Hi Jon,This is a page from the Bodleian Library's Tudor Pattern Book (c. 1520-1530), which has paintings that were used by illuminators, embroiderers, and other craftsmen. Most of the animals are labeled (e.g. 'A dog') or identifiable by their actions (e.g. the reptilian beaver biting off his scrotum), but the hoofed bird in this picture escapes me.
I don't understand what the writing means or recognize the bird as a heraldic, mythical or symbolic animal (a hoofed bird might, incidentally, explain the Devil's footprints of 1855). I'm hoping bloggo readers can identify it.
The writing above the bird says Aspida - I vaguely remember reading somewhere that some ancient greek filosopher wrote something about a snake-killing bird, an Aspida, capable of trampling snakes to death (hence the hooves) - possible a garbled fifth-hand story about a secretary bird? But I cant for the life of me remember whether it was Aristotle or one of the minor guys.
ReplyDeleteLooks a bit like a raven. The word could be Aelpida = Greek 'elpida' meaning 'hope'. I don't know why a raven is a symbol of hope. Because when Noah sent it out of the Ark it kept on looking until the water dried up? Because in the Middle Ages its harsh cry was held to sound like 'cras', the Latin for 'tomorrow'? This doesn't explain why it's wearing boots of course.
ReplyDeleteIn the Bestiaire of Guillaume le clerc there is apparently a mention and picture of: "The Fenis. A horned and hoofed bird bending over a fire on R. Red ground." Fenis seems to be another word for Phoenix, although depictions of those never seem to be horned or sporting hooves.
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