Book of Beasts

Brain cancer is...

...celebrating Birthday Day 6 at the Getty.

LuAnn spotted the exhibit,  Book of Beasts in the Medieval World (here), in the nick of time (it closes soon).   We learned lots about bestiaries and beasts, and LuAnn treated us to an elegant birthday lunch as well. Thanks, Mom.

What a lovely day you were, Birthday Day 6!

Able to tolerate more information about beasts?  Read on.

Here are just three fun facts from today. Not four.  You're welcome.

1. A bestiary is a medieval book of real and imagined beasts.  The person who drew the pictures was different from the person who wrote the text, so they had to have an unusually high degree of collaboration.  The writer went first and had to plan space for the pictures.  Here's a typical page:

 

2.  In medieval Europe, everything on earth (including the animals) was viewed in its relationship with God.  Every animal in the bestiaries was well known for its stories and symbolism.  The unicorn, for example, was a symbol of Christ.  The maiden often shown with the unicorn was Christ's mother, Mary.

Left, see the unicorn (Christ) being stabbed (sacrificed) as it sought its mother's lap.

3. Lions--the king of the beasts--are the first animals listed in a bestiary.  Lots of symbolism there too.  People believed that lions were born dead, and after three days, they arose from the dead given the loving, warm breath of their parents (bottom image).

In case you're sad about the dead unicorn, here's a happier image (this one in a tapestry) to give you blissful dreams:

Happy Birthday Day 6 Dreams, Team D!