The origin of medieval monsters

[Zireael]

As the topic says. The sirens, the centaurs, the antipodes, the giants, the pygmies and whatever else.

I have an essay on the topic, but I don't know if I can post the link.

 

[Shockley]

>_> <_<

Pygmies are very real and not monstrous.

 

[Zireael]

Pygmies as depicted in Middle Ages bestiaries, legends and the like were monstrous.

 

[Shockley]

You'll have to source that for me.

 

[Gurkhal]

I would assume that Classical Mythology is probably a source for these creatures due to the fact that Greek and Latin works were to my understanding widely read in by the educated elite in the Middle Ages.

 

[CupofJoe]

I would assume that Classical Mythology is probably a source for these creatures due to the fact that Greek and Latin works were to my understanding widely read in by the educated elite in the Middle Ages.

And you got an influx of the Islamic/Middle Eastern traditions in to Western mythology once the Crusades got going...

 

[Gurkhal]

And you got an influx of the Islamic/Middle Eastern traditions in to Western mythology once the Crusades got going...

That's true.

 

[Zireael]

You'll have to source that for me.

It was a book we read in our medieval imagination course. David Williams, "Deformed Discourse: The Function of Monsters in Medieval Thought and Literature". The pygmies are somewhere in Part II - you can skip pt. I, it's boring and full of philosophy, while part II is a discussion of various monsters presented in the Middle Ages.

 

[Chilari]

Centaurs and minotaurs are Greek in origin.

 

[psychotick]

Hi,

List of legendary creatures - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This may help.

Cheers, Greg.

 

[Zireael]

Can I post a link to my essay, which is a response to Deformed Discourse?