Mythological Creatures

In the middle ages, animals were essential and acted as a backbone to society. They provided means of transport, and supplied a source of food and labour. As such, this integral aspect of the Middle Ages often stemmed into everything they did, especially their mythology.

Dragons: One of the most recognised antagonists of the middle ages, the dragon often made appearances in many myths and legends. The dragon has many variations, but it is most well known as a giant, fire-breathing lizard that threatens innocent villagers and hoards vast amounts of precious treasure. The dragon was an idyllic adversary and became a symbol for power and courage. There were many variations of the great beast, with some depictions making the dragon breathe ice or a spray of poison instead of fire. Dragons were made out to be able to eat whole humans in a single bite, yet their deadly emphasis was found in their massive, scaly tails. This made them the perfect adversary for medieval folklore.

Griffins: The Griffin was portrayed as a fearsome creature, also constantly threatening innocent villagers and townspeople. The Griffin was portrayed as a half-lion, half-eagle, full predator. It was best known for snatching people out of the blue and carrying them away as food for its young children. They were renowned for their strength, being able to carry both oxen and horses alike using only their strong claws. It was used as a symbol by the Church as it demonstrated unity and the ‘two in one’ nature of Christ.

Phoenix: A large, mythical bird that was known for its rebirth and resurrections. It was also used as a symbol representing Christianity as, like Jesus, it was reborn. Folklore states that every 500 years the magnificent creature flies to an altar, covers itself in frankincense and consumes itself in flame. Out of the ashes, a worm would crawl out and the phoenix would return to its former glory. From this comes the saying, “Out of the ashes, comes a phoenix.”

Unicorn: Unlike other folklore, the unicorns in Middle age legends aren’t happy, rainbow-loving, majestic horses that most people are used to. The unicorns in medieval folklore are described as small ponies or goats with a horn. They were fierce creatures that no man could tame or capture. The only way to obtain one was by baiting it with a young girl. It was sought after as it had healing powers and could detect poisonous substances.