The Peridixion tree and the dragons [medieval European mythology]
According to several medieval bestiaries, there exists a strange kind of tree in India called the Peridixion. It carries sweet fruits which are loved by doves. For some reason, these trees are detested and feared by dragons: dragons especially fear the shadow of the tree and will therefore never approach the shaded side.
It sounds like a weird-ass myth but there is actually a Christian allegory going on here: the doves represent good, faithful Christians, whereas the dragon is a metaphor for the devil. The devil wants to eat and destroy the Christians but is deathly afraid of the Church (which is represented by the tree), which offers safety. Therefore, Christians who leave the Church and become atheists need to be careful.
I, on the other hand, propose a different explanation: that the story needs to be taken literally and that we should search for this tree in India and breed it to plant a bunch of anti-dragon-trees in every city. That way, we have safe places for when the dragons attack!
Also, look at the two dragons underneath the tree in the Aberdeen image. It’s actually a dragon design that I really like, with the two legs and two feathered wings, which was also the most common way to depict dragons at the time. There is a dove peacefully sitting on its tail, and I don’t quite understand the meaning of that. Perhaps the devil is talking to it, and tries to tempt it into doing something evil? Or perhaps it is too close to the tree, and therefore doesn’t dare to attack?
(image source 1: Aberdeen bestiary, 12th century) (image source 2: Harley MS 3244 bestiary, British Library)
List of creatures so far
