bestiaries
Medieval animal books
Bestiaries are medieval illustrated texts cataloging real and imaginary animals, each entry pairing description with moral or religious allegory.
The lion represented Christ's resurrection; the pelican, self-sacrifice.
Modern usage extends to any compendium of creatures: a bestiary of mythological beasts, a video game's monster bestiary.
Singular: bestiary.
Provision of light
- parchmentTreated hide for manuscripts
- vellumPrepared calfskin for writing
- codexAncient bound manuscript
- scriptoriumMonastery manuscript workshop
folio · scribe · miniature · marginalia · calligraphy · colophon · binding · quill
Mythical one-horned horse
- phoenixSelf-immolating, regenerating bird
- dragonLegendary fire-breathing reptile
- griffinLegendary eagle-lion hybrid
- basiliskReptile that kills by looking
manticore · cockatrice · salamander · pelican · panther · elephant · lion · asp
Representing concepts through images
- moralityRight and wrong principles
- exemplumIllustrative moral anecdote
- didacticIntended to instruct
- sermonClergy's worship address
edification · lesson · parable · typology · prefiguration · homiletic · teaching · virtue
Worldview excluding the supernatural
- taxonomyScience of categorical arrangement
- speciesFinest taxonomic rank
- faunaAnimal life collectively
- observationAttentive watching or remark
classification · habitat · lore · wildlife · ethology · adaptation · morphology · ornithology
illumination
Provision of light
- parchmentTreated hide for manuscripts
- vellumPrepared calfskin for writing
- codexAncient bound manuscript
scriptorium · folio · scribe · miniature · marginalia · calligraphy · colophon · binding · quill · palimpsest
unicorn
Mythical one-horned horse
- phoenixSelf-immolating, regenerating bird
- dragonLegendary fire-breathing reptile
- griffinLegendary eagle-lion hybrid
basilisk · manticore · cockatrice · salamander · pelican · panther · elephant · lion · asp · viper
symbolism
Representing concepts through images
sermon · edification · lesson · parable · typology · prefiguration · homiletic · teaching · virtue · vice
naturalism
Worldview excluding the supernatural
observation · classification · habitat · lore · wildlife · ethology · adaptation · morphology · ornithology · herpetology
- ancient scienceAristotle, Plato, Ptolemy, Galen, Pythagoras
- library collectionsrare books, manuscripts, medieval manuscripts, illuminated manuscripts, first editions
- medieval arttapestry, ivory carvings, Book of Kells, fresco, Lindisfarne Gospels
- Medieval Sciencealchemy, astrology, astronomy, natural philosophy, scholasticism
- rare booksGutenberg Bible, first edition, rare editions, rare books, first editions
- worldbuildinglore, setting, realms, kingdoms, races
bestiariesSystema Naturae
Foundational biological classification text