Traveling within the World
Linking your favorite traveling artists across the globe
Beings of Legend Lore and Myth
Information
A bestiary, or Bestiarum vocabulum is a compendium of beasts. Bestiaries were made popular in the Middle Ages in illustrated volumes that described various animals, birds and even rocks.
Location: In the stories of past lore myth and tales of old
Members: 37
Latest Activity: Feb 11, 2014
Bestiaries were particularly popular in England and France around the 12th century and were mainly compilations of earlier texts. The earliest bestiary in the form in which it was later popularized was an anonymous 2nd century Greek volume called the Physiologus, which itself summarized ancient knowledge and wisdom about animals in the writings of classical authors such as Aristotle's Historia Animalium and various works by Herodotus, Pliny the Elder, Solinus, Aelian and other naturalists.
Following the Physiologus, Saint Isidore of Seville (Book XII of the Etymologiae) and Saint Ambrose expanded the religious message with reference to passages from the Bible and the Septuagint. They and other authors freely expanded or modified pre-existing models, constantly refining the moral content without interest or access to much more detail regarding the factual content. Nevertheless, the often fanciful accounts of these beasts were widely read and generally believed to be true. A few observations found in bestiaries, such as the migration of birds, were discounted by the natural philosophers of later centuries, only to be rediscovered in the modern scientific era.
Two illuminated Psalters, the Queen Mary Psalter (British Library Ms. Royal 2B, vii) and the Isabelle Psalter (State Library, Munich), contain full Bestiary cycles. That in the Queen Mary Psalter is in the "marginal" decorations that occupy about the bottom quarter of the page, and are unusually extensive and coherent in this work. In fact the bestiary has been expanded beyond the source in the Norman bestiary of Guillaume le Clerc to ninety animals. Some are placed in the text to make correspondences with the psalm they are illustrating. [1]
The Italian artist Leonardo da Vinci also made his own bestiary.
The Aberdeen Bestiary is one of the best known of over 50 manuscript bestiaries surviving today.
Mediaeval bestiaries are remarkably similar in sequence of the animals of which they treat.
In modern times, artists such as Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec and Saul Steinberg have produced their own bestiaries. Jorge Luis Borges wrote a contemporary bestiary of sorts, the Book of Imaginary Beings, which collects imaginary beasts from bestiaries and fiction. Nicholas Christopher wrote a literary novel called "The Bestiary" (Dial, 2007) that describes a lonely young man's efforts to track down the world's most complete bestiary. Writers of Fantasy fiction draw heavily from the fanciful beasts described in mythology, fairy tales, and bestiaries. The "worlds" created in Fantasy fiction can be said to have their own bestiaries. Similarly, authors of fantasy role-playing games sometimes compile bestiaries as references, such as the Monster Manual for Dungeons & Dragons. It is not uncommon for video games with a large variety of enemies (especially RPGs) to include a bestiary of sorts. This usually takes the form of a list of enemies and a short description (e.g. the Metroid Prime and Castlevania games, as well as Dark Cloud and Final Fantasy).
Some mythical creatures, such as the dragon and griffin, have their origin in traditional mythology and have been believed to be real creatures. Others were based on real baby creatures, originating in garbled accounts of travelers' tales; such as the Vegetable Lamb of Tartary, which supposedly grew tethered to the earth (and was actually a type of fern)[1]. Examples of the legendary creatures can be found in medieval bestiaries.
Conversely, some creatures downplayed as just storytelling, have been rediscovered and found to be real in recent books, such as the giant squid (the Kraken). In Africa, Natives of the Congo told European visitors of an animal that looked like a cross between a zebra and a giraffe. While the visitors assumed the stories were just folk tales, in 1901, Sir Harry Johnston brought back pelts that proved the creature, which we now call the okapi, was real.
Often mythical creatures are hybrids, a combination of two or more animals. For example, a centaur is a combination of a man and horse, a minotaur of a man and bull, and the mermaid, half woman and half fish. These were not always intended to be understood as literal juxtapositions of parts from disparate species. Lacking a common morphological vocabulary, classical and medieval scholars and travelers would attempt to describe unusual animals by comparing them point-for-point with familiar: the giraffe, for example, was called camelopard, and thought of as a creature half-camel, and half-leopard. The leopard itself was so named as it was historically believed to be a half-lion (Latin: "leo") and half-panther (Latin: "pardus"). This etymology has been kept until the present day, despite its zoological inaccuracies.
Many legendary creatures appear prominently in fantasy fiction. These creatures are often claimed to have supernatural powers or knowledge or to guard some object of great value, which becomes critical to the plot of the story in which it is found. Dragons, for instance, are commonly depicted as perched on a gleaming hoard of gold which becomes the target of adventurers.
Other legendary creatures are thought to exist even today, including chupacabras, Bigfoot, Yeti, the Loch Ness Monster, the Jersey Devil, Mothman, Yowie, Yeren, Pukwudgie, and even space aliens. These are called cryptids by cryptozoologists.
Throughout history legendary creatures have been incorporated into heraldry and architectural decoration. Legendary creatures have also been accepted into many facets of popular culture, most notably in fantasy role playing games such as Dungeons & Dragons or Everquest, video games, and Hollywood movies.
Discussion Forum
RAVEN FOLKLORE by Rev. Carol A. Ingle (Raven) 2 Replies
RAVEN FOLKLOREThey slept until the black raven,the blithe heartedproclaimed the joy of heaven- BeowulfNative AmericanAccording to Jamie Sams and David Carson, in their excellent book Medicine Cards (which accompanies a beautiful deck of animal…Continue
Started by Dept of PMM Artists & things. Last reply by Dept of PMM Artists & things Feb 11, 2014.
~ The Crow ~ by Christine Narducci 2 Replies
Here is a different take on what we know of the Crow. Some of which is obviously myth...and some might actually be fact. I had to make a few corrections to this article, but it is not mine in any way. I borrowed this excerpt from:…Continue
Started by Dept of PMM Artists & things. Last reply by Dept of PMM Artists & things Feb 7, 2014.
Hecate, Greek Goddess of The Crossroads by Teths Place 5 Replies
Hecate, Greek goddess of the three paths, guardian of the household, protector of everything newly born, and the goddess of witchcraft -- once a widely revered and influential goddess, the reputation of Hecate has been tarnished over the centuries.…Continue
Started by Dept of PMM Artists & things. Last reply by Dept of PMM Artists & things Feb 1, 2014.
The Goddess Nerthus & the Ancient Franks:
The Goddess Nerthus & the Ancient Franks:(Pictured:Nerthus (1905) by Emil Doepler) During the time of Roman expansion in Europe, the Romans encountered many Germanic tribes on the other side of the Rhine and Danube rivers. The German people…Continue
Started by Dept of PMM Artists & things Feb 1, 2014.
Water Deities
Water DeitiesA water deity is a supernatural being in mythology associated with water or various bodies of water. Water deities are common in mythology. Water deities usually were important among civilizations in which the sea or ocean, or a great…Continue
Started by Dept of PMM Artists & things Jan 31, 2014.
Vampire Graves Unearthed 1 Reply
World News - Construction sites are becoming popular scenes for discoveries of everything from prehistoric mammoth fossils to newly discovered spider species. In following that trend, a recent construction project near Gliwice, Poland uncovered a…Continue
Started by Dept of PMM Artists & things. Last reply by Dept of PMM Artists & things Jan 26, 2014.
Power Animals & Guardians by Michelle Clarke
Shamans…Continue
Started by Dept of PMM Artists & things Jan 25, 2014.
Lycanthropy by Dark Reaper 1 Reply
I was just doing a little reading and came across this. It just amazes me what some people will believe sometimes. The blind and misled are only out numbered by the things they choose to believe it seems. LycanthropyLycanthropy is the transformation…Continue
Started by Dept of PMM Artists & things. Last reply by Dept of PMM Artists & things Jan 25, 2014.
Comment Wall
Comment
-
Comment by Dept of PMM Artists & things on January 22, 2014 at 6:54pm
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Horse Spirit Animal
The horse spirit animal symbolizes personal drive, passion and an appetite for freedom. Among all the spirit animals, it shows a strong motivation that carries a person through life.
The meaning of the horse varies depending on whether this animal spirit guide is represented as wild, tamed, moving freely or constrained. Horses generally represent a driving force or the balance between the instinctive and tamed parts of your personality. The horse also suggests strong emotions, passionate desires and sexual energy - especially masculine energy.
Having a horse as a spirit animal points to how free you feel to express yourself in life. The horse has been domesticated by humans, yet maintains a strong energy and drive of its own. As a power animal, it relates to your ability to express yourself freely and assertively in social environments such as work or school, or in closer circles of family and friends.
When reflecting on your spirit animal, if you see the horse running wild, it could be worth reflection on positive and negative meanings. On the positive side, a horse running free is a sign that your drive to be free and express yourself freely is strong and alive. On the flip side, a horse running wild could symbolize a part of your personality or emotions that are hard to manage and are running your life instead of you running it.
Psychologist Carl Jung wrote that horses symbolize natural forces mastered by human beings. Just like we harness a horse to ride it or use its power, we can harness our own energy - or nature’s - to serve us and bring us further.
http://www.thesmartwitch.com/
-
-
-
-
The Color Quarrel
Once upon a time the colors of the world started to
quarrel: all claimed that they were the best, the most important,
the most useful, the favorite.
GREEN said: "Clearly I am the most important. I am the
sign of life and of hope. I was chosen for grass, leaves,
trees--without me, all animals would die. Look out over the countryside
and you will see that I am in the majority."
BLUE interrupted: "You only think about the Earth, but
consider the sky and sea. It is the water that is the basis of life
and drawn up by the clouds from the deep sea. The sky gives space
and peace and serenity. Without my peace, you would all be nothing."
YELLOW chuckled: "You are all so serious. I bring
laughter, gaiety, and warmth to the world. The sun is yellow, the moon
is yellow, and the stars are yellow. Every time you look at a
sunflower, the whole world starts to smile. Without me, there would be no
fun."
ORANGE started next to blow her temper. "I am the
color of health and strength. I may be scarce but I am precious for I
serve the needs of human life. I carry the most important vitamins. Think
of carrots, pumpkins, oranges, mangos, and pawpaws. I don't hang
around all the time, but when I fill the sky at sunrise or sunset, my
beauty is so striking that no one gives another thought to any of
you."
RED could stand it no longer. He shouted out: "I am
the ruler of all of you! I am blood! Life's blood! I am the color of
danger and of bravery. I am willing to fight for a cause. I bring
fire to the blood! I am the color of passion and of love, the red
rose, the poppy and the poinsettia. Without me, the earth would
be as empty as the moon!"
PURPLE rose up to his full height. He was very tall
and spoke with great pomp: "I am the color of royalty and power.
Kings, chiefs, and bishops have always chosen me for I am a sign of
authority and wisdom. People do not question me, they listen and
obey."
Finally, INDIGO spoke, much more quietly than all the
others, but with just as much determination: "Think of me. I am the
color of silence. You hardly notice me, but without me you all become
superficial. I represent thought and reflection, twilight and deep
water. You need me for balance and contrast, for prayer and inner peace."
And so all the colors went on boasting and
quarreling, each convinced of their own superiority. Soon, their
quarreling became louder and louder. Suddenly there was a startling
flash of bright lightening!
Thunder rolled and boomed! Rain started to pour down
relentlessly. The colors crouched down in fear drawing close to one
another for comfort.
In the midst of the clamor, RAIN began to speak: "You
foolish colors, fighting amongst yourselves, each trying to
dominate the rest. Don't you know you were each made for a special
purpose, unique and different? Join hands with one another and come to
me."
Doing as they were told, the colors united and joined
hands. The RAIN continued: "From now on, when it rains, each of you
will stretch across the sky in a great bow of colors as a reminder
that you can all live in peace. The rainbow is a sign of hope for
tomorrow."
And so, whenever a good rain washes the world, and a
rainbow appears in the sky, let us remember to appreciate one another.
-
-
-
-
Athirat, the Walker of the Sea, Mother of the Iluma.
Also known as Asherah in Hebrew, wife of El/'Ilu.
Many have made the mistake of mixing her with Astarte and many other Deities but she is one who stands on her own.
-
-
-
-
Events
Birthdays
There are no birthdays today
Important (read & understand)
Skype: Travelingraggyman
Email and Instant Messenger:
TravelerinBDFSM @ aol/aim; hotmail; identi.ca; live & yahoo
OR
Travelingraggyman @ gmail and icq ***
OUR MOST RECENT AWARD
1AWARD UPDATES & INFORMATION
10,000 votes - Platinum Award
5,000 votes - Gold Award
2,500 votes - Silver Award
1,000 votes - Bronze Award
300 votes - Pewter Award
100 votes - Copper Award
Member of the Associated Posting System {APS}
This allows members on various sites to share information between sites and by providing a by line with the original source it credits the author with the creation.
Legal Disclaimer
***************We here at Traveling within the World are not responsible for anything posted by individual members. While the actions of one member do not reflect the intentions of the entire social network or the Network Creator, we do ask that you use good judgment when posting. If something is considered to be inappropriate it will be removed
Site Meter
This site is strictly an artist operational fan publication, no copyright infringement intended
Patchwork Merchant Mercenaries had its humble beginnings as an idea of a few artisans and craftsmen who enjoy performing with live steel fighting. As well as a patchwork quilt tent canvas. Most had prior military experience hence the name.
Patchwork Merchant Mercenaries.
Vendertainers that brought many things to a show and are know for helping out where ever they can.
As well as being a place where the older hand made items could be found made by them and enjoyed by all.
We expanded over the years to become well known at what we do. Now we represent over 100 artisans and craftsman that are well known in their venues and some just starting out. Some of their works have been premiered in TV, stage and movies on a regular basis.
Specializing in Medieval, Goth , Stage Film, BDFSM and Practitioner.
Patchwork Merchant Mercenaries a Dept of, Ask For IT was started by artists and former military veterans, and sword fighters, representing over 100 artisans, one who made his living traveling from fair to festival vending medieval wares. The majority of his customers are re-enactors, SCAdians and the like, looking to build their kit with period clothing, feast gear, adornments, etc.
Likewise, it is typical for these history-lovers to peruse the tent (aka mobile store front) and, upon finding something that pleases the eye, ask "Is this period?"
A deceitful query!! This is not a yes or no question. One must have a damn good understanding of European history (at least) from the fall of Rome to the mid-1600's to properly answer. Taking into account, also, the culture in which the querent is dressed is vitally important. You see, though it may be well within medieval period, it would be strange to see a Viking wearing a Caftan...or is it?
After a festival's time of answering weighty questions such as these, I'd sleep like a log! Only a mad man could possibly remember the place and time for each piece of kitchen ware, weaponry, cloth, and chain within a span of 1,000 years!! Surely there must be an easier way, a place where he could post all this knowledge...
Traveling Within The World is meant to be such a place. A place for all of these artists to keep in touch and directly interact with their fellow geeks and re-enactment hobbyists, their clientele.
© 2024 Created by Rev. Allen M. Drago ~ Traveler.
Powered by
You need to be a member of Beings of Legend Lore and Myth to add comments!