DEEP RECORD
DEER
Cervus
When sick, deer draw snakes from their holes with their breath, eat them, and recover.
ISIDORE XII.1.18–19 · ABERDEEN f.13r–13v
HAVE YOU SEEN THE BASILISK?
ANIMALS
One canonical library, arranged the way Isidore arranged Book XII. Every open record shows where its story comes from.
20OPEN RECORDS
20ANIMALS IN THE LIBRARY
Choose an animal because it looks strange, familiar, funny or beautiful, or because you know its Latin name. Every animal opens to a full record, and each label says how deep the evidence goes. Want the background first? Read the source lineage →
XII.1 · DE PECORIBUS ET IUMENTIS
HERD ANIMALS · 3 OF 3 OPENXII.2 · DE BESTIIS
BEASTS · 7 OF 7 OPEN
CUT OUT OF THE COMMONS PUBLIC-DOMAIN DETAIL OF f.9r · ORIGINAL PAINT AND CONTOUR, NOT REDRAWN
FEATURED RECORD · DEEP RECORD
PANTHER
Panther · pantera
After eating, the panther sleeps for three days. When it wakes, a sweet smell comes from its mouth, and every animal follows it except the dragon.
LATER BESTIARY LAYER · ATTRIBUTED IN THE MANUSCRIPT TO PHYSIOLOGUS
ISIDORE XII.2.8–9 · ABERDEEN MS 24 · f.9r
SEE THE WHOLE MINIATURE · f.9r ↓
PARTIAL RECORD
CAT
Musio · cattus
It sees so sharply that the gleam of its eyes overcomes the dark of night.
ISIDORE XII.2.38 · ABERDEEN f.23v
ABERDEEN MS 24 · f.23v · FOLIO PAGE (provenance: University of Aberdeen catalogue page) ↗
XII.3 · DE MINUTIS ANIMANTIBUS
SMALL ANIMALS · 4 OF 4 OPENPARTIAL RECORD
MOLE
Talpa · aspalax
Condemned to perpetual blindness in darkness.
ISIDORE XII.3.5 · ABERDEEN f.24r
ABERDEEN MS 24 · f.24r · FOLIO PAGE (provenance: University of Aberdeen catalogue page) ↗PARTIAL RECORD
HEDGEHOG
Ericius · ericium · echinus
It cuts a grape from the vine, rolls onto its back over it, and carries it home to its young.
ISIDORE XII.3.7 · ABERDEEN f.24r
ABERDEEN MS 24 · f.24r · FOLIO PAGE (provenance: University of Aberdeen catalogue page) ↗ISIDORE XII.3.9 · REPORTEDIn Ethiopia there are ants the size of dogs, which dig up sand full of gold and guard it.
PARTIAL RECORD
ANT
Formica
ISIDORE XII.3.9 · ABERDEEN f.24v–25r
ABERDEEN MS 24 · f.24v · FOLIO PAGE (provenance: University of Aberdeen catalogue page) ↗PARTIAL RECORD
ANT-LION
Formicoleon · mirmicoleon
To other animals it is like an ant; to ants, like a lion.
ISIDORE XII.3.10 · PHYSIOLOGUS Y XXXIII · CLM 14388 f.180v–181r
XII.4 · DE SERPENTIBUS
SERPENTS · 3 OF 3 OPEN
PARTIAL RECORD
VIPER
Vipera
Vipera, quod vi pariat: “because it gives birth by force.”
ISIDORE XII.4.10–11 · ABERDEEN f.66v–67v
ABERDEEN MS 24 · f.66v · FOLIO PAGE (provenance: University of Aberdeen catalogue page) ↗XII.7 · DE AVIBUS
BIRDS · 1 OF 1 OPEN
XII.8 · DE MINUTIS VOLATILIBUS
SMALL FLYING CREATURES · 1 OF 1 OPEN
OUTSIDE BOOK XII · NO ISIDORE ANIMAL ENTRY
REACHES THE BESTIARY ANOTHER WAY · 1 OF 1 OPEN
BOOK XII CATEGORY SPINE
3 ANIMALS IN THE LIBRARY
XII.1 — DE PECORIBUS ET IUMENTIS
7 ANIMALS IN THE LIBRARY
XII.2 — DE BESTIIS
OPEN →4 ANIMALS IN THE LIBRARY
XII.3 — DE MINUTIS ANIMANTIBUS
3 ANIMALS IN THE LIBRARY
XII.4 — DE SERPENTIBUS
NO ANIMALS IN THE LIBRARY
XII.5 — DE VERMIBUS
NO ANIMALS IN THE LIBRARY
XII.6 — DE PISCIBUS
1 ANIMAL IN THE LIBRARY
XII.7 — DE AVIBUS
1 ANIMAL IN THE LIBRARY