bestiary
Medieval animal encyclopedia
A bestiary is a medieval illustrated book cataloging real and imaginary animals, typically describing each creature's appearance, habits, and symbolic or moral significance.
The term now applies to any compendium of beasts, especially in fantasy literature and games: The author included a bestiary at the back of the novel.
A writer's bestiary might be their collected monster creations.
Legendary eagle-lion hybrid
- phoenixSelf-immolating, regenerating bird
- chimeraUnrealistic fantasy or hybrid
- hydraFreshwater cnidarian polyp
- centaurHalf-human, half-equine being
minotaur · sphinx · pegasus · unicorn · basilisk · dragon · kraken · gorgon
Original text before publication
- illuminatedMade visible by light
- parchmentTreated hide for manuscripts
- codexAncient bound manuscript
- folioSingle-fold page format
scriptorium · vellum · calligraphy · marginalia · monastic · heraldry · glosses · palimpsest
Animal life collectively
- speciesFinest taxonomic rank
- taxonomyScience of categorical arrangement
- wildlifeUndomesticated natural organisms
- ethologyStudy of animal conduct
naturalism · classification · habitat · biodiversity · ornithology · entomology · herpetology · mammalogy
Inherited cultural narratives
- legendUnverified traditional tale
- mythosBody of foundational legends
- fableMoral tale with animals
- sagaExtended heroic narrative
chronicle · tradition · narrative · storytelling · mythology · oral-history · mythmaking · cryptid
Condensed reference collection
- catalogOrdered list of items
- encyclopediaComprehensive subject-matter collection
- anthologyCollected literary works volume
- collectionGathered set of items
inventory · lexicon · taxonomy · classification · index · register · repository · menagerie
Right and wrong principles
- symbolismRepresenting concepts through images
- virtueMoral goodness or merit
- viceBad habit or deputy
- didacticIntended to instruct
parable · edifying · cautionary · personification · teaching · lesson · typology · redemption
griffin
Legendary eagle-lion hybrid
- phoenixSelf-immolating, regenerating bird
- chimeraUnrealistic fantasy or hybrid
- hydraFreshwater cnidarian polyp
centaur · minotaur · sphinx · pegasus · unicorn · basilisk · dragon · kraken · gorgon · cerberus
manuscript
Original text before publication
- illuminatedMade visible by light
- parchmentTreated hide for manuscripts
- codexAncient bound manuscript
folio · scriptorium · vellum · calligraphy · marginalia · monastic · heraldry · glosses · palimpsest
fauna
Animal life collectively
- speciesFinest taxonomic rank
- taxonomyScience of categorical arrangement
- wildlifeUndomesticated natural organisms
ethology · naturalism · classification · habitat · biodiversity · ornithology · entomology · herpetology · mammalogy · ichthyology
folklore
Inherited cultural narratives
saga · chronicle · tradition · narrative · storytelling · mythology · oral-history · mythmaking · cryptid · fabulous
compendium
Condensed reference collection
- catalogOrdered list of items
- encyclopediaComprehensive subject-matter collection
- anthologyCollected literary works volume
collection · inventory · lexicon · taxonomy · classification · index · register · repository · menagerie · archive
morality
Right and wrong principles
didactic · parable · edifying · cautionary · personification · teaching · lesson · typology · redemption · sin
- ancient textsscrolls, scroll, Euclid's Elements, Epic of Gilgamesh, codex
- Classical BeastsCerberus, Pegasus, Minotaur, Hydra, Sphinx
- game writingdialogue, strategy guides, walkthroughs, lore, backstory
- medieval arttapestry, ivory carvings, Book of Kells, fresco, Lindisfarne Gospels
- Medieval Bestiaryunicorn, dragon, griffin, phoenix, basilisk
- medieval literatureBeowulf, Song of Roland, Canterbury Tales, Chaucer, Geoffrey Chaucer
bestiaryherbarium
Preserved plant specimen archive
herbal · lapidary · gazetteer · atlas · encyclopedia