Real Fantastic Beasts

What does it mean for a cold, damp, thoroughly amphibious creature to become the defining symbol of elemental fire? In this episode, we explore the salamander, the fire-resistant (allegedly), asbestos-covered, love-poetry-inspiring, hellfire-embodying little amphibian that confused natural philosophers from Aristotle to Linnaeus. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

From Hildegard to the Habsburgs, we explore the European perspective on the most spectacular bird. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We discuss the curious lore of the Egyptian mongoose or ichneumon and its habit of disemboweling crocodiles – from the inside. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Guest expert Christine Cooper-Rompato regales us with the most excremental of all animals, the bonnacon, which defends itself by ejecting burning poo. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

From the OG bird of the soul to the medieval dining table, we explore the long fascination with swans and their (mostly nonexistent) song. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We're back with our 50th episode on the truly fantastic sheep of the Middle Ages and Renaissance, from the Lamb of God to environmental justice, animal rights, and the lubricants that made the industrial revolution possible. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The quintessential imperial attention whore. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We journey from the clever self-castrating beaver of the Middle Ages to the near extinction of the North American beaver for the sake of European hats. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We explore the many versions of the Hydra. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For 400 years, the carp was the most popular fish in Europe. What made it so fantastic? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Are dog-headed creatures people or beasts? Find out in this live podcast done at the Kalamazoo Medieval Congress. Our guest, Karl Steel, regales us with tales of the Cynocephalus. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

From Beowulf to the guerrilla rewilding of Britain, guest Elizabeth (Lizzie) Marshall regales us with wolfish lore. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Small, cute dogs that serve no practical purpose other than to make us go “awwww” turn out to have a long and fantastic history. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The griffin was both a ferocious beast and a maternal figure. Nobody took it seriously, but its image is everywhere in the pre-modern world from the Near East to Europe. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Guest expert Mustafa Banister Introduces us to the world of Arabic Beast Fables in the Kalila Wa Dimna and elsewhere. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Animals are everywhere in the end times. We explore early responses to the fantastic, terrifying, yet beautiful beasts of the Book of Revelation. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Guest Elizabeth Pastan explores the animals in the Bayeux Embroidery (aka the Bayeux Tapestry). If you want to see the images we're discussing, you can go to the Youtube version of the episode here: https://youtu.be/pOaibXA5XrI . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

From partridges to "colly" birds, we explore the early history of the animals (and especially birds) of the beloved Christmas counting song. Special thanks to Evelyn Wohlbier for recording the song for us. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Guest Edana Kleinhans takes us through the subtle differences between wyverns and dragons. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Guest expert Richard Nash takes us through the history of the thoroughbred horse, from its hybrid origins to the cult of purity that made it the background to racial narratives of the modern world. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Just in time for Halloween, we explore the humble bat, whose wings suddenly became the standard for all demonic flying creatures. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We explore the lore of the hippocampus, from its classical roots to its Celtic legends. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Beth Morrison, senior curator of manuscripts at the J. Paul Getty Museum, talks about medieval bestiaries, her favorite imaginary animal, and a new exhibition at the Getty Museum. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Guest Sarah M. Guérin explains Medieval Europe's fascination with ivory and the differences between the early ivory trade and the savagery of modern Elephant poaching. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We explore the Albatross, unknown until just before the modern era... or was it? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.