Hydrus, Rochester Bestiary, c.1230
When it sees a crocodile sleeping on the shore with its mouth open, it rolls in the mud, making it easier to slide into the crocodiles mouth, and allowing the crocodile to swallow it alive. The Hydrus eats its way out through the crocodiles stomach, killing the crocodile and escaping. If bitten by a hydrus the wound can be healed by cattle dung. In medieval Christian tradition, this is allegorical of the resurrection of Christ (the Hydrus), bursting free from Hell (the crocodile).
Transcription
Translation
Greci atuem ydros aquam vocant. A quo ic-
ti; oburgescunt. sed fimo boum morbus me-
detur. Quem morbum quidam bam dicunt
propter predictam proprietatem;
Idra draco multorum capitum aquatilis. fuit in
lerna insula vel palude provincie archadie. Hec lati-
ne exedra dicitur. quod uno ceso tria capita excres-
cebant. Sed hoc fabulosum est. Nam constat ydram
locum fuisse evomentem aquas vastantem visci-
nam civitatem. In quo uno meatu clauso; multi
erumpebant. Quod hercules videns; loca exhau-
sit. et sic aque clausit meatus. Nam ydra ab aqua
dicta est. Sed ydros sive ydrus serpens inimicus est
cocodrillo. et hanc habet naturam et consuetu-
dinem. ut cum viderit cocodrillum dormientem
in littore; (vadit aperto changed to a.v.) ore; et involvit se in luto.
quo facilius possit in faucibus eius illabi. Coco-
drillus igitur subito illum vivum transglutit. Ille
vero dilanians omnia viscera eius; non solum
vivus; sed etiam illesus exit. Sic ergo mors et in-
fernus figuram habent cocodrilli quorum inimicus
est. dominus noster ihesus cristus. Nam assumens humanam
carnem; descendit ad infernum. et dirumpens
omnia viscera eius; eduxit eos qui iniuste tene-
There is an aquatic serpent called ydros. The Greeks also call hydrus water. By whom he was struck; they are drowsy, but cow dung cures disease. Which disease some say bam because of the aforesaid property. Hydra, the aquatic dragon with many heads, was on an island or marsh in the province of Archadia. This is called a living room in Latin, because three heads grew out of one shoot. But this is legendary. For it is evident that there was a watery place that spewed forth waters, and laid waste the neighboring city. In which one passage closed; many broke out. Seeing that Hercules; he drained the places, and thus closed the passages with water. For the hydra was called from water. But the ydros or ydrus snake is the enemy of the crocodile, and has this nature and custom, as when it sees a crocodile sleeping on the shore; he goes with his mouth open; and he wraps himself in mud, so that it may more easily be in his mouth there. Then the crocodile suddenly swallowed him alive. He, however, tearing apart all his entrails; not only alive; but he also comes out unscathed. Thus death and hell have the shape of a crocodile, whose enemy is our Lord Jesus Christ. For assuming human flesh; he descends to hell, and tearing apart all his entrails; he brought out those who were unjustly detained;