Pond creatures (f79v)

[-JKP-]

I've often wondered if the pond critters on You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view. are a simple collection of "monsters", not intended to be specific animals. Many bestiaries and natural history books had a page or a section devoted to "monsters" or strange animals that they weren't quite sure were real.

Often these monsters were shown in water, as in Lauber's Buch der Natur that I blogged about You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view.:




Note that there is a reptilian-looking "monster" in this group, and there is also a VMS pond critter that is somewhat reptilian. There is a You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view. in the other pond who has no arms, almost as though she is being swallowed by her tail, with a pond critter very much like the other VMS pond critter (pic posted You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view. halfway down on the left):



Here is an example from the LOC Buch der Natur of "monsters" not in water:




There are many medieval and Renaissance manuscripts with a page or a pond (or ocean) full of "monsters".



It's the concept of "monsters" that is being expressed in both examples, even if they are different style and content, and perhaps the VMS pond is also expressing the concept of "monsters" (with one of them big enough to swallow a woman), rather than being specific animals.