending on the story that accompanied the Ravenna monster, it was either an innocent angel or Satan himself.
2. Manticore
In the writings of Aristotle, the manticore is a monster of bright red color, he has a human face and a scorpion's tail. It is big as a lion and fast as a deer. The manticore has three rows of teeth on each jaw, blue eyes, it "makes a noise that resembles the sound of a pipe and a pipe at the same time", and also "it is wild and devours people." Such a monster can scare anyone.
3. Gorgon
The gorgon may look like a harmless, scaly cow, but don't be fooled. It feeds on deadly poisonous plants. When a gorgon sees a bull or other creature that she fears, she releases poisonous gases from her throat. Her terrible breath poisons the air around her, so that all animals nearby can get hurt.
4. Lamia
Originally, Lamia is a mythological creature that seduced people and gods with its pretty face and "pleasant kisses". Later, however, Roman explorers were convinced that the lamias were fed by soldiers who were shipwrecked off the coast of Libya.
5. Wannabe dog
The ancients believed that this dog is the product of a hedgehog and a monkey. Someone thought it was just a poodle. Regardless of her talents, she can "jump, play and dance", serve, bring things and pretend to be dead.
6. So
Su is "a cruel, untamed, impatient, furious, predatory and bloody beast." When she falls into the trap of the hunters, she makes a terrible noise and eats her own kittens to prevent them from being taken alive.
7. Basilisk
Why does the Basilisk have a crown on its head? This is because he is the king of snakes. And not at all because of its size. Basilisk is a huge reptile that kills with one glance. It is described as a snake with the head of a turkey or rooster, with the wings of a bat, or as a lizard with a crown on its head. But the most popular image is the body of a rooster and the tail of a snake. Basilisks are believed to hatch from chicken eggs hatched by frogs. People believed that this monster is very poisonous and dangerous. From his breath and gaze, bushes and grass ignite, and stones crack.
8. Monster Leonine
The author of the engraving appears to have had a very poor description from the discoverer of this creature. If you make the paws a little longer, add ears and change the expression of Leonin's face, you get an animal very similar to a leopard.
9. Harpy
Harpy is a creature from the mythology of the ancient Greeks with the body of an eagle, the head and chest of a woman. They were considered evil and harmful creatures. According to Homer's Odyssey, they lived on islands in the Aegean Sea. In the Middle Ages, harpies began to personify greed, gluttony, greed.
10. Moon Woman
Lunar woman "lays eggs, sits on them and incubates giants." It's hard to just imagine how gigantic it should be.
11. Lamb tree
This is a very unusual tree, because a live lamb grows on it. He grazes, constantly waiting for the attack of wolves. The hunters could only kill the lamb if they shot through the thin connecting stem.
12. Four-legged duck
All that is known about the four-legged duck is that it has four limbs.
13. Griffin
The griffin is a mythological creature with the body of a lion and eagle's head and wings. Griffins are often mentioned in the culture of Ancient Egypt, Persia and Greece. Greek authors report two possible habitats for griffins: mountains in northern Asia (Ural or Altai) or India, where these monsters guarded huge treasures of gold. They built their nests out of gold. In the Middle Ages, the griffin became a popular symbol in heraldry, meaning speed combined with strength. Also in heraldry, the image of a sea griffin appeared, in which the eagle's upper part is connected to a fish's tail.
In addition to the monsters presented in the review, in old books you can also find many fantastic creatures.
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