Dive Into the Abyss of Myth and Legend
From the dread-inspiring “Sea Pig” of Olaus Magnus’s cartographic masterpiece to the bizarre and fantastical menagerie found in the Cosmographia of Sebastian Münster, join us for a chilling exploration of creatures that have sparked fear and fascination across centuries. This exhibit features the most frightful figures from rare books and manuscripts, conjuring tales of terror and wonder. Marvel at the “Sea Monsters and Fantastical Beasts” section, where maps not only display geography but also a monstrous imagination – colossal lobsters, fanged whales, and more, drawn from the depths of sailors’ and explorers’ tales.
Terrifying Tales and Legendary Beasts
Behold the “Blemmyae” and “Cynocephaly,” myths of the East that hint at humanity’s attempt to make sense of the diverse world beyond familiar borders in Hartmann Schedel’s “Liber Chronicarum.” Witness the fierce battle of “Alexander the Great at the Caucasus Mountains” against mythical forces, and the “Seven-Headed Hydra,” a creature from ancient Greek lore that was believed to regrow two heads for each one severed. Each illustration and story serves as a testament to the time when monsters served as explanations for unexplored territories and as symbols for cultural and moral narratives.
Enchanted Encounters and Macabre Myths
Delve into the Persian legends of the “Fālnāma,” where Alexander the Great, amid demons and prophets, constructs a colossal wall to stave off apocalyptic chaos. Encounter the rich tapestry of the Persian manuscript “Iskandar Builds a Wall against Gog and Magog,” where Alexander’s legacy intertwines with prophetic figures from Islamic tradition. Each artifact displayed tells a story of a civilization grappling with the divine and the monstrous, seeking to protect the realm of the known from the mysteries that lie beyond.
Witches’ Sabbaths and Hydra’s Horrors
Marvel at Hans Baldung Grien’s vivid depictions of witchcraft, where older haggard women and younger beauties alike engage in nocturnal rituals, highlighting the pervasive fear and fascination with witches in the 16th century. Contrast this with Albrecht Dürer’s “St. George and the Dragon,” where the heroism of saints confronts the physical manifestation of evil. And amidst these tales of heroism and cautionary tales, find Gessner’s formidable Hydra, a monstrous serpent believed to have traveled from distant lands to be displayed before royalty, challenging the lines between history, myth, and superstition.