explore | Grilled Cheese

@flusteredduck.bsky.social Sep 10, 2026, 2:00 AM

The medieval lynx buried the stone created by its urine under sand to hide it. The stone, known as "ligurian" or "lyncurius", was said to cure kidney disease. This pained-looking lynx is from a c1225-1250 English bestiary. #medievalbeasts #medievalmanuscripts #lynx

A seated blue dog-like beast with feathery-style dots all over its coat has one of its front paws raised and its head extended while grimacing as if in pain. A large egg-like stone labelled "ligurian" is resting on its back paws. It has stylised trees on either side and is shown against a red panel in a gilt background and appears to be seated and extending beyond the bottom section of a double-banded red and blue frame on a manuscript page. Image from Bodleian Library, MS. Bodley 764 [Bestiary (Second Family)], folio 11r.

@flusteredduck.bsky.social Sep 9, 2026, 2:00 AM

The medieval lynx was said to represent those who preach without authority while living a sinful life. This gloriously spotty lynx is from the Ashmole Bestiary (early 13th century). #medievalbeasts #medievalmanuscripts #lynx

A very spotty vaguely dog-like creature is curled up towards the front of this lozenge on a red rug looking backwards to a white goat lying at the other end of the rug. The front beast is coloured very well in various shades of blue with white outlined circles and red dots covering its whole coat. It has sharply pointed small ears and is lying on its long thin tail. The image is in a blue-bordered red circular lozenge set within a square golden frame. The outer frame and the lozenge interior have bright gilt backgrounds. Image from Bodleian Library, MS. Ashmole 1511 [The Ashmole Bestiary], folio 15r.

@flusteredduck.bsky.social Sep 8, 2026, 2:00 AM

The medieval lynx's urine was said to have urine which hardened into a gemstone like a flame-coloured carbuncle. The illustrator of this image shows the gemstone in a different colour and forgets the lynx's spots. #medievalbeasts #medievalmanuscripts #lynx

A blue dog-like animal facing towards the left is standing still emitting a stream of urine which becomes a blue gemstone as it hits the ground. It has small rounded ears and an upraised head with an open mouth. It seems to be standing on a line of text. Image from Bibliothèque Nationale de France, lat. 6838B [Bestiary (Second Family], folio 4r.

@flusteredduck.bsky.social Sep 7, 2026, 2:00 AM

Our medieval beast this week is the lynx which was described as resembling a wolf but with panther-like spots on its bike. This particular lynx is from a late 13th century English bestiary. #medievalbeasts #medievalmanuscripts #lynx

A happy-looking dog like beast running in a frame on a manuscript page. It faces to the right with its very long straight tail hanging out of the frame on the bottom left. The tail ends in a wavy trident. The beast is the same colour as the page with three rows of neat red dots on its back, the middle row running down its tail. It has what looks like a short curly mane over its head, shoulders and chests. It has short rounded ears and seems to have whiskers. It is shown with an open mouth with a very red tongue and seems to be smiling. It is shown in front of a stylised uncoloured tree on a deep blue background with red and white decorations. The image is surrounded by a red frame with gilt corners with handwritten text at the top, bottom and to the right. The long tail extends into an empty margin on the right. Image from Bibliothèque Nationale de France, lat. 3630 [Bestiary (Second Family)], folio 76v.

@flusteredduck.bsky.social Sep 3, 2026, 2:00 AM

Our final pegasus is from a 13th century "Libera de natura rerum". Its horns seem more like quills. #medievalmanuscripts #medievalbeasts #pegasus