![]() ![]() Oxford, Bodley MS 764: “The basilisk’s name in Greek (regulus) means little king, because he is the king of creeping things. Harley 4751 and Bodley 764 are sister manuscripts with very similar illustrations. While Rowling’s descriptions may not be any more accurate than those of medieval artists, they share some notable similarities, with a few creative innovations.īasilisk: Image from British Library manuscript Harley 4751 f. Perhaps our medieval counterparts were onto something. The dragon, the griffin, the unicorn, the phoenix, the centaur-these and more are represented in Muggle works of that period, though usually with almost comical inexactitude. A glance through Muggle art and literature of the Middle Ages reveals that many of the creatures they now believe to be imaginary were then known to be real. In Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, Rowling’s contemporary bestiary, the fictional author Newt Scamander writes:Īstounding though it may seem to many wizards, Muggles have not always been ignorant of the magical and monstrous creatures that we have worked so long and hard to hide. These magical animals have not faded from the literary imagination and appear frequently in popular culture, like in the Harry Potter series by J. 80v circa 1275-1325.īasilisks and dragons and phoenixes, oh my! These fantastic beasts are not creatures you’re likely to see on your next holiday, but in the Middle Ages, they commonly appeared in bestiaries alongside real animals like eagles, lions, badgers and elephants. British Library manuscript Royal 10 E IV f. ![]()
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