Lizards, Rochester Bestiary, c.1230

Lizards, named from the Latin lăcertus or lăcerta due to their arm-like limbs, encompass a wide variety of species, each with unique traits and symbolic meanings. Key types include the bătrăchus, salamander, saura, and stellĭo.

Bătrăchus was named after its frog-like face, linking it to the Greek word for frog, βάτραχος (bátrakhos). This emphasised the blending of characteristics between reptiles and amphibians, emphasizing adaptability and the idea of transformation.

The salamander was often associated with fire and the element of transformation, the salamander symbolizes resilience and the ability to thrive in challenging environments, stemming from ancient beliefs that it could live in flames.

The term saura directly translates to lizard in Greek and represents agility, regeneration, and the ability to move between different worlds (land and water), embodying fluidity and the power of change.

The stellĭo is a specific type of lizard known for its star-like spots and symbolises cunning and stealth. In ancient symbolism, it represented the ability to blend into one’s surroundings, reflecting adaptability and protection.

Lizards in general symbolise regeneration and renewal, as they can regrow lost tails, making them a potent emblem of rebirth and resilience. Their ability to thrive in varied environments—from deserts to forests—emphasises their adaptability and resourcefulness. In many cultures, lizards are seen as omens of good luck, representing the sun, warmth, and positive energy. They are also symbolic of dreams and perception, often thought to bring messages from the subconscious.

In ancient texts, lizards were often seen as creatures that could navigate between different realms, embodying the liminal space between the seen and unseen. Their stealth and speed make them symbols of survival and quick thinking. They remind us of the importance of adapting to our surroundings and making the most of the resources available to us.

Lacertus sive lacerta dicitur eo quod brachia
habeat. Genera lacertarum sunt plura.
ut Botraca. Salamandra. Saura. Stellio.
Botraca dicta; quod rane habeat faciem. Nam
greci ranam botracam vocant.

Stellio a colore inditum nomen habet. Est
enim in tergore pictus. lucentibus guttis in
modum stellarum. de quo ovidius. Aptumque co-
lori; nomen habet variis stellatus corpore
guttis. Hic autem scorpionibus adeo contrarius
dicitur. ut viso eo pavorem habeant et tor-
porem . Omnes serpentes naturaliter frigi-
de sunt. Non percutiunt; nisi quando calescunt.
Unde et venena eorum que naturaliter frigi-
da sunt; plus die quam nocte nocent. In hieme
in nodos torpent. in estate solvuntur. Nec vene-
num quod frigidum est. prius nocet; quam ad sangui-
nem qui calidus est et fugit venenum per venas

The lizard or small lizard is called so, for it has arms. There are several kinds of lizards, such as the bătrăchus, salamander, saura[1], and stellĭo[2]. The bătrăchus is named so, for it has the face of a frog. In fact, the Greeks called a frog βάτραχος (bátrakhos).

Further Reading

David Badke, The Bestiary Blog: Animals in the Middle Ages, Lizard, November 6 2023, https://bestiary.ca/beasts/beast277.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)

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

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

Endnotes

[1] The word saura actually comes from the Ancient Greek σαῦρα (saura) that means lizard. Sauria can be considered the crown group of diapsids, or reptiles in general. Depending on the systematics, Sauria includes all modern reptiles or most of them (including birds, a type of archosaur) as well as various extinct groups. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sauria

[2] Most probably a newt or a starred lizard.