Edward Topsell facts for kids
Edward Topsell (born around 1572, died in 1625) was an English church leader and writer. He is most famous for his book about animals, which is called a bestiary.
Edward Topsell grew up and went to school in Sevenoaks, a town in Kent, England. He then studied at Christ's College, Cambridge University. After finishing his studies, he became a priest in the Church of England. He was the first rector (a type of church leader) in East Hoathly in Sussex. Later, he worked at St Botolph's, Aldersgate church starting in 1604.
Topsell wrote several books about religion and good behavior. These included The Reward of Religion (published in 1596) and Time's Lamentation (published in 1599).
Contents
Topsell's Famous Animal Books
Edward Topsell's most well-known works are The History of Four-footed Beasts (1607) and The History of Serpents (1608). Both books were printed by William Jaggard. Later, in 1658, they were combined into one big book called The History of Four-Footed Beasts and Serpents.
This huge book, over 1100 pages long, is about zoology, which is the study of animals. Topsell's book included many old and sometimes unbelievable stories about real animals. It also talked about mythical creatures that people believed in. Topsell himself was not a scientist who studied nature directly. Instead, he got his information from earlier writers. His main source was Historiae animalium by the Swiss scholar Conrad Gessner.
Topsell once wrote that he didn't want readers to think he had shared everything ever said about these animals. He only included what many people had said.
Topsell's work is mostly remembered for its detailed and lively pictures. One very famous picture is known as Dürer's Rhinoceros. These illustrations have been used many times in different places. Topsell's animal book has been printed again in modern times, usually in a much shorter version.
Old Beliefs About Real Animals
Topsell wrote down many old stories and beliefs about real animals. These stories often gave animals strange or magical powers. For example, he wrote that:
- True toads have a special "toadstone" in their heads. People believed this stone could protect them from poison.
- Weasels give birth through their ears.
- Lemmings eat grass that grows in the clouds.
- Elephants worship the sun and the moon. He also wrote that they become pregnant by chewing on a plant called mandrake.
- Apes are very scared of snails.
Fantastic Creatures in Topsell's Book
Topsell also included many mythical creatures in his book. He said he relied on "sundry learned men" (many wise people) for these stories. Some of the fantastic animals he described were:
However, Topsell did seem to doubt the existence of the Hydra, a multi-headed serpent from Greek myths.
A Quote from Topsell
Edward Topsell once wrote something interesting about animals: "It is as necessary, or rather more necessary, for most men to know how to take mice, than how to take elephants." This means that for most people, knowing how to deal with small, common problems (like mice) is more useful than knowing about big, rare ones (like elephants).
Gallery from The History of the Four-footed Beasts and Serpents, 1658
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Rhinoceros woodcut
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African Bugil-Cow woodcut
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Baboon-Tartarine woodcut
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Bloodhound woodcut
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Sea-Horse woodcut
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Tiger woodcut
See also
- Apollonian and Dionysian
