Folio 5r Detail of illustration

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f5r Illustration: Adam names the animals. This scene illustrates the text from Isidore's Etymology (XXI.II .1-8; XII. VII.I-9) in which the animals are named and classified. In several Bestiaries it is inserted in the middle of the account but in a group of five manuscripts it is given additional meaning by its position at the start of the book. The scene completes the Creation sequence and provides the essential link with the Bestiary text: the etymology of animals' names explains their symbolic role in God's universe. The group on the top right contains the great cats, lion, panther and leopard. Below them are a stag and hind, the wild quadrupeds “not in man's charge”, with two horses “for use by men”. The Next group contains domestic grazing animals: bull, ox, goat and sheep. The ox is beast of burden and the rest are reared for food. Below Adam a goat turns to face a dog-like creature. The bottom left panel contains a rabbit/hare? and two cats. In the bottom right panels are a sheep(?), another dog and two boar. The lions at the top vent their rage with force, fight with tooth and claw and enjoy natural liberty, the dog, cat, boar and wild goat at the bottom are strictly the “beasts”. The full-page illumination has a completely gold background; the principle colours are blue, orange, brown and rosy pink. A small amount of green is used on the throne and the dog's hillock.