A miniature from the fol. 82v of the Book of Hours, depicting a hedgehog with grapes on its quills. It was believed in medieval times that hedgehogs had spikes so they could roll over fruit to carry home to their children. From Paris, ca. 1420-1425 CE, now housed at the Morgan Library [500×396]
by Fuckoff555
6 Comments
thats cute as fuck
Medieval people had strange beliefs, those are obviously cheese puffs.
Hedgehogs should start doing that
Must have been a blast doing ‘natural philosophy’ in the middle ages. Just down a glass of wine, sit back, and dream of what might be. Then write it down as fact. Bonus points if Aristotle kinda said something similar!
I thought it was a common way to portray hedgehogs everywhere? There were lots of little hedgehogs with apples and strawberries on their backs in children’s books and cartoons when I was little (I’m not from the 15th ct)
It is a well known fact that in medieval times wealthy nobles would use hedgehogs as hors d’oeuvres trays. The hedgehogs would roam around on banquet tables during feasts, impressing guests.
(It is also a well known fact that I just made this up, but it would have been cool if true.)