University of Notre Dame

 

Hesburgh Libraries

Rare Books & Special Collections

Monsters

Creatures depicted in heraldry that are not known to have existed as actual animals are frequently categorized as monsters. While some of these creatures have no basis in reality at all, some are based at least partially on some animal that does or did at one time exist.

For example, the image of the unicorn is said to have come about as a result of observations of wild antelope in Syria and Palestine. When viewed from the side, the two long horns of these animals gave the illusion of a single horn. Thus, the image of the unicorn was born.

  • camelopard
    camelopard

  • centaur
    centaur (a centaur with bow and arrow may be termed a sagittarius)

  • cockatrice
    cockatrice,
    a.k.a. basilisk

  • dragon rampant
    dragon rampant

  • dragon passant
    dragon passant

  • dragon statant
    dragon statant

  • enfield
    enfield

  • gryphon segreant
    gryphon segreant

  • gryphon passant
    gryphon passant

  • gryphon statant
    gryphon statant

  • male gryphon
    male gryphon

  • merman
    merman,
    a.k.a. triton

  • mermaid
    mermaid
    (a mermaid with two tails is called a melusine)

  • opinicus
    opinicus

  • salamander
    salamander

  • sphinx
    sphinx

  • unicorn rampant
    unicorn rampant

  • unicorn passant
    unicorn passant

  • unicorn statant
    unicorn statant

  • wyvern
    wyvern

  • wyvern wings displayed
    wyvern wings displayed

  • wyvern erect
    wyvern erect