Goose, Rochester Bestiary, c.1230

The goose has a fascinating nature that captures our interest. Classified as an unclean bird like the duck, it is not recommended for consumption due to its webbed toes and ability to live on land and on water. Remarkably, the goose, akin to the cock, commands multiple mates and vigilantly watches over the night with its incessant honking.

Unique in its sharp sense of smell, the goose famously alerted ancient Romans of the Gauls' approach on Capitoline Hill with its honking, acting as a vigilant sentry when the gods themselves were asleep. This event led Romans to honour geese with sacrifices, recognising their crucial role in defending the city, even above their gods. Thus, the geese earned a revered place in Rome's history, remembered as the city's unlikely but heroic protectors.

In a Christian context, the goose's vigilant nature was often seen as a metaphor for spiritual alertness. Christians were encouraged to be as watchful as the goose, remaining alert to spiritual dangers and temptations, always ready to defend their faith. Its ability to live on land and on water was sometimes seen as a representation of the dual nature of humans, who must navigate both the physical and spiritual realms. This duality served as a reminder of the importance of balancing worldly life with spiritual duties.

Anseris quoque naturam licet de eo nichil s2c-
batur in sacra scriptura; audire delectat. Inmun-
da tn avis presumitur esse. sicut et anas. nec eo sed
legem licitum est vesci. quia clausum pellicula habet
pedem. et ideo non dundit ungulam. Preterea et
in terra et in aqua valens. et ideo inmundus. Anser
multis aucis uxoribus suis; dominatur. sicut et gallus.
Anser vigilias noctis assiduitate clangoris testatur.
Nullum quoque animal it odorem hominis sentit;
ut anser. Unde et clangore eius quasi buccina op-
timi vigilis; gallorum ascensus in capitolio deprehensus
est. Anseribus igitur debes roma quod regnas. Dii tui
dormiebant. et vigilabant ansere. Ideo illis die-
bus anseri sacrificas; et non iovi. Cedunt enim dii uri-
anseribus a quibus se sciunt esse defensos;
ne et ipsi ab hostibus caperentur.

Although nothing about the nature of the goose is written in the sacred scriptures, it is still pleasing to hear about it. It is supposed to be an unclean bird, like the duck, and man is not allowed to eat it according to the law, for its toes are connected by a membrane[1]; therefore, it does not have a split hoof. Moreover, it is capable of living both on land and in water; therefore, it is considered unclean. The goose, like the cock, dominates its many wives. The goose also watches the night with its persistent honking. No other animal senses the smell of a human as keenly as the goose. Hence, its honking, like the trumpet of an excellent sentry, detected the approach of the Gauls on the Capitoline Hill[2]. Thus, Rome owes to the geese the fact that you reign. Your gods were sleeping but the geese were watching. Therefore, in those days, you sacrifice to the goose and not to Jupiter. The gods yield to the geese by whom they know they were defended, so that they themselves would not be captured by the enemy.

Further Reading

David Badke, The Bestiary Blog: Animals in the Middle Ages, Goose, November 6 2023, https://bestiary.ca/beasts/beast538.htm

Mynott, J, Birds in the Ancient World (New York: Oxford University Press 2018)

Josh Goldenberg (BA 2012) and Matt Shanahan (BA 2014), Logeion, November 2022, https://logeion.uchicago.edu/

Castiglioni, L. and Mariotti, S. (1996). Vocabolario della Lingua Latina: Latino-Italiano Italiano-Latino. Terza Edizione. Loescher Torino

Curley, M. J., Physiologus: A Medieval Book of Nature Lore (University of Chicago edition 2009)

Rackham, H., M.A., Pliny Natural History Volume III, Libri VIII-XI (London: William Heinemann Ltd, 1949)

Collins, A. H., M.A., Symbolism of Animals and Birds (New York: McBride, Nast & Company, 1913)

Henderson, C., The Book of Barely Imagined Beings (London: University of Chicago Press, 2013)

White, T. H., The Bestiary: A Book of Beasts (New York: G.P Putnam’s Sons, 1960)

Matthews, J. and Matthews C., The Element Encyclopedia of Magical Creatures: The Ultimate A-Z of fantastic beings from myth and magic (London: HarperElement, 2005)

Barney, S. A., Lewis, W. J., Beach A., Berghof O., The Etymologies of Isidore of Seville (New York: Cambridge University Press, 2006)

Endnotes

[1] The foot of a goose is called a "webbed foot." Geese, like other waterfowl, have webbed feet, which consist of toes connected by a membrane, or webbing. This adaptation helps them to swim efficiently in water.

[2] The reference to the Gauls in the passage pertains to the historical event of the Gallic invasion of Rome in 390 BCE. During this invasion, the Gauls, led by Brennus, attacked and captured most of the city. However, the Romans held out on the Capitoline Hill. According to legend, the sacred geese of Juno, kept on the Capitoline Hill, played a crucial role in the defence of the city. The story goes that while the Gauls attempted a night assault on the hill, the geese were disturbed and began honking loudly, alerting the Roman defenders to the stealthy approach of the Gauls. The noise made by the geese awakened the Romans, allowing them to repel the attack and ultimately contributing to the survival of the city during this critical moment.