The blood of medieval turtledoves was said to help with eye ailments. This illustration of a mated pair is from an English bestiary (c1200-1210). #medievalmanuscripts #medievalbeasts #turtledove #turtledoves

The blood of medieval turtledoves was said to help with eye ailments. This illustration of a mated pair is from an English bestiary (c1200-1210). #medievalmanuscripts #medievalbeasts #turtledove #turtledoves
The medieval turtledove was considered a symbol of the holy church which remained faithful to Christ even after his death. This illustration is from "Ter Duinen Aviary" (1190-1200). #medievalmanuscripts #medievalbeasts #turtledove #turtledoves
After the death of its only mate, the surviving medieval turtledove was said to never perch on anything green as in this image of three solitary turtledoves from the "Bestiaire" of Guillaume le Clerc (c1265-1270). #medievalmanuscripts #medievalbeasts #turtledove #turtledoves
The medieval turtledove was said to be so faithful to its mate that its mate died it would never take another. This gorgeous illustration is from the Aberdeen Bestiary (c1200). #medievalmanuscripts #medievalbeasts #turtledove #turtledoves