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The Illustrated Bestiary
Explore legendary monsters within the Illustrated Bestiary which includes strange beasts and creatures of folklore through MCB’s illustrated collections. Each plate offers a glimpse into a world of legendary creatures, curious beasts and the remarkable ways they have been imagined through history.
The Medieval Bestiary Collection
Inspired by the curious illustrations of historic bestiaries, this collection brings together familiar legends and lesser-known creatures in a numbered series of vintage-style plates.
With the body of a lion and the head and wings of an eagle, the Griffin was a powerful guardian associated with strength, vigilance and treasure.
Pegasus
Born from Greek mythology, Pegasus is the legendary winged horse associated with heroic adventures, divine inspiration and the freedom of flight.
A fearsome monster of Greek mythology, the Chimera combined the traits of a lion, goat and serpent into one formidable hybrid creature.
Faun
A rustic nature spirit of Roman mythology, the Faun was associated with forests, wild places and pastoral life, often depicted with both human and goat-like features.
Sphinx
A mysterious guardian of ancient legend, the Sphinx combined human and lion features and became famously associated with riddles, wisdom and deadly challenges.
A legendary creature known for its single horn, the Unicorn became a symbol of purity, grace and untamed power throughout medieval folklore and art.
A dangerous enchantress of Greek mythology, the Siren lured sailors with an irresistible song and was traditionally depicted with the features of both a woman and a bird.
A deadly beast of medieval legend, the Cockatrice combined rooster and serpent features and was feared for its lethal gaze and poisonous nature.
Eastern Dragon
A powerful figure in East Asian mythology, the Eastern Dragon was associated with water, weather, prosperity and imperial power rather than the destructive nature of many Western dragons.
Unknown I
An unidentified figure from the medieval bestiary tradition, this strange hybrid combines human, bird and animal features—leaving its identity, meaning and story open to interpretation.
Hippocampus
A sea creature of Greek and Roman mythology, the Hippocampus combined the forequarters of a horse with a fish-like tail and was often associated with Poseidon and the ocean.
A strange hybrid of ancient and medieval tradition, the Onocentaur combined a human upper body with the body of a donkey and was often portrayed as wild and untamed.
Sea-Lion
A fantastical beast of medieval lore, the Sea Lion combined the powerful features of a lion with a fish-like body, creating a fierce counterpart to the familiar lion of the land.
A legendary bird consumed by fire and reborn from its own ashes, the Phoenix became an enduring symbol of renewal, immortality and life emerging from destruction.
Winged Lion
A majestic hybrid found in ancient and medieval imagery, the Winged Lion combined the strength of the lion with the freedom of flight and became a powerful symbol of courage, guardianship and divine authority.
Longma
A legendary dragon-horse of Chinese mythology, the Longma combined equine and draconic features and was associated with wisdom, good fortune and auspicious omens.
A fearsome multi-headed serpent of Greek mythology, the Lernaean Hydra could grow new heads when one was severed and became one of the legendary labors of Heracles.
Unknow II
An unidentified creature from the medieval bestiary tradition, this unusual beast combines a long scaled body with multiple animal-like heads, creating one of the collection’s more mysterious hybrid forms.
Wyvern
A fearsome dragon-like beast of medieval legend, the Wyvern was typically depicted with two legs, powerful wings and a serpentine tail, becoming a prominent figure in heraldry and folklore.
Criosphinx
A ram-headed form of the Egyptian sphinx, the Criosphinx combined the body of a lion with the head of a ram and was associated with divine power, protection and the god Amun.
Sekhmet
A powerful lioness-headed goddess of ancient Egypt, Sekhmet embodied war, destruction and divine protection while also possessing associations with healing.
A fearsome winged figure of Greek mythology, the Harpy combined the features of a woman and bird and was often portrayed as a swift, relentless agent of punishment.
A legendary hybrid of Greek mythology, the Centaur combined the upper body of a human with the body of a horse and was often portrayed as both a wild warrior and a figure of wisdom.
A shapeshifting figure found in folklore around the world, the Werecat transforms between human and feline form and is often associated with mystery, supernatural power and the untamed wild.
About the Illustrated Bestiary
Medieval bestiaries were far more than simple collections of animals. Their pages blended observations of the natural world with ancient writings, religious symbolism, folklore and stories passed down through generations. Real animals appeared alongside mythical creatures and fantastic hybrid beasts, often illustrated by artists who had never seen the beings—or sometimes even the animals—they were asked to depict.
The result is a wonderfully strange visual record where familiar legends can look surprisingly different from their modern counterparts, while other mysterious figures resist identification altogether.
The Illustrated Bestiary Collection offered here brings together a finite series of these curious illustrations, preserving their unusual character while offering a glimpse into how earlier generations imagined the creatures that inhabited the edges of the known world.
The collection forms part of MCB’s broader medieval Illustrated Bestiary, a visual journey through mythology, legend and folklore. As the Bestiary evolves, other illustrated collections may join these medieval plates, offering new ways to discover the remarkable beings that have captured human imagination for centuries.
Continue Your Mythical Adventure
There is much more to discover beyond the Illustrated Bestiary. Browse the Picture Gallery for more mythical creatures brought to life through art, put your knowledge of legends and folklore to the test in Quiz Central, or visit the MCB Shop to discover creature-inspired artwork, gifts and other curious finds.
Whether you came searching for a familiar legend or stumbled across a beast you had never encountered before, there is always another story—and another creature—waiting to be discovered.