Elephant trapping, 16th century

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Elephant trapping, 16th century

Elephant trapping. 16th-century artwork of people trapping elephants by digging trenches, with a captured elephant being lifted out of the trench. Two elephants at right are tethered to a tree. Use in war and in logging, the Indian elephant is easier to control than the larger African elephant. Artwork from Cosmographie universelle (1575) by the French explorer and writer Andre Thevet (1516-1590). This book described the history and geography of the lands in which Thevet had travelled. The two volumes and four tomes contain over 1000 pages divided into 23 books. This woodcut is from chapter IIII of book XII

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Media ID 9199647

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1500s 1575 16th Century Africa African Andre Thevet Captive Captured Capturing Cosmographie Universelle Digging Elephant Forest French Hunter Hunters Lift Lifting Loxodonta Africana Mediaeval Medieval Middle Ages Natural History Ropes Trap Trapping Trench Woodcut Chapter 4 Elephas Maximus Loxodonta Cyclotis Spades

EDITORS COMMENTS
This print takes us back to the 16th century, showcasing an intriguing artwork by French explorer and writer Andre Thevet. Depicting a scene of elephant trapping, this woodcut from chapter IIII of book XII in Thevet's Cosmographie universelle offers a glimpse into the historical practices of war and logging. In this intricate illustration, we witness people diligently digging trenches as part of their method to trap elephants. At the center of attention is a captured elephant being lifted out of the trench with ropes, showcasing both human ingenuity and technological prowess for that time period. Two other elephants are tethered to a tree nearby, highlighting the contrasting ease in controlling Indian elephants compared to their larger African counterparts. Thevet's extensive work spans over two volumes and four tomes containing more than 1000 pages divided into 23 books. This particular woodcut captures our imagination with its detailed portrayal of nature, hunters, animals, and technology intertwined within a medieval setting. Todd-White Art Photography has beautifully preserved this monochrome masterpiece from history, allowing us to appreciate not only its artistic value but also its significance in understanding zoology and natural history during the Middle Ages. As we delve into this image filled with cultural exploration and biological curiosity, we are reminded once again of humanity's timeless fascination with wildlife and our ever-evolving relationship with it throughout centuries past.

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