Expect Monsters in Extreme Climates

Valero Arias, Gabriela

Item

Expect Monsters in Extreme Climates

Valero Arias, Gabriela

Abstract

The focus of this thesis is on the visual representation of monstrous races in an English Psalter dating to 1262-1265: the Map (British Library Add. MS 28681). In it the monstrous races appear on the very edge of one of two mappaemundi that constitute the original painted decoration of the manuscript. These are on the recto and verso of folio 9, the first one will be examined with additional care and attention for it includes the actual depiction of the monstrous races. Nonetheless, the map on the verso will be brought into discussion for it cannot be left out of the interpretation as a whole. The goal of the thesis is to come to terms with some of the ways in which the concept of edge, margin or boundary informed the visual construction of monstrous races during the Middle Ages in general, and the thirteenth century in particular.