medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
> In the center was a huge, not-quite-identifiable mammal,
> resembling perhaps an attempt at a rhinoceros, saddled
> with a large mahout's pavilion, in which sat several
> Saracen-looking dudes. Underneath this behemoth was a
> knight in armor stabbing its belly with a sword, while several
> clearly Orientally physionomic and likewise clad noblemen
> looked on.
Any picture available on the net? Google doesn't have anything
for "bremen cathedral sculpture." (The more famous animals
thereabouts are Bremen Town Musicians, out of the Brothers
Grimm.) How old is the sculpture supposed to be?
I'm thinking of the same elephant-and-howdah image that made its
way to England as early as the 15th century and became the
symbol of the cutlers company and, in time, the Elephant &
Castle placename, pub, etc. However, none of the versions of
E&C show any St. George-like elephant slayer or Saracens in the
howdah/castle.
The image also reminds me of the "oiliphaunts" in Lord of the
Rings 3, giant elephants with mammoth weapon systems. They're
in Tolkien; where did he get them?
Cheers,
Al Magary
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