Rochester Bestiary

Detail of a miniature of elephants, which were known to have been ridden into battle in India carrying castles (howdahs) on their backs; folio 11v.[1]

The Rochester Bestiary (London, British Library, Royal MS 12 F.xiii) is a richly illuminated manuscript copy of a medieval bestiary, a book describing the appearance and habits of a large number of familiar and exotic animals, both real and legendary. The animals' characteristics are frequently allegorised, with the addition of a Christian moral.

  1. ^ McCulloch 1960, p. 116