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May 17, 2021

Guess that Medieval Beast 8

         This beast is one that, to be fair, is pretty darn bizarre and amazing in real life, so I’m not going to say that the medieval artists have made it stranger than it actually is.  After all, this illustration basically looks like a rainbow-colored horse, which is really not so crazy.  This picture comes from a bestiary from the mid-thirteenth century, and the illuminator has done a beautiful job of it, too.  We’re treated to borders and backgrounds, lots of colors including gold leaf, and even a bonus owl perched on the background tree.  But what is this creature?  I’ll give you a hint: it’s not a My Little Pony.  So, what do you think it is?

4 comments:

  1. I did not guess it! Thank you for this wenlightening post on mediaeval beatiaries, a thing I really like, but not have had the opportunity to delve into as yet.

    PS. I abhor the picture verification, and comment way more seldom than I really want to, but clicking my way through hills, fire hydrants and so on 5 or 6 times is just not my definition of fun.

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  2. Nope, that was not my guess! I don't think I would have ever come up with a chameleon! That two legged version is quite a pretty illustration.

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  3. I love the horsy chameleon, but then it's from a Bodleian Bestiary, which is a sort-of classic of medieval animal illustrations.

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  4. Thanks for playing! =D If you want to see how you can do with more medieval beasts, the easiest way to see all the rounds of the game is to go to the Labels in the side-bar, and click "game," which is down towards the bottom of the list. Good luck!

    Charlotte, sorry the picture ID gives you a hard time. I don't know why it should take so many tries. I also don't know how to turn it off. =(

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