Dipsas, Rochester Bestiary, c.1230

In the realm of ancient myth and lore, the dipsăs emerges as one of the most elusive and deadly serpents known to humanity. This tiny, nearly invisible snake is infamous for its remarkably small size, so much so that it can barely be seen when stepped on. Yet, its size belies its fearsome potency.

The dipsăs is described with chilling efficiency: its venom is so swift and potent that it kills before the victim even feels the bite. This means that those unfortunate enough to be bitten by the dipsăs are struck down with such speed that they have no chance to react, their bodies succumbing to death before any pain or awareness can register. As a result, the face of the dying betrays no sign of horror or suffering.

The Roman poet Lucan captures the dreadfulness of this snake in his vivid portrayal: "With its head twisted back, the dipsas, when it was stepped on, bit the young standard-bearer Aulus of Tyrrhenian blood; there was barely any pain or sensation of fangs." This evocative description emphasises the serpent’s lethal nature—its bite is not only swift but also nearly imperceptible, causing minimal pain and leaving its victims with a final, eerie tranquillity.

The dipsăs stands as a haunting symbol of nature’s hidden dangers, embodying a blend of invisibility and swift, unseen death. Its legend serves as a grim reminder of how the smallest and most unassuming creatures can wield the most deadly power.

Dipsa tante exiguitatis fertur. ut cum calcatur
non videatur. cuius venenum ante extinguit.
quam senciatur. ut facies preventa morte; nec tristi-
ciam inducat morituro. De quo poeta. Signife-
rum iuvenem tyrem sanguinis aulum. torta ca-
pud retro dipsa calcata momordit. Vix dolor
aut sensus dentis fuit;

The dipsăs is said to be so small that, when stepped on, it is not seen. Its venom kills before it is felt, so that death prevents the victim from becoming aware of the bite and the face of the dying displays no horror. The poet[1] says thereof: “With its head twisted back the dipsas, when it was stepped on, bit the young standard-bearer Aulus of Tyrrhenian blood; there was barely any pain or sensation of fangs”.

Bibliography

David Badke, The Bestiary Blog: Animals in the Middle Ages, Dipsa, November 6 2023, https://bestiary.ca/beasts/beast275.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

Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., Wikipedia: The Elephant, 28 November 2023, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elephant

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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Barney, S. A., Lewis, W. J., Beach A., Berghof O., The Etymologies of Isidore of Seville (New York: Cambridge University Press, 2006)

Endnotes

[1] Lucan.

[2] Lucan, Civil War 9.737: “With its head twisted back the dipsas, when it was stepped on, bit the young standard-bearer Aulus of Tyrrhenian blood; there was barely any pain or sensation of fangs”