SIREN-LIKE DOLPHIN II

SIREN-LIKE DOLPHIN II

"The dolphin has its eyes on the back and the mouth on the opposite (on the opposite side) therefore they probably did not see their prey and food because of the clumsiness of the mouth from the eyes. Therefore they turn their mouth towards the sky, back and eyes towards the earth, so that they can catch their prey. If a thunderstorm is about, they play on top of the water, so that one sees them. One also says that they do help those who are in need in the waters. And one says that they cry when they are caught."

Hortus Sanitatis

Here's part two of my collaboration with the spectacularly talented Iman Joy El Shami-Mader (@mythical.creaturologist). This is a similar dolphin-like siren, or the same one according to most sources, but the back view.

Here's Imi's version of the Siren-Like Dolphin


Here's the original source material also from Hortus Sanitatis:

Chet Van Duzer's caption reads "Two siren-like dolphins in the Hortus Sanitatis, 'De piscibus', chapter 27, published in 1491." Because of this caption I treated them as two separate animals but it's clear from Imi's excellent research that they're actually one animal from two different angles.

Like I said yesterday, I love seeing different artists' interpretation of the same source material. What always comes to mind is M.R. James' The Treasure Of Abbot Thomas. I've seen so many of my friends illustrate this story and they vary pretty widely.

Clockwise from top left: Alan Brown, Jeanne D'Angelo, Johanna Öst,
Nick Gucker and my versions of the guardian from The Treasure Of Abbot Thomas.

The next few sea monsters are also from Chet Van Duzer's book Sea Monsters On Medieval and Renaissance Maps.