Plate 50: A Crocodile, a Hippopotomus, a Land Crocodile or Tegu Lizard(?), and a Crocodile or Spiny-Tailed Lizard with a Papyrus Plant c. 1575 - 1580

Here we see Joris Hoefnagel’s “A Crocodile, a Hippopotamus…” a watercolor and gouache on paper. The artist captures an array of exotic creatures, but it is the crocodile that draws our eye with its open mouth. Consider the symbol of the crocodile. In ancient Egypt, Sobek, the crocodile-headed god, was associated with pharaonic power, protection, and fertility, yet he was also feared for his aggressive nature. This duality—protection and peril—mirrors the complex relationship humans have had with nature across time. We see the enduring power of such symbols in Renaissance bestiaries, where animals are imbued with moral and allegorical significance. Hoefnagel's crocodile, however, moves beyond simple allegory. There is a primal fear and respect that these creatures evoke, reflecting the mysterious and untamed aspects of the natural world. The crocodile is a reminder of our own mortality and the ever-present forces of nature. It embodies raw instinct and survival, resonating deep within our collective psyche.