🧵:Are you confronted by a threatening wyvern? Take off your clothes! Wyverns--according to some medieval bestiaries--run away from nude people.
(BnF, Français 1951 f.5) #MedievalTwitter
(BnF, Français 1951 f.5) #MedievalTwitter
This idea seems to have some connection to the wyvern's serpent-like nature and to the serpent in the Garden of Eden.
(BnF, Français 15213 f.63v)
(BnF, Français 15213 f.63v)
The wyvern (or sometimes the viper or serpent, depending on the bestiary) is like the Serpent in the Garden, unable to approach the pure Adam and only able to come close once Adam has Fallen (and realized his nudity).
(BnF, Français 1444 f.258)
(BnF, Français 1444 f.258)
Look how happy this one is to see a fully dressed person.
(Morgan Library, MS M.459 fol. 5r)
(Morgan Library, MS M.459 fol. 5r)
"No, I don't to be hugged, you ridiculous nudist!"
(BnF, Latin 2843E f.70v)
(BnF, Latin 2843E f.70v)
Sometimes this is applied to totally unrelated animals, like this big cat-thing (probably a Woutre) that seems terrified of a naked man.
(Arsenal, 3516 f.200v)
(Arsenal, 3516 f.200v)
Basically, medieval wyverns are perpetually afraid that there's a naked person nearby.
(BnF, Français 412 f.229v)
(BnF, Français 412 f.229v)
"There.....there's a nudist colony behind me right now, isn't there?"
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