Tiger skin

2) The Georgian epic poem “The Knight in the Tiger Skin” by Shota Rustaveli (12th century)

I made a list of animals which are mentioned in poem. I included also the cases when the animals are used as a metaphor, epithet for characterization of the heroes. Hopefully these data also will be interesting for the investigation of the attitudes towards different kinds of animals in the medieval times. For instance in the above mentioned poem lion is the symbol of courage and forth, while in the Bible lion is the symbol of a devil (e.g. “You will tread on the lion and cobra. You will trample the young lion and the serpent underfoot.” Psalm 90). Here are some examples: "IN the morning I mounted, I commanded the trumpet and bugle to be sounded; I cannot tell thee of all the armies nor of their readiness to mount; I, a lion, set forth for Khataet'hi, none can accuse me of cowardice; the soldiers marched without a road, they followed no track. (http://www.nplg.gov.ge/ic/library_e/Wardrope/CHAPTERS/18.HTM )

"THEREBY shalt thou strengthen my love for thee; by delivering me from my sadness, thou shalt cripple the foul demon; plant the violet of hope in my heart, strew roses; then come, 0 lion, I shall meet thee like a sun; meet thou me. http://www.nplg.gov.ge/ic/library_e/Wardrope/CHAPTERS/5.HTM

“THEY saw a certain stranger knight; he sat weeping on the bank of the stream, he held his black horse by the rein, he looked like a lion and a hero; his bridle, armour and saddle were thickly bedight with pearls; the rose of his cheek was frozen in tears that welled up from his woe-stricken heart. ” (http://www.nplg.gov.ge/ic/library_e/Wardrope/CHAPTERS/4.HTM)

Here is the list:

Asp
Beer
Bullock
Camels
Cat
Caw
Crow
Deer
Dog
Donkey
Dragon
(In the original text is the word which in modern Georgian means a whale. The poet uses the same word that by Georgian translators used in the Psalms, e.g. Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet, Psalm90.) Durajis
(This word is not translated by translator. The name of this bird sounds same in Georgian. In the English text there is note: Durajis-francolims.) Eagle
Falcon
Goat (she-goat, he-goat)

References

I have collected data from the Georgian epic poem “The Knight in the Tiger Skin” by Shota Rustaveli (12th century) using the translation by M. S. Wardrope. The text is available on http://www.nplg.gov.ge/ic/library_e/Wardrope/index.htm

Contributor Gabrichidze, Natia, m04gan01@student.ceu.hu, Central European University