Sebastian Munster Gallery

1627 A Beast Called Su, colour

1627 Woodblock engraving in the text. From Sebastian Munster's account of the New World from the Cosmographia. German edition of 1627 dealing with the navigation of Magellan to Tierra del Fuego. The Su turns up in bestiaries since Gessner and Topsell 1607. It is said to come from Patagonia, a land of giants (there were greatly exaggerated reports of the size of the Tehuelche tribe in Patagonia right up to Darwin's day). All authors report that the Su is "cruel, untameable, impatient, violent, ravening and bloudy (sic)" (Topsell). They also state that it devours its own young rather than let them be taken by Hunters. What this animal might be based on is unclear. Some authors have claimed an extinct ground sloth, but there seems no clear likeness in this account

© This image is Paul D. Stewart 2009. Do not reproduce without permission of the photographer at Stewartpauld@aol.com.

1552 Munsters War Elephant of India

1552 The Cosmographia, Book V, of Sebastian Munster (the early latin edition from the Basel printing house of Sebastian Heinrich Petri). Woodcut plate in text. Published the year Munster died of plague. The woodcut illustrates the account of Alexander the Great's conquest of India, and the greatest battle against Porus. The battle took place July 326BC. Alexander managed to cross the river Hydapses (the Jhelum). But Porus sent his 200 strong elephants against the Macedonian cavalry and threatened to overwhelm them. During the battle Alexander overtook Porus's left wing, forcing it back upon the elephants. They panicked and ran into the Indian ranks. Alexander won the day, capturing Porus, but allowing him to continue to govern the territory in his name. The woodblock shows Europe was already quite familiar with the elephant. A long history in warfare was known from Hannibal and before

© This image is Paul D. Stewart 2009. Do not reproduce without permission of the photographer at Stewartpauld@aol.com.