Medieval Elephants

I found yet another drawing of a weird elephant.  We are so used to seeing everything in the world via our screens, be they TV, Film, Internet, that we forget that this wasn't how things were viewed in the past.  Most unusual things were described in words or if you were lucky a drawing.

This elephant must have been described in an unusual manner, or perhaps it was a second or third hand description, like a chinese whisper.

(image source: http://bibliodyssey.blogspot.com.au/2012/02/tractatus-de-herbis.html)

Now we have moved to another position where we 'imagine'  the elephant in all different kinds of forms.  Almost the opposite point from those in the past.

(image source: http://carolineroseart.com/)

Comments

[Rachel]

Sometimes when you see drawings like that you begin to understand why people used to assume travellers were lying!

[Carolyn Foley]

You sure do.