Heron, Rochester Bestiary, c.1230

Named ardĕa, suggesting height (ardŭa) due to its lofty flight, the heron is mentioned by Lucan for its daring ascents. It avoids rainstorms by soaring above the clouds but signals impending storms when it flies even higher. Referred to by some as tantălus, linking it to the legend of Tantalus among the waters, the heron resembles a crane with its long legs and neck and typically inhabits riversides.

Patiently standing and hunting for fish, the heron, also called heiro/heirnous by the Romans, symbolises the contemplative life. It embodies those who focus on heavenly matters, removed from worldly worries and draw spiritual nourishment from the sacred scriptures, akin to the heron's serene existence by the water.

Ardea licet in canone non inveniatur; tamen
quia eius in ores nos instruunt; pauca
de ea dicemus. Ardea igitur dicitur; quasi ardua.
propter altos volatus. Unde lucanus. Quodque
ausa avolare ardea. Formidat enim inibres.
et super nubes evolat; ut procellas imbrium
sentire non possit. Cum autem altius volave-
rit; significat tempestatem. Hanc multi tanta;

Although the heron is not found in the canonical scriptures, its nature instructs us morally and we will say a few words about it. The heron, ardĕa, is called as such as if from ardŭa, meaning high, due to its lofty flight. Hence, Lucan (Civil War 5.553) says:

“And that the heron dared to fly.” It fears rainstorms and flies above the clouds so that it cannot feel the stormy rains. However, when it flies higher, it means that a storm is about to strike.

lum vocant. Quia tantalus inter aquas
secundum fabulas dicitur esse. Hec enim avis similis
grui in longitudine tibiarum et colli; iuxta
flumina libenter habitat. stanset sollicite in-
quirens piscem aliquem sibi fore predam. et di-
citur romane heyrun. Hec avis bene con-
tempatiuum significat. cuius vita est in celestibus
et remota a tempestate curarum seculi; iuxta
fluenta sacre scripture residentem inde sibi spi-
ritualem cibum unde anima vivat elicien-
tem

Many call this bird tantălus, for Tantalus[1] is said to be among the waters as legend has it. This bird resembles a crane in the length of its legs and neck and habitually lives near rivers. It stands carefully, seeking fish as prey and the Romans also called it heiro/heirnous. This bird well symbolises the life of the comtemplative, whose existence is in heavenly things and remote from the storm of worldly worries, residing near the streams of the sacred scriptures and drawing from them spiritual food for the soul to live on.

Further Reading

David Badke, The Bestiary Blog: Animals in the Middle Ages, Heron, November 6 2023, https://bestiary.ca/beasts/beast540.htm

Mynott, J, Birds in the Ancient World (New York: Oxford University Press 2018)

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

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)

White, T. H., The Bestiary: A Book of Beasts (New York: G.P Putnam’s Sons, 1960)

Matthews, J. and Matthews C., The Element Encyclopedia of Magical Creatures: The Ultimate A-Z of fantastic beings from myth and magic (London: HarperElement, 2005)

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

Endnotes

[1] Tantalus is a figure from Greek mythology, known for his punishment in the afterlife. He was the son of Zeus and the nymph Plouto, and he was a king, often associated with either Lydia, Sipylus, or Phrygia. Tantalus is most famous for his egregious crimes and the severe punishment he received as a result. As a punishment for his crimes, Tantalus was condemned to eternal torment in Tartarus, a deep abyss in the underworld. He was made to stand in a pool of water beneath a fruit tree with low branches. Whenever he reached for the fruit, the branches would rise out of his grasp. Similarly, whenever he bent down to drink the water, it would recede before he could take a sip. Thus, he was forever tormented by hunger and thirst.