#aniamals

[superdogbiter]

If you could would you go back in time to make sure something like Jaws is never made?

Yes save the sharks

No that movie is too good

Voting ended onMay 13, 2023

I wouldn't mind one film never happening if it means more sharks get to live

[uwmspeccoll]

Summer Series: The Spectacle of Nature

Mythological Animals in Hebrew Illuminated Manuscripts

Humans have long used animal imagery represent the mysteries of life and death. This is true of the three eschatological animals of the Hebrew Bible. To examine these creatures and other animals in medieval manuscripts we turn to the North French Hebrew Miscellany from the 13th century that is held in the British Library (Add. MS 11639). Here in UWM Special Collections we have a lovely facsimile copy produced by Facsimile Editions of London in 2003 that allows for closer inspection.  

The miscellany is a compilation of Hebrew texts, including religious, legal, and poetic writing. It is lavishly illuminated with various scenes from them. There are also depictions of three important mythological animals: the Ziz (a giant bird), Leviathan (a giant sea serpent or fish), and Behemoth (a giant bull).  

From the commentary text section “The Decoration of the Miscellany” by Yael Zirlin:

Ziz: “This medallion displays a large, strange bird, with the body and webbed feet of a waterfowl, but with the wing and beak of a bird. Under its tail lies a huge brown egg. This is Ziz or the Bar Yokhani, which is the name inscribed underneath. According to the Midrash, the Bar Yokhani together with the Behemoth and the Leviathan will be served at the feast of the righteous in Gan-Eden, Paradise.

Leviathan: “Depicted here as a big fish with scales and fins, its mouth full of sharp menacing teeth. Its body forms a loop, the tail nearly touching the head. The Midrash considers the Leviathan to be the most important of the three eschatological animals. Like the Ziz it is destined to be eaten by the righteous in paradise after the mortal combat in which it and the Behemoth kill one another, producing the meat for the feast (Leviticus Rabbah 13:3).”

Behemoth: “The third eschatological animal, is also named shor habar, ‘wild bull,’ which is why it is portrayed here as a big bull. Its body is colourless except for a red contour.”  

These three important creatures are prominently displayed with full-page illustrations, but there are other animal illustrations peppered throughout the manuscript, especially in the marginal decorations. There are both mythical beasts such as a griffon and dragon, along with real animals such as a monkey, peacock, rabbit, and lion.

Of course, all these illustrations were completed by hand by skilled illuminators. In the “Making of the Miscellany” section of the commentary text, Malachi Beit-Arié explains: “It appears that the production involved five successive stages: (1) copying the main texts in several stages; (2) illuminating the main texts; (3) adding unrelated texts in the margins and on the blank pages at the end of units; (4) decorating the marginal texts; (5) inserting quires of paintings and adding paintings to blank pages.”

Many images achieved an iconographic status because they were copied from other illuminated manuscripts or model books.

View more posts about the North French Hebrew Miscellany.

View more posts in the Summer Series: The Spectacle of Nature.  

–Sarah, Special Collections Senior Graduate Intern

[yeecimelia]

A day of fighting with toys.

[way-kitties]

[ID: a striped gray cat glares at the camera. end ID.]

oh he is MAD

[ksjanes]

“The meaningful glances of an animal immediately raises it into a human category in our minds!”  Mehmet Murat ildan

[dayflyworld]

[catsnroses]

Forest Tombstone - Sand Point Trail, Lake Ozette, Olympic National Forest, Washington

Taken by @catsnroses​ with a Samsung Galaxy S7 - July 29th, 2018

[olesyamarie]

Spending the weekend with my best friend! . . . . . . . . . . . . . #aniamals #adorable #animalsofinstagram #bestfriends #bff #bestfriendgoals #canadiandogs #dogs #dogoftheday #dogofinstagram #dogfriends #excited #friendship #friends #friendshipgoals #goldensofinstagram #goldenretriever #goldebretrieversofinstagram #happydogs #labradorretriever #labradorsofinstagram #sleepover #truefriends #weekend