Asp, Rochester Bestiary, c.1230

Rochester Bestiary

16 Oct

Written By KAS

The asp, a deadly snake, is known for its venomous bite, with several species including the dipsa, hypnale, haemorrhois and prester. The dipsa, also called sĭtŭla in Latin, causes its victims to die of thirst, often without realising they have been bitten due to the snake's tiny size. The hypnale kills by lulling its victims into a fatal sleep—famously used by Cleopatra in her suicide. The haemorrhois causes blood to flow uncontrollably from the body, whereas the prester, known for its steaming, wide-open mouth, causes extreme swelling and decay after a bite.

In ancient lore, the asp is said to resist a magician's charms by blocking its ears to avoid being drawn out of its hole. This behaviour led to the asp being symbolically associated with malicious or heretical figures. The Bible references the asp’s deadly venom in Deuteronomy and Pliny notes that vinegar can counteract the snake’s poison. This depiction of the asp and its various species paints a vivid picture of the dangers these serpents posed in ancient times, both physically and symbolically.

Aspis morsu venenato interimit. Huius sunt
diversa species. Videlicet dipsa. Ipnalis. emorois.
prester. Dipsa; latine dicitur situla. quia quem mo-
morderit; siti perit. et est tante exiguitatis; ut
cum calcatur non videtur. Cuius venenum ante extin-
guit; quam senciatur. ut nec tristiciam inducat morituro3.
De quo poeta. Signiferum iuvenem tirrem sanguinis
aulum; tota capud retro dipsa calcata momordit.

The asp kills with its venomous bite. There are various species of it, namely: dipsa, hypnălē, haemorrhŏis[1] and prēster[2]. The dipsa is called situla[3] in Latin, for whoever is bitten dies of thirst. It is so small that it cannot be seen, even when stepped on. Its venom kills the victims before they even feel it, so it brings no agony to them. The poet[4] says thereof: 'With its head twisted back, the dipsa, having been stepped on, bit the young standard-bearer Aulus of Tyrrhenian blood[5]; there was barely any pain or sensation of fangs.”

Vix/Vis dolor aut sensus dentis fuit. Ipnalis genus
apsidis sompno necat. Hanc sibi cleopatra appo-
suit. et morte quasi sompno soluta est. Emorois;
sanguinem totum humanum per dissolutas venas desu-
dare facit. Prester; semper ore patenti et vaporan-
ti; currit. Unde poeta. Oraque distendens avidus
fumantia prester. Hic quem percusserit disten-
ditur. enormique corpulentia necatur. Extube-
ratum enim putredo sequitur. Fertur autem.
omnis aspis cum ceperit pati incantatorem. ut eam
quibusdam incantationibus a cavernis suis extra-
hant; illa cum exire noluerit; unam aurem
in terram premit. alteram obturat cauda;
et operit. atque ita voces illas magicas non audi-
ens; non exit ad incantantem. Nomine igitur aspidis
dicuntur maliciosi iudei. sive venenosi he-
retici. Unde in deuteronomio. Fel draconum
vinum eorum. et venenum aspidum insanabile;
Plinius dicit venenum aspidis aceto repelli.

There was hardly any pain or sensation in the tooth. Sleep kills the type of apse. Cleopatra put this to him, and in death she was dissolved as in a dream. hemorrhoids; it causes the whole human blood to flow out through the dilapidated veins. Priest; always open-mouthed and steaming; running Hence the poet. And stretching out his mouth, the avid smoking priest. Here he whom he strikes is distended, and his enormous corpulence is killed. For exhumation is followed by decay. Now it is said that every wasp, when it has caught a charmer, has to draw it out of its caves by certain incantations; when she refused to go out; he presses one ear to the ground, the tail stops the other; and he covers, and thus not hearing those magical voices; does not go out to enchantment. Therefore, by the name of asps, the malicious Jews are called, or poisonous heretics. Hence in Deuteronomy. Their wine is the gall of dragons, and the poison of the asp is incurable. Pliny says that the poison of the asp is repelled by vinegar.

Footnotes

[1] Haemorrhŏis hippocrepis is actually a genus containing four species of aglyphous (non-venomous) ophidian colubrid snakes, commonly referred to as whip-snakes and Asian racers, respectively. Snakes of this genus are found in an array of habitats, though they predominantly inhabit arid regions, with the most common three species of the four being found on the Iberian Peninsula and in Morocco and Northern Africa.

[2] According to Lucan, the prēster, bellows-swelling, swollen veins or inflater, is a deadly species of asp found in the deserts of Libya.

[3] Sĭtŭla means a bucket for drawing water in Latin.

[4] Lucan was a Roman poet, born in Corduba, Hispania Baetica (present-day Córdoba, Spain). He is regarded as one of the outstanding figures of the Imperial Latin period, known in particular for his epic Pharsalia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lucan

[5] Lucan, Civil War 9.737: “With its head twisted back the dipsas, when it was stepped on, bit the young standard-bearer Aulus, of Tyrrhenian blood; there was barely any pain or sensation of fangs.”

[6] The hypnalis is a legendary creature described in medieval bestiaries. It is described as a type of asp that kills its victim in their sleep. Cleopatra placed it on herself (at her breasts) and thus was freed by death as if by sleep. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asp_(snake)

In reality, there exists a type of viper of the genus hypnale called hump-nosed viper, venomous viper endemic to Sri Lank and India. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypnale

[7] Lucan, Civil War 9.722: “The greedy prester, swelling out its steaming mouth.”

[8] Deuteronomy KJV 32:33: "Their wine is the poison of dragons, and the cruel venom of asps."

KAS

Asp, Rochester Bestiary, c.1230

Further Reading

Footnotes

Kent Archaeological Society

Asp, Rochester Bestiary, c.1230

Further Reading

Footnotes

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Kent Archaeological Society