Scytala, Rochester Bestiary, c.1230

The scўtăla is a mesmerizing serpent renowned for the dazzling patterns on its back, which captivate anyone who gazes upon it, causing them to pause in wonder. Despite its slow, deliberate movements, the scytala’s beauty becomes its weapon, entrancing those who stop to admire it, allowing it to ensnare prey it could never catch by speed alone. Its extraordinary internal heat is so intense that it can even shed its warm skin in the dead of winter. As Lucan writes, “Only the scytala sheds its skin while frost still lingers.”

This snake’s dazzling appearance, with its beautifully patterned and colourful scales, might be symbolic of deception and false allure, representing the danger of being lured by superficial beauty or outward appearances, which could distract and lead one into harm's way. Just as the serpent mesmerized its prey into pausing, the scytala may have symbolised temptations that seem attractive but ultimately lead to destruction.

Scitalis est serpens tanta prefulget tergi varie-
tate; ut notarum gracia aspicientes se; re-
tardet. Et quia reptando pigrior est. quos assequi
non valet gressu; miraculo optupentes se et
aspicientes capit. Tanti autem fervoris est. ut dici-
tur. ut etiam hiemis tempore exuvias corporis
ferventes exponat. De quo lucanus. Et scitalis pres-
sis etiam nunc sola pruinis. exuvias positura
suas;

Scўtăla[1] is a snake of such brilliance in the varied patterns of its back that it mesmerizes with its markings those who look at it, causing them to slow down. Its movement is slow when it slithers. It manages to capture those it cannot reach by speed when they stop to admire its appearance. It is of such great heat that it sheds its warm skin in the winter. Lucan writes thereof: “And only the scytale will shed its skin with frost still scattered about.”[2]

Further Reading

David Badke, The Bestiary Blog: Animals in the Middle Ages, Scitalis, November 6 2023, https://bestiary.ca/beasts/beast271.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] This snake might be the species Anilius Scytale whose common names are American pipe snake or false coral snake. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anilius

[2] Lucan, Civil War 9.717: "And only the scytale will shed its skin with frost still scattered about.”