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‘Further reading’ in the Shire
publication ‘The Archaeology of Rabbit Warrens’, includes
Stocker D and Stocker, M; ‘Sacred
Profanity; the theology of rabbit breeding and the symbolic landscape of the
warren’
I have not read this, but it might have
some useful information
Anne
From:
medieval-religion - Scholarly discussions of medieval religious culture
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Behalf Of Gould, David
Sent: 15 January 2014 15:16
To:
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Subject: [M-R] Religious symbolism
of rabbits
Hi,
Is
anyone aware of any religious texts or pieces of art that apply some sort of
religious symbolism to rabbits?
The
usual symbolic association attributed to rabbits tends to be of lust or
fecundity, but there has been a suggestion that rabbits are a symbol of
vulnerability, particularly during the medieval period in northern Europe when
they needed the protection of a warrener and an artificial warren to thrive.
According
this theory, the representation of the animal’s need for protection could
be used in texts and art as being symbolic of humankind’s need for
salvation by Christ.
I’m
aware of depictions of rabbits being hunted, or in marginalia where roles are
reversed and rabbits are hunting dogs, but could anyone point me in the
direction of any texts or pieces of art that specifically treat rabbits not as
prey, but as something requiring protection. There may be some overlap here
– for example a wall painting at Hailes Abbey, Gloucestershire, depicts a
rabbit seeking refuge from dogs.
Many
thanks to anyone able to help.
David
Gould