Description
An illustration from The History of Four-Footed Beasts and Serpents (1658) by Edward Topsell.
The manticore is a legendary creature with origins in Persian mythology and Greek writings. It gained popularity in western European medieval art as well. Topsell describes the manticore having the head of a human, the body of a lion, and a tail with venomous spines similar to porcupine quills or a scorpion’s tail. According to some accounts, the spines can be shot like arrows, making the manticore a lethal predator. Topsell adds “…his wildness such as can never be tamed, and his appetite is especially to the flesh of man. His body like the body of a Lion, being very apt both to leap and to run, so as no distance or space doth hinder him”.
The manticore is depicted in various classical and medieval texts. According to Aelian, a Roman author, the manticore was a large beast with blue eyes, a human face, and cinnabar-red fur. It had three rows of teeth, lion-like feet and claws, and a scorpion-like tail with a main terminal sting that measured over one cubit. The sting was instantly fatal, and it could be fired in different directions. Only elephants were immune to the poison. The manticore was said to be a formidable predator, preying on humans and even taking down multiple individuals at once.
Classic 100% cotton tee with taped neck and shoulders, and a double seam at the sleeves and bottom hem. Eldon Threads logo printed discreetly on the reverse as an outer label just below the neck. Open-end yarn. Tubular fabric. Fabric weight: 5.0–5.3 oz/yd² (170-180 g/m²).
Let ELDON THREADS transport you to realms of ancient artistry…
