Tammy’s Reviews > The Book of Beasts: Being a Translation from a Latin Bestiary of the 12th Century > Status Update

It’s surprisingly seen as restorative. The third crow of the cock reminded Peter of his faithlessness but that caused him to repent. Christ forgave him so he was restored. So, it’s a sign of restoration to the sick."

pp. 150-151 The first is a bird called the Hoopoe (based on its sound). They said it was a filthy bird that lines its nest with dung and eats dung and can cause you to have nightmares if you are exposed to it. The second is the cock. It’s like a eunuch because it’s missing the same thing. The crowing of a cock is comforting to travelers, workers, and priests because it tells the passage of time.

If the saura goes into a hole in the wall facing east and stretches itself toward the rising sun, its sight is restored. What a cool image!!!!!

The salamander is fascinating. It can kill more people in one blow than other reptiles. If it wraps itself around trees, it infects the fruit with venom and, if people eat the fruit, they die. If the fruit falls in the well, it poisons people who drink the water. If salamanders are in a fire, they put out the flames. None of this is true but it’s te imagery that matters in literature. Saura goes blind when its old.

pp. 181 The medievals imagined three kinds of small venomous snakes with poison that kills you so quickly there is no pain. The syrene is a white snake with wings and it flies. The seps poisons your blood and bones. The dipsa is so small that you can’t see it. Lhcan the poet wrote about it. There are reptiles with arms (frog, salamander, lizard, newt). I already read about the newt.

His mother’s maid noticed this and thanked Lucina for the help because the baby was delivered. It was a trick and, as soon as Lucina let go, he was born. As a punishment, Juno turned the maid into a weasel and she could only give birth through the ear by which she had deceived the goddess.

She conceived by the word planted in her ear. God spoke the word through the mouth of an angel which caused the Virgin to conceive. This idea was believed by early theologians. Weasels are skilled in medicine and they could resurrect their babies that are killed. Ovid had a metamorphosis story. Lucina (light) was midwife to the goddesses. Hercules’ mother was struggling and Juno ordered Lucina to hinder birth.

pp. 22-24 (2 pages) was for the griffin.
ppp. 91-93 (2 pages) Weasels are like a long mouse or rat. After having babies, she stays in a different lair every night. Weasels go after snake and mice. (The theory is that medievals confused the mongoose and weasels.) They were believed to conceive through the ear and give birth through the mouth (or vice versa). This symbolized the Virgin Mary.

A griffin is a winged quadruped born in mountains or Hyperborean parts. It has the boady of a lion and the wings and face of an eagle. It’s a blend of the symbols of the evangelists Mark and John. It’s hostile to horses. It will tear apart humans.

More on lions. Their courage is seated in their heart and constancy in their heads. Fire and creaking wheels frighten lions. Lions are proud. They enjoy sauntering on mountaintops. If hunted, he uses his tail to disguise his scent and he saves himself. Likewise, Jesus hid his nature when sent by the Father to Mary’s womb and saved humanity. Even angels cannot find him and ask, “Who is this King of Glory?” (Messiah)