I am researching Medieval imagery and symbols. I have found the images of the Blacke Toade, and other references to owls, armour and fruit, but I would like to hear of other Medieval images/symbols with an explanation of what they represent and the contexts in which they were used.
2007-06-07 00:45:29 · 4 answers · asked by ii 2 in Arts & Humanities ➔ History
I'm not that familiar with Medieval terms but if you go to this Website you will find heaps of different terms:
http://www.felicitypulman.com.au/mumbo-jumbo.htm
2007-06-07 00:50:24 · answer #1 · answered by Sybil 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The main thing you have to consider is what context the symbology is from or being used in. Alchemy used a lot of symbolism, as the practitioners were very keen to keep information to themselves ( hey you would to if your notes could make base metals into gold!)
Heraldry also used symbolic codes to state attitudes or send messages, but these were more openly shared and you can find info for them on a good heraldry website, but in what ever context a listing of medieval symbology would be more than could be encompassed here. Good luck on your search.
2007-06-07 22:57:10 · answer #2 · answered by prnigel 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
About the only one I can tell you about with any certainty is the griffin, or as it's sometimes spelled, the gryphon.
This was an imaginary animal with the physical characteristics of a lion and an eagle, and had a place in Christian symbolism as representing the dual nature of Jesus Christ. The eagle represented His divinity and the lion represented His humanity.
Oh, and I just thought of the unicorn, too. Usually represented as a horselike being with a horn growing from its forehead, this was a symbol of sexual purity. A unicorn could only be captured by a virgin; in fact, it would come to a virgin and docilely lay its head in her (or his, I suppose) lap.
Both the gryphon and the unicorn were used in art and also as heraldic devices--in fact, the royal arms of England include a lion and a unicorn.
2007-06-07 03:16:42 · answer #3 · answered by Chrispy 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You can try
www.keganpaul.com/images/symbols%20copy.jpg
http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://stampsmith.net/Medieval%2520Tile%2520Designs.jpg&imgrefurl=http://stampsmith.net/medieval2.htm&h=594&w=432&sz=112&hl=en&start=6&um=1&tbnid=AHQxVSoCnC-EDM:&tbnh=135&tbnw=98&prev=/images%3Fq%3DMedieval%2B%26svnum%3D10%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26rls%3DADBS,ADBS:2006-33,ADBS:en%26sa%3DG
www1.istockphoto.com/file_thumbview_approve/9...
www.workofthechariot.com/.../4worlds.gif
2007-06-07 03:02:45 · answer #4 · answered by MORTİCİA 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋