Camel, Rochester Bestiary, c.1230
The camel was often associated with wealth and luxury due to its ability to carry heavy loads across long distances, particularly in desert regions and temperance owing to its resistance and ability to endure thirst in the absence of water. In medieval Europe, where camels were rare and exotic animals, they came to symbolize opulence and extravagance.
The hair of a camel symbolised John the Baptist, who was said to wear camel hair whilst preaching in the desert, as we see in Matthew NKJV 3:4: “Now John himself was clothed in camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist; and his food was locusts and wild honey”.
Despite its association with wealth, the camel was also seen as symbolic of humility and asceticism. Its ability to endure long journeys across harsh terrain made it a symbol of endurance and perseverance in the face of adversity.
This interpretation stems from the teachings of Jesus Christ, who famously said that it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God (Matthew 19:241, Mark 10:25, Luke 18:252). This passage emphasized the dangers of wealth and the importance of spiritual humility.
The camel's habit of storing fat in its hump for sustenance during long journeys symbolized prudence and preparedness, encouraging Christians to be wise stewards of their resources and to be prepared for spiritual challenges.
According to Albert Magnus, a Dominican monk, mixing vinegar with the brain of a camel helps with epilepsy and its saliva mixed with water drives demons out of drunkards.
References to the camel in the Bible also include Genesis 24: The story of Abraham's servant finding a wife for Isaac involves camels as a means of transport and is often interpreted allegorically in Christian tradition. The camels' role in carrying the servant and his provisions to Abraham's homeland can be interpreted allegorically as a symbol of God's provision and preparation for His people. Just as the camels were necessary for the success of the servant's mission, God provides everything needed for His people to fulfil His purposes.
tur. ut brevior et humilior fiat; accubat. quia
grece cami; humile et breve dicitur. sive quia curvus
est dorso. Camur greco verbo; curvum significat. Hos
licet et alie regiones mittant; sed arabia plurimos gig-
nit. Verum in hoc differunt; quod arabici bina tube-
ra in dorso habent; Reliquarum regionem singuli singu-
la. Cameli habentur in duplex ministerium. Sunt
alii honeri ferendo accomodi. alii pronitiores. Sed illi;
non ultra iustum; pondera recipiunt. nec isti amplius
quam solita spacia volunt ire. et rei gestu; e. cupidine. ef-
frenantur. adeo ut seviant; cum venerem requirunt.
Odio habent equinum genus. Sitim etiam triduo tole-
Camels take their name from the fact that they crouch to the ground, when laden, to bend down as if they were humbling themselves and become smaller: perhaps for in Greek, χαμαί/chamai means to the ground/earth, that is to humble oneself or for they have a curved back. Cămŭr means curved, bent. Although they can be found in various regions, they are indigenous to Arabia. However, they differ in this respect: Arabian camels have two humps on their back, whereas those from other regions have a single hump. Camels serve a dual purpose: some are suited to be beasts of burden, whereas others are swifter. However, the former only carry loads up to a certain limit, and the latter do not travel more than the usual distances whereto they are accustomed. They are controlled by gestures or lust to such an extent that they rage when seeking mating. They hate the horse species. They endure thirst for up to three days.
tur quantum et saciet desideria preterita; et in futura;
diu prosit. Luculentas aquas captant. puras; refugiunt.
Denique nisi cenosior liquor fuerit. ipsi assidua conculca-
tione lutum excitant; ut turbidetur. Durant in an-
nos centum. Si forte translati ad peregrinas regiones
vel terras. ex insolentia mutati aeris; morbos contra-
hunt. Ad bella femine preparantur. Inventumque est.
ut fiant validores; eas debere arteri a coitibus. Came-
lus in lege; inmundus est. quia licet ruminet; tamen
ungulam non findit sicut equus.
However, when the opportunity to drink arises, they only drink enough to satisfy for a long time past and future needs. They seek muddy water and avoid the clean and clear one unless it is somewhat muddier. They themselves stir up the mud by trampling on it constantly, causing it to become turbid. They live for hundred years unless they contract diseases due to the change in climate or when they are transferred by chance to foreign regions or lands. The female camels are trained for war. It has been discovered that camels become stronger if they refrain from coitus. Normally, camels are unclean animals, for they do not split the hoof as a horse does, although they chew the cud.
Bibliography
David Badke, The Bestiary Blog: Animals in the Middle Ages, Camel, November 6 2023, https://bestiary.ca/beasts/beast208.htm
Josh Goldenberg (BA 2012) and Matt Shanahan (BA 2014), Logeion, November 2022, https://logeion.uchicago.edu/
Castiglioni, L. and Mariotti, S. (1996). Vocabolario della Lingua Latina: Latino-Italiano Italiano-Latino. Terza Edizione. Loescher Torino
Gray, Doug, Christian Symbology, Chapter – Animals, 2021 -2023, https://www.christiansymbols.net/animals.html
Matthews, J. and Matthews C., (2010), The Element Encyclopedia of Magical Creatures, HarperCollins UK, London
Curley, M. J., Physiologus: A Medieval Book of Nature Lore (University of Chicago edition 2009)
Rackham, H., M.A., Pliny Natural History Volume III, Libri VIII-XI (London: William Heinemann Ltd, 1949)
Collins, A. H., M.A., Symbolism of Animals and Birds (New York: McBride, Nast & Company, 1913)
Henderson, C., The Book of Barely Imagined Beings (London: University of Chicago Press, 2013)
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Footnotes
1 Matthew NKJV 19:24: “And again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”
2 Luke NKJV 18:25: “For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”
3 Spelling or transcription mistake. According to the original De Mirabilibus Mundi Chapter 49.11 by Solinus, the original word was lŭtŭlentus meaning muddy, dirty. Lūcŭlentus is also a word but it means the opposite shining, crystal-clear. https://www.thelatinlibrary.com/solinus5.html