Horse taming and horseback culture arose first in the southern steppe grasslands of Central Asia, perhaps approximately in modern Kazakhstan. The most common theory holds that the idea of centaurs came from the first reaction of a non-riding cultures on horse riding invaders. Those half-human and half-horse figures, were frequently depicted in medieval manuscripts. Here we are juxtaposing some of the memorable creatures and sharing our endless fascination by imagination of Medieval artists. Exotic beasts were sometimes sent as a gifts to European monarchs or brought back as a treasure from a Crusades.Īccording to a chronicles the king Henry I of England ( XII Century ) maintained a small zoo of lions, leopards and camels.Ĭharles V of the House of Valois called the Wise kept a lions (at today’s Porte des Lions which is an entrance to Louvre). Medieval artists used them as a moral instructions and as allegories of the trials of human life.Ī pilgrimage and Crusades added a new depictions of an exotic animals. They employed animal motifs from Bible and from prechristian mythology and mythologicalĬreatures of ancient Greece, Rome, Egypt and East.Īt that historical time animals as a base of agricultural society played an essential role in almost every facet of human existence.
Medieval artists and scolars were obsessed with imaginary beasts and created the world of symbolism and allegory.
Real and Fantastic Beasts occupied an important place in art of Middle Ages. In a chapter entitled De Bestiis (‘On Beasts’), Isidore depicted plenty of ‘beasts’ and their habits. The real animals, supernatural creatures and mythological hybrids. The Etymologies was the most used textbook throughout the Middle Ages and described also Much like a contemporary encyclopedic source. In the 7th century, Isidore of SevilleĪ scholar and, for over three decades, Archbishop of Seville wrote his famous Etymologies, a memorable reference work which functioned The word ‘bestiary’ derives from the Latin word “bestia” which translates as ‘animal’.
That was first listed in 1542 in the inventory of the Old Royal Library at the Palace of Westminster.
MS 24) is a 12th-century English illuminated manuscript bestiary It held a prominent place in popular folklore, influenced visual narration and culture in general.Īmong most famous manuscripts are Ashmole Bestiary ( is a late 12th or early 13th century English illuminated manuscript ).Īnd The Aberdeen Bestiary (Aberdeen University Library, Univ Lib. The Bestiary as a genre of colourfully illustrated Medieval Manuscript was developed in medieval Europe in the twelfth century. We feel inspired by the up-coming eventĪnd decided to dedicate a special post about incredibly inspiring Fantastic Beasts on pages of Medieval manuscripts called The Bestiaries. The exhibition will be structured around subjects from Hogwarts: from Potions and Alchemy, to Care of Magical Creatures.Ī History of Magic will open 20 October 2017, and run to 28 February 2018.īeing a huge fan of J.K.Rowling universe Visual Zen Blog cannot miss this opportunity. This year the British Library will celebrate the 20th anniversary of the publication of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone Exhibitions Fantastic Beasts of a Medieval manuscripts On Maby Yelena