Curious Archive

Hilariously Inaccurate Medieval Art of Animals (1x2)

Air date: Jun 19, 2021

The funniest examples of medieval European paintings where the artist had clearly never seen the animal before. Medieval European art of animals often looked… a little different from the real-world species. European texts and illuminated manuscripts from this period are full of hilarious attempts to depict of far-off species, so here’s a breakdown of some of the most inaccurate — and most amusing — examples. Elephant Hippopotamus Giraffe Hyena Tiger Ostrich Pelican Whale Dolphin Sea Turtle Crocodile Scorpion ???