Dragons, Dogs & Amadillos?

[EllieV]

Here is example from North Italian herbal (University of Pennsylvalia, LJS 419, fol. 67v) Not sure what the animal is - my uneducated guess is apothecary skink (sandfish lizard) You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view.

[Koen G]

And in a root even. It's got the split tail, which seems to match the VM creature. I think this is the most likely line of investigation. Skinks especially because they often have a relatively flat head.

[ReneZ]

Here is example from North Italian herbal (University of Pennsylvalia, LJS 419, fol. 67v) Not sure what the animal is - my uneducated guess is apothecary skink (sandfish lizard) You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view.

There could be a relation between this image and the alchemical herb Nr. 34: Herba lucea et de novem una.
See also You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view.
This has an image of the herb, from one alchemical herbal, namely the Oxford MS. In other copies the root
appears basically the same, as a fish with some appendages. The plant looks completely different.

LJS 419 has many illustrations that derive from the alchemical herbals.
The name 'Lucia Magiore' in this MS also suggests a relation with alchemical herb nr. 34.

[Oocephalus]

According to Vera Segre Rutz, as quoted by Marco in You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view. thread:

The plant named You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view. (cap. 34) has been associated with the fish “lucius” (pike) and features a large fish as a zoomorphich root.

So I would say this is just a pike, with the appendages not intended to represent legs. Here's a photo for comparison (from wikipedia).

[R. Sale]

Good catch!!

Does that mean the VMs armadillo is really a pike??

[Oocephalus]

R.Sale: I don't think so. That one clearly has feet.

[Koen G]

It's a pike that evolved feet and is trying to jump out of its nebuly fish bowl.

[EllieV]

According to Vera Segre Rutz, as quoted by Marco in You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view. thread:

The plant named You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view. (cap. 34) has been associated with the fish “lucius” (pike) and features a large fish as a zoomorphich root.

So I would say this is just a pike, with the appendages not intended to represent legs. Here's a photo for comparison (from wikipedia).

Thanks everybody. I see now - it is a fish. It is important to know the context. Thanks again!

[Koen G]

For those interested in a possible "hanging ram" interpretation, this image is from Roman Britain:



Taken from You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view., where the history of various golden fleece myths and motifs is explored.

[-JKP-]

I think there are several possibilities here, including a ram, and I doubt one can be certain either way.

The Ram interpretation was recently discussed by Darren Worley on Stephen Bax' site.
Darren proposed a parallel with You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view., which also includes the nebuly line.

The texture on the back reminds me of pangolin or maybe bumpy sheep's wool, but the posture and especially the snout (and what looks like it might be an ear) remind me of an aardvark:



Image courtesy of You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view..