What were “bestiaries”?

The story behind the answer

These lavishly illustrated manuscripts paired descriptions of animals with allegories to teach Christian ethics and theology. A lion reviving its cubs could signify the Resurrection; the pelican nourishing its chicks with blood symbolized Christ’s sacrifice; the ant hoarding grain modeled prudence. Their aim was moral instruction for monks, preachers, and lay audiences, not zoological accuracy or mere entertainment.

Originating from the late antique Physiologus and flourishing in 12th–13th century Europe—especially England and France—bestiaries mixed real fauna with marvels like unicorns and basilisks. Their vivid imagery and memorable stories made them powerful tools for sermons and education, shaping medieval perceptions of the natural world as a book of signs pointing to spiritual truths.