21-09-2026, 09:14 PM
Some more info:
My pictures come from a book called Das Buch der Natur by some Konrad von Megenberg
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You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view. (in German)
The book describes plants, jewels and various animals (real and fantastical) and is quite similar to the better known Physiologus. Several copies exist, both illustrated and not.
Like Physiologus, it first describes an animal and then makes some analogy to humans, especially human morality.
An example of one of fictional sea monsters (translation by Gemini), see also You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view.
"Abides is a sea monster, which in German may be called an auzgängel [one that goes out / amphibious creature], because, as Aristotle says, the beast is a marine animal that is first a water creature, raised in salty water; thereafter it changes its nature, transforms its shape entirely, leaves the water, and becomes a land animal, feeding henceforth upon dry land. Therefore it also changes its name and is called in Latin astois, which in German may be called a peiständel [one that stands near us], because it stays with us on land. Truly, it is indeed a wonder that in this animal both its nature, its natural habits, and its name are changed. By this beast, I understand every young person who lives virtuously in youth under disciplined guidance... but when grown, turns all virtue into vice and becomes a devil."
I checked other versions and some have a variant this "sea monsters" picture too, but they don't give so much Voynich vibes and seem more distant than the picture I included above. I will share them here later anyway.
My pictures come from a book called Das Buch der Natur by some Konrad von Megenberg
You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view.
You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view. (in German)
The book describes plants, jewels and various animals (real and fantastical) and is quite similar to the better known Physiologus. Several copies exist, both illustrated and not.
Like Physiologus, it first describes an animal and then makes some analogy to humans, especially human morality.
An example of one of fictional sea monsters (translation by Gemini), see also You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view.
"Abides is a sea monster, which in German may be called an auzgängel [one that goes out / amphibious creature], because, as Aristotle says, the beast is a marine animal that is first a water creature, raised in salty water; thereafter it changes its nature, transforms its shape entirely, leaves the water, and becomes a land animal, feeding henceforth upon dry land. Therefore it also changes its name and is called in Latin astois, which in German may be called a peiständel [one that stands near us], because it stays with us on land. Truly, it is indeed a wonder that in this animal both its nature, its natural habits, and its name are changed. By this beast, I understand every young person who lives virtuously in youth under disciplined guidance... but when grown, turns all virtue into vice and becomes a devil."
I checked other versions and some have a variant this "sea monsters" picture too, but they don't give so much Voynich vibes and seem more distant than the picture I included above. I will share them here later anyway.