---

Fictitious and Symbolic Creatures in Art

By John Vinycomb

---

This is a review of the folk-lore of animals, mostly of a legendary or purely symbolic nature, particularly as appearing in English Heraldry. It's a gold-mine of lore about such fantastic beasts as the hydra, the basilisk, the phoenix, as well as angels, dragons, mermaids, sphynxes and so on. Vinycomb also covers heraldic versions of actual animals, such as the 'Tyger,' and the Heraldic Pelican and Dolphin. Included are over a hundred illustrations of fantastic creatures. Overall, a delight for browsing.--J.B. Hare, May 25, 2009.

Title Page
Preface
Contents
List of Illustrations
Introduction
Chapter I. Notes on Animated Beings in Heraldic Art - Introduction
Chapter II. Notes on Animated Beings in Heraldic Art - The Symbolism of Attitude or Position
Chapter III. Notes on Animated Beings in Heraldic Art - The Heraldic Spirit—Effective decorative Quality essential in Heraldry
Chapter I. Celestial Beings - Angels
Chapter II. Celestial Beings - Mistaken Modern Conception of Angels
Chapter III. Celestial Beings - Medieval Art Treatment of Angels
Chapter IV. Celestial Beings - Cherubim and Seraphim in Heraldry
Chapter V. Celestial Beings - Cherubim & Seraphim of Scripture
Chapter VI. Celestial Beings - Emblems of the Four Evangelists
Chapter I. Chimerical Creatures of the Dragon and Serpent kind - The Dragon
Chapter II. Chimerical Creatures of the Dragon and Serpent kind - The Dragon in Christian Art
Chapter III. Chimerical Creatures of the Dragon and Serpent kind -St. George and the Dragon
Chapter IV. Chimerical Creatures of the Dragon and Serpent kind -The Dragon in the Royal Heraldry of Britain
Chapter V. Chimerical Creatures of the Dragon and Serpent kind -The Crocodile as the Prototype of the Dragon
Chapter VI. Chimerical Creatures of the Dragon and Serpent kind - The Heraldic Dragon
Chapter VII. Chimerical Creatures of the Dragon and Serpent kind - The Hydra
Chapter VIII. Chimerical Creatures of the Dragon and Serpent kind - The Wyvern
Chapter IX. Chimerical Creatures of the Dragon and Serpent kind - The Chimera
Chapter X. Chimerical Creatures of the Dragon and Serpent kind - The Lion-Dragon
Chapter XI. Chimerical Creatures of the Dragon and Serpent kind - The Gorgon
Chapter XII. Chimerical Creatures of the Dragon and Serpent kind - The Cockatrice
Chapter XIII. Chimerical Creatures of the Dragon and Serpent kind - The Basilisk
Chapter XIV. Chimerical Creatures of the Dragon and Serpent kind - The Mythical Serpent
Chapter XV. Chimerical Creatures of the Dragon and Serpent kind - The Scorpion
Chapter I. Other Chimerical Creatures and Heraldic Beasts- The Unicorn
Chapter II. Other Chimerical Creatures and Heraldic Beasts- Mediaeval Conception of the Unicorn
Chapter III. Other Chimerical Creatures and Heraldic Beasts- The Horn of the Unicorn
Chapter IV. Other Chimerical Creatures and Heraldic Beasts-The Pegasus
Chapter V. Other Chimerical Creatures and Heraldic Beasts- Sagittary, Centaur, Sagittarius, Centaurus, Hippocentaur
Chapter VI. Other Chimerical Creatures and Heraldic Beasts- The Griffin
Chapter VII. Other Chimerical Creatures and Heraldic Beasts- The Male Griffin
Chapter VIII. Other Chimerical Creatures and Heraldic Beasts- Other Varieties of the Griffin
Chapter IX. Other Chimerical Creatures and Heraldic Beasts- The Opinicus, or Epimacus
Chapter X. Other Chimerical Creatures and Heraldic Beasts- The Sphynx
Chapter XI. Other Chimerical Creatures and Heraldic Beasts- The Phoenix Bird of the Sun
Chapter XII. Other Chimerical Creatures and Heraldic Beasts- The Harpy
Chapter XIII. Other Chimerical Creatures and Heraldic Beasts- The Heraldic Pelican
Chapter XIV. Other Chimerical Creatures and Heraldic Beasts- The Martlet
Chapter XV Other Chimerical Creatures and Heraldic Beasts- The Alerion
Chapter XVI. Other Chimerical Creatures and Heraldic Beasts- The Liver (Cormorant)
Chapter XVII. Other Chimerical Creatures and Heraldic Beasts- The Heraldic Tigre or Tyger
Chapter XVIII. Other Chimerical Creatures and Heraldic Beasts- The Royal Tiger
Chapter XIX. Other Chimerical Creatures and Heraldic Beasts- The Royal Tiger
Chapter XX. Other Chimerical Creatures and Heraldic Beasts- Leopard, or Panther, Felis Pardus, Lybbarde
Chapter XXI. Other Chimerical Creatures and Heraldic Beasts- Leopard, or Panther, Felis Pardus, Lybbarde
Chapter XXII. Other Chimerical Creatures and Heraldic Beasts-The Panther Incensed
Chapter XXIII. Other Chimerical Creatures and Heraldic Beasts-The Lynx
Chapter XXIV. Other Chimerical Creatures and Heraldic Beasts- Cat-a-Mountain—Tiger Cat or Wild Cat
Chapter XXV. Other Chimerical Creatures and Heraldic Beasts- The Salamander
Chapter XXVI. Other Chimerical Creatures and Heraldic Beasts- Heraldic Antelope
Chapter XXVII. Other Chimerical Creatures and Heraldic Beasts- Heraldic Ibex
Chapter XXVIII. Other Chimerical Creatures and Heraldic Beasts- Bagwyn
Chapter XXIX. Other Chimerical Creatures and Heraldic Beasts- The Camelopard, Camel-Leopard
Chapter XXX. Other Chimerical Creatures and Heraldic Beasts- Musimon, Tityrus
Chapter XXXI. Other Chimerical Creatures and Heraldic Beasts- The Enfield
Chapter XXXII. Other Chimerical Creatures and Heraldic Beasts- Mantiger, Montegre or Manticora Satyral
Chapter XXXIII. Other Chimerical Creatures and Heraldic Beasts-Lamia or Emipusa
Chapter XXXIV. Other Chimerical Creatures and Heraldic Beasts- Baphomet
Chapter XXXV. Other Chimerical Creatures and Heraldic Beasts- Apres
Chapter XXXVI. Other Chimerical Creatures and Heraldic Beasts- Stelliones
Fictitious Creatures of the Sea- Introductory Notes
Chapter I. Fictitious Creatures of the Sea- Poseidon or Neptune
Chapter II. Fictitious Creatures of the Sea- Merman or Triton
Chapter III. Fictitious Creatures of the Sea- The Mermaid or Siren
Chapter IV. Fictitious Creatures of the Sea- The Sirens of Classical Mythology
Chapter V. Fictitious Creatures of the Sea- The Dolphin of Legend and of Heraldry
Chapter VI. Fictitious Creatures of the Sea- The Dauphin of France
Chapter VII. Fictitious Creatures of the Sea- The Heraldic Dolphin
Chapter VIII. Fictitious Creatures of the Sea- The Sea-Horse
Chapter IX. Fictitious Creatures of the Sea- The Sea-Lion
Chapter X. Fictitious Creatures of the Sea- The Sea-Dog