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Let’s Make a Unicorn
When it comes to making mythical beasts based on real ones, the horse is a popular candidate. It’s easy to see why. They’re seen as swift, strong, graceful, and essential for the livelihoods of many cultures. Thus, horses have made a natural starting point for tales of larger-than-life creatures for countless generations. It’s perhaps inevitable…
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Medieval Bestiaries and Mythical Creatures: Unnatural History
Of all the literary forms in human history, the illuminated manuscripts of medieval Western Europe are among the most memorable. With their thick parchment, elaborate opening letters, and colorful and often strange illustrations, what’s not to love? Perhaps the most famous illuminated manuscripts were the great medieval bestiaries, curious tomes describing both natural history and…