Vila Wolf's Dyslexic Folklorist Ranting

The world’s oceans abound with a truly astonishing diversity of life forms. Beginning some 400 years ago, European voyages of discovery began mapping the globe, and knowledge of ocean life flourished as never before. These explorers documented their discoveries in illustrated books—by sketching their own specimens or collaborating with artists and engravers—resulting in images that communicate the anatomy, life cycles, habits—and sheer beauty—of newfound marine species. 

The exhibition, Opulent Oceans: Extraordinary Rare Book Selections from the American Museum of Natural History, includes 46 exquisite reproductions from 33 rare and beautifully illustrated scientific works. 

Learn more about this exhibition.

Very Rare Greek Coin - One Of The Largest Known

This is the finest of three known Greek silver tetradrachms of this rare type from Eretria, Euboea (map) struck circa 525-500 BC, with a very large diameter of 36 mm. It shows a bull with it’s hind hoof raised to touch its nose. A swallow sits on his back with an E in retrograde below. The reverse has an octopus in an incuse square.

Eretria counts among the first cities in Greece proper to strike their own silver coins along with Athens, Chalcis and Karystos. Analysis of several hoards has shown that the earliest coins struck in Eretria were contemporary with the first Athenian Owl coins.

The representation of a cow recalls the myth of Io. The young woman, after the birth of her son Epaphos by Zeus, was changed into a cow by Hera who wanted to take revenge on her unfaithful husband. According to one tradition, Epaphos was born in Euboea. As for the octopus, it probably alludes to the city’s maritime activities.

Minoan Octopus Vase, 15th Century B.C.E.

A woodcut from 1604 of a creature seen off la Côte d’Azur in 1562.  First published in the supplement to the fourth book of Historiae Animalium by the Swiss naturalist Konrad von Geßner under the Latinized moniker “Conrad Gesner.”  The artist is unknown.

I just bought Curious Woodcuts of Fanciful and Real Beasts (Dover Publications, 1971).  I’m gonna have a lot of fun with this.