A stylised tree with blue and red flowers has black birds hanging from it by their beaks. Some of the birds appear to be stuck in the flowers. The tree is on a knob of ground with its branches hanging over greenish waves. There is a gilt rectangular background in the centre of the image and then a red background decorated with white shamrock-style outlines. It is framed by a three-sided blue outline and then a white decorated red square. Image from Bodleian Library, MS. Bodley 764 [Bestiary (Second Family)], folio 58v.

Gerald of Wales (c1146-c1223) is said to have developed the idea of barnacle geese generation while on an 1185 tour of Ireland. His descriptions imply that the geese are formed from goose barnacles which were really seeds. #medievalmanuscripts #medievalbeasts #barnaclegoose #barnaclegeese

A pale gilt square frame with four red petals at each corner surrounds an image of a tree with five white birds hanging from it by their beaks. Two larger white birds are floating on the green wave beneath the tree. The image has a red background and the tree trunk is a darker red. The birds' feathers are drawn with black ink squiggles. Image from Bibliothèque de l'Arsenal, Ms-3516 [L'Image du monde / Bestiaire of Pierre de Beauvais], folio 205r.

In medieval thought, barnacle geese hatched from trees which grew over water. They would hang off the tree by their beaks until mature when they would fall down into the water as seen in this 13th century image. #medievalmanuscripts #medievalbeasts #barnaclegoose #barnaclegeese

A black and white image from a medieval manuscript page. A male archer is aiming at a large cat-like quadruped with prominent testicles which is supposed to be a beaver. The illustration is shown above text. The archer is dressed in puffy breeches, hose, pointed shoes and a tunic with slashed sleeves as well as a round hat with a feather. His head is tilted quizzically. The arrow on his bow almost touches the nose of the very fierce-looking quadruped. Image from Cambridge University Library, Gg.6.5, folio unknown.

There is only one "Fourth Family" bestiary. It dates from 1450-1475 and is unfinished. It includes "Etymologiae" as well as extracts from "De proprietatibus rerum" by Bartholomaeus Anglicus. It does not yet appear to have been digitised. #medievalmanuscripts #bestiary #fourthfamily

A large grey elephant with tusks wearing a green harness with a castle on its back. A man in chainmail and a tunic holding what looks like a crowbar is kneeling on its head. Other male figures in chainmail and tunics are visible in the castle. Three are in the window of the castle on the first level, a single figure is above then in a window on a second level and a third figure, an archer, is shown in the turrets of the castle shooting down. There is gothic text in Latin below the image. Image from Westminster Abbey Library, MS 22, folio 26v.

"Third Family" bestiaries begin with fabulous races of humans from Isidore of Seville's "Etymologiae" and include works by Bernard Silvestris. They all date from the 13th century. This image is from the Westminster Abbey Bestiary (c1275-1300). #medievalmanuscripts #bestiary

A manuscript page showing a central male figure with an upraised hand on the left-hand upper side with animals in frames on the right and beneath his feet. The animals are a reddish elephant with small ears and a sheepish expression; a brown rabbit looking expectantly at the man with a darker brown squirrel eating an acorn on a blue tree behind it behind it and a grey cat looking backwards at an insect; two large quadrupeds, one orange and one blue; and, at the bottom, a blue antlered quadruped seeming to bow down and a stepping brown quadruped mostly obscured by damage to the page. Gothic text in Latin is shown to the right and beneath the image. The image is in a red and white frame and has a gilt background. Image from Aberdeen University Library, Univ. Lib. MS 24 [Aberdeen Bestiary (Second Family)], folio 2v.

"Second Family" bestiaries are the largest group of medieval bestiaries. They include the same sources as "First Family" bestiaries but also use other sources which greatly increase the number of chapters. This image is from the Aberdeen Bestiary, c1200. #medievalmanuscripts #bestiary

A manuscript page featuring a large elephant with magnificent tusks being engulfed by a blue and green serpentine dragon. The elephant is surprisingly accurate, except for its pale reddish colour. There is a gilt square around the animals then a red frame. The picture is shown below a red heading and above black gothic text. Heading and text are in Latin. Image from Morgan Library MS M81, folio 77v.

"First Family" medieval bestiaries are based on what is known as the "B" version of "Physiologus" (a collection of moralistic beast tales) with additions from other medieval writers. This page is from the Worksop Bestiary, a First Family bestiary from c1185. #medievalmanuscripts #bestiary

Image in a medieval bestiary manuscript. Between 2 lines of Latin script in black ink, a miniature within a simple rectangular frame. The top quarter is painted dark blue, like an evening sky; in the top right corner hangs an 8-pointed star or sun made of gold leaf. Below it, occupying most of the area of the image, is a region of gold leaf, burnished smooth and glossy, but embellished with occasional rounded divots punched into the gold. Almost exactly 8 centuries have passed, yet its lustrous sheen persists. Against this elegant background pose 2 large birds. Both are white, with a regular pattern of feathers picked out in black ink. The pair have slightly curved beaks, and they stride towards the right in tandem. The background bird twists its neck to stare up at the golden star above. The foreground bird bends forward, towards a cluster of 4 eggs on the ground. With its beak, it grasps 1 of the eggs tenderly. Source: folio 27 recto in British Library, Royal manuscript 12 C 19.

A successful egg-hunt?
#Easter #MedievalManuscripts #Manuscripts 📚 📜

Detail from the 1539 "Carta Marina" by Olaus Magnus (1490-1557) showing a striped fish with a beak-like head being attacked by a green crocodilian beast. The striped fish is a pale orange with darker orange ruffled stripes. It has a single large fin rising from its back and two webbed feet. Its round head appears to have a fringe and a prominent beak. It seems to have a brown fish in its maw. The word "ZIPHIVS" is above it. Image from "Carta Marina" (1539) from Wikimedia Commons.

The medieval zifius appears to have morphed into the later ziphius. This ziphius is from the 1539 "Carta marina" created by Olaus Magnus (1490-1557). The creature attacking it is unnamed. #medievalmanuscripts #medievalbeasts #zifius

A very large black fish-like whale appearing to be vomiting up the green wave it is swimming on. The image is on a gilt-studded red background surrounded by a gilt frame on a manuscript page. Image from Bibliothèque Municipale de Valenciennes, MS 320 [Liber de natura rerum], folio 120v.

This version of the zifius from a 13th century "Libera de natura rerum" has been drawn as a whale in response to the description of a sea monster unlike any other. #medievalmanuscripts #medievalbeasts #zifius

My manuscript notes, now an occasional series: "the article -claims- the scribe of the tipped in markers and organizing stuff with his humanist hand is likely Pieter Meghan, whom I believe is the one-eyed drunken Fleming." #medievalmanuscripts

Surrounded by text, an open-mouthed four-legged monster with a long tail ending in a sharp trefoil is looking sideways with an incredibly worried expression. It has a grey wash over the scales covering its upper body and patches of pinkish-brown wash over its underside and face. It has three pinkish-brown fins rising from its back. It seems to have front paws but webbed back feet. Its head seems very human with curly hair and beard. Its open maw has two rows of triangular teeth, many of which seem to be missing. Image from British Library, Additional MS 11390 [Der Naturen Bloeme], folio 55v.

This worried-looking zifius is from a later version (c1300-1325) of "Der Naturen Bloeme". It is still described as a sea monster despite looking more like a dragon. #medievalmanuscripts #medievalbeasts #zifius

Ah, nothing like seeing my past self make devastatingly smart observations about a manuscript, "WHY IS THERE AN ILLUMINATED BLACK GOAT on fol. 52r?" #medievalmanuscripts

A sea monster with a large round grey head with huge orange round eyes and a grinning mouth filled with orange fan-like teeth. The head seems upside down but it is unclear if that is because the monster is upside down or if it is the right way up but with its features the reverse of most of other animals. It has a small brown body to the side which gives no indication as to whether the beast is upside down or not. The image is in a tarnished gilt frame on a manuscript page. Image from Lippische Landesbibliothek, Ms. 70 [Der Naturen Bloeme], folio 87r.

This week's medieval beast is the little-known zifius simply described as a sea monster unlike any other animal. This particular zifius is from the earliest known version (c1287) of "Der Naturen Bloeme". #medievalmanuscripts #medievalbeasts #zifius

A manuscript page showing a green parrot wearing a bead necklace stomping across a block of text with very orange legs and beak. It has a long tail trailing beyond the text and its expression is distinctly cross. Below the block of text is another image of a white bird perched on a man lying in a bed. The bird is meant to be staring at the man to cure his illness but actually appears to be looking at the viewer. Both the man, resting his head on a red cushion, and the bird have disgruntled expressions. Image from Kongelige Bibliotek Gl. kgl. Saml. 1633 4˚ f.33v

The Bestiary of Ann(e) Walsh(e) is particularly known for the whimsical nature of many of its illustrations as on this page which shows a parrot at the top and a caladrius curing a sick man at the bottom. #medievalmanuscripts #bestiary #annwalsh #annewalshe

Over 32,000 medieval manuscripts transcribed in four months using AI - Medievalists.net A new AI-powered tool that has transcribed over 32,000 medieval manuscripts in four months, giving researchers a vast, searchable corpus and new ways to examine historical sources.

Over 32,000 medieval manuscripts transcribed in four months using AI www.medievalists.net/2026/01/3200... #medievalmanuscripts

A manuscript page showing text divided by a picture of four men in a boat grounded on a whale. The text suggests they think the whale is an island. The colours are muted blues and browns. Image from Kongelige Bibliotek Gl. kgl. Saml. 1633 4˚ f.59v.

Medieval bestiaries are classified into four "Families". The classification refers to the contents of the bestiary. The Bestiary of Ann(e) Walsh(e) is a Second Family bestiary which means that it has been compiled from several sources. #medievalmanuscripts #bestiary #annwalsh #annewalshe

A full manuscript page with two blocks of lined Latin gothic-style text. The blocks are divided by a horned red beast (a bull?) with a tufted tail and a blue dog-like beast is at the bottom of page. There are pen scribbles at the throat and under the feet of the blue beast that look like someone trying out a pen. Image from Kongelige Bibliotek Gl. kgl. Saml. 1633 4˚ f.16v.

The Bestiary of Ann(e) Walsh(e) is dated to c1400-1425 but Anne Walshe is thought to have lived around 1531. She not only practised her signature on certain pages but also scribbled on other pages as on this page. #medievalmanuscripts #bestiary #annwalsh #annewalshe

Two faded signatures on a mansucript page. The top one reads "Ane Walshe" and the lower "Ane W". There is a flourish above the "n" in both signatures which indicates that the letter is doubled. Image from Kongelige Bibliotek Gl. kgl. Saml. 1633 4˚.

This week we're going to focus on one of the books often referred to in our images of medieval beasts: the Bestiary of Ann Walsh (or Anne Walshe). It is named for the signature which appears scribbled on several pages as per this image. #medievalmanuscripts #bestiary #annwalsh #annewalshe

A brown-outlined five-limbed starfish crudely filled in with orange colour. The points of the star are shown as curly/wavy and there is a central circle with lines radiating out of it to each limb in the centre of the starfish. The whole is surrounded by text the same colour as the outline. Image from Cambridge University Library, Kk.4.25, folio 92r.

This medieval torpedo from an English Third Family bestiary dated to 1220-1240 has unusually been illustrated as a starfish. #medievalmanuscripts #medievalbeasts #torpedo

A long silver-coloured fish with its tail fin extending into the border of the page swimming beneath some text. Its gills are shown at the base of its head and it has a distinct overlip and a slightly open mouth giving it a disgruntled expression. Image from Kongelige Bibliotek, GKS 1633 4° [Bestiary of Ann Walsh], folio 63v.

The medieval torpedo was said to be so strength that even its breath could create limb weakness. This disgruntled-looking fish is from the Bestiary of Ann Walsh, 1400-1425. #medievalmanuscripts #medievalbeasts #torpedo

Lost Archimedes Page from Medieval Manuscript Discovered in France - Medievalists.net A lost page from the Archimedes Palimpsest, a famous medieval manuscript, has been identified in a French museum, shedding new light on ancient mathematics.

Lost Archimedes Page from Medieval Manuscript Discovered in France www.medievalists.net/2026/03/lost... #medievalmanuscripts #ArchimedesPalimpsest #historysky

Happening tomorrow! Brought to you by #LeedsDH Research Group. There’s still time to sign up if you want to join us!

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A rather blurry large fish outline with a grey colour-washed head and green and brown colour-wash stripes over its body and a brown tail. The colour-washing isn't of very good quality. There is text around the fish on the manuscript page. Image from British Library, Additional MS 11390 [Der Naturen Bloeme], folio 62r.

The medieval torpedo was said to paralyse who/whatever touched it even if it was touched at a distance using a spear. This image is from a version of "Der Naturen Bloeme" dated c1300-c1325. #medievalmanuscripts #medievalbeasts #torpedo

A long black fish half-buried in a green wave at the bottom of the picture with two small fish swimming above it, one blue-grey and the other a creamy colour. The picture is surrounded by a black-edged gilt frame surrounded by text on a manuscript page. The picture's background is red with large gilt circles. Image from Bibliothèque Municipale de Valenciennes, MS 320 [Liber de natura rerum], folio 131v.

The medieval torpedo was said to be a large fish that lived in the Indian Ocean. It was said to bury itself in mud and stun any fish that swam over it. This image is from a 13th century version of "Liber de natura rerum". #medievalmanuscripts #medievalbeasts #torpedo

Political Borders Shaped the Spread of Medieval Chant, Study Finds - Medievalists.net A new study finds that political borders shaped the spread of medieval chant, revealing how tropes travelled across Europe after the Treaty of Verdun.

Political Borders Shaped the Spread of Medieval Chant, Study by @fabianmoss.bsky.social Finds www.medievalists.net/2026/03/poli... #medievalmusic #GregorianChant #medievalmanuscripts

A furry brown dog-like beast with a long raised bushy tail and trailing long pointed ears. It appears very stocky and sturdy. The open-mouthed head and tail are not coloured-in. It has a fierce expression and appears to be moving towards the left. It is shown on green ground against a blue background with clusters of three dots in a gilt frame on a manuscript page. Image from Osterreichische Nationalbibliothek, Cod. 13440 [Der Naturen Bloeme], folio 2r.

The medieval cacus was said to signify angry people pouring fires of vituperation that inflame others. This image from a 14th century Dutch version of "Der Naturen Bloeme" is yet another generic dog-like beast. #medievalmanuscripts #medievalbeasts #cacus

A large generic dog-like beast in a blue-grey colour with an open mouth exhaling four tongues of red fire against a tarnished, possibly gilt, background with a stylised tree seeming to curve over its back. It is shown looking to the left with one foreleg slightly raised and another stylised tree in the background. It is surrounded by a reddish brown and blue decorated frame with gilt corners on a manuscript page. Image from Koninklijke Bibliotheek, KB, KA 16 [Der Naturen Bloeme], folio 51v.

The medieval cacus was sometimes depicted as breathing fire which again harkens back to the myth of Cacus, although Cacus was said to shoot fire from his chest. This image is from a c1350 Flemish version of "Der Naturen Bloeme". #medievalmanuscripts #medievalbeasts #cacus

A brown furry quadruped with a dog-like snout and pointed ears is pulling two bulls backwards by their tails. The animals are shown on green grass with a green plant at the rump of the cacus. A caption of "Cacus" is shown under the rear hooves of the bulls and there is text above, below and beside the cacus. Image from British Library, Additional MS 11390 [Der Naturen Bloeme], folio 10v.

The medieval cacus is possibly a misreading of the myth of Cacus, a flesh-eating shepherd who stole cattle from Hercules. This image is from a c1300-c1325 Dutch version of "Der Naturen Bloeme" by Jacob van Maerlant (c1200-c1272). #medievalmanuscripts #medievalbeasts #cacus

A round-eared blue beast is emerging from a hole in a brown hill and pulling two brown bulls by their tails backwards. The rear bull has its head up and seems to be smiling goofily. The near bull is looking at the blue beast with a very annoyed expression. The animals are shown on brown grass against a red background with large gilt dots in a gilt frame on a manuscript page surrounded by text. Image from Bibliothèque Municipale de Valenciennes, MS 320 [Liber de natura rerum], folio 56r.

Our medieval beast this week is the cacus which was said to be a monster that steals cattle. This image is from a French 13th century version of "Liber de natura rerum" by Thomas de Cantimpré (1201-c1272). #medievalmanuscripts #medievalbeasts #cacus

Thrilled to find out I've been awarded a Bodleian Library Fellowship! I'll be taking up a Humfrey Wanley Visiting Fellowship in the autumn term, researching the residents of medieval Catte Street 📚 #medievalmanuscripts @ihr.bsky.social @ies-sas.bsky.social @bodleian.ox.ac.uk