A giraffe from a 1501 German book.
(Not the book talked about here)
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Unknown: (11th century) A Copy of Timothy of Gaza's : On Quadruped Animals. Constantinople
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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

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