A giraffe from a 1501 German book. (Not the book talked about here) |
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Back to Table of Contents 2 To next page Unknown: (11th century) A Copy of Timothy of Gaza's : On Quadruped Animals. Constantinople ----------------------------------------------------- Taken from : doaks.org/ByzGarden Timothy of Gaza mentions giraffes and an elephant being given to Emperor Anastasios I (in 496), and an author of a paraphrase of this text, writing apparently in the 11th century adds: This was seen in our times too : for also to the emperor (Constantine) Monomachos were these two animals brought from India, and were at each opportunity shown to the people as a marvel, in the theatre of Constantinople. (from a Byzantine paraphrase on a 5th century animal book). Note : Other authors (Attaleiate) who also saw the animals add that the elephant was brought in front of the Emperor (in the circus) to kneel. This proves that it was really a tame Indian elephant. And that trade in giraffes to India from east Africa was a reality. Note: The people of baghdad noticed the passing of the elephant and the giraffe and Ibn al Jawzi wrote it down; see under 1200 AD ibn al Jawzi |