Later Greek and Roman natural historians, such as Pliny the Elder, included the Manticore in their compendiums of natural history, often blending fact with myth. In Pliny’s Natural History, the Manticore was mentioned among other fantastical creatures believed to exist on the fringes of the known world. These writings helped spread the legend of the Manticore across the Mediterranean and into medieval Europe.
Medieval Bestiaries and Symbolism
During the Middle Ages, the Manticore became a staple in European bestiaries — illustrated volumes describing animals, both real and mythical, often with moral or religious allegories. In medieval Christian symbolism, the Manticore often represented the devil or the dangers of sin, especially lust and deception. Its human face and lion body symbolized the dual nature of evil — alluring yet deadly.
Artists and scribes depicted the Manticore with various details: sometimes with wings like a dragon or bat, other times with a scorpion’s tail, emphasizing its deadly venom. It was said to be fast and cunning, capable of shooting poisonous spines at its prey. Medieval bestiaries warned readers to beware the Manticore’s deceitful appearance, as its human face could lull victims into a false sense of security before the beast struck. shutdown123