We've taken the holiday weekend off, so we haven't written any super-illuminating blog posts that will blow your mind. Instead here are some illuminated manuscripts with killer bunnies, are favorite kind. These are called drolleries or grotesques and they often decorated the margins of Medieval texts, illustrating the world turned upside down etc.
In the medieval world rabbits were thought to represent virility and purity. So when things are out of kilter they took on the aggressive and war like qualities opposite of those. This is also why today one can say "that rabbits dynamite" and get a laugh. Full scene if you need it.
Both bunnies above well armed with nice swords. Drop us an email for quotes on sword not bunny costumes.
Or a lovely axe!
Some of our favorites are siege bunnies.
Even when on defence!
Not to mention jousting bunnies.
The ultimate juxtaposition a meek warrior rabbit using the king of the animals, a lion, as their steed. Got to be a Disney movie here some where.
To learn more about killer Medieval rabbits check out this info from the British Library on the symbolism of rabbits.
Nathan Clough, Ph.D. is Vice President of Arms and Armor and a member of the governing board of The Oakeshott Institute. He is a historical martial artist and a former university professor of cultural geography. He has given presentations on historical arms at events including Longpoint and Combatcon, and presented scholarly papers at, among others, The International Congress on Medieval Studies.
Craig Johnson is the Production Manager of Arms and Armor and Secretary of The Oakeshott Institute. He has taught and published on the history of arms, armor and western martial arts for over 30 years. He has lectured at several schools and Universities, WMAW, HEMAC, 4W, and ICMS at Kalamazoo. His experiences include iron smelting, jousting, theatrical combat instruction and choreography, historical research, European martial arts and crafting weapons and armor since 1985