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The Four Humours with their representative animals. Choleric, with lion: Sanguine, with ape: Phlegmatic, with sheep: Melancholic, with pig. Woodcut from an early 16th century edition of the Shepheards Kalendar
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The Four Humours with their representative animals. Choleric, with lion: Sanguine, with ape: Phlegmatic, with sheep: Melancholic, with pig. Woodcut from an early 16th century edition of the Shepheards Kalendar
527501 The Four Humours with their representative animals. Choleric, with lion: Sanguine, with ape: Phlegmatic, with sheep: Melancholic, with pig. Woodcut from an early 16th century edition of the Shepheards Kalendar. ; (add.info.: Hippocrates of Cos (active c400 BC) thought behaviour and temperament were due to balance, or imbalance, of the four humours in the body.); Universal History Archive/UIG
Media ID 38309938
© Universal History Archive/UIG / Bridgeman Images
16th Active Balance Behaviour Edition Hippocrates Humours Melancholic Representative Sanguine Temperament Thought Choleric Imbalance Phlegmatic Shepheards
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This intriguing woodcut print from an early 16th century edition of the Shepheards Kalendar depicts The Four Humours with their representative animals. Each humour is paired with a specific animal: Choleric with a lion, Sanguine with an ape, Phlegmatic with a sheep, and Melancholic with a pig.
The concept of the four humours dates back to ancient Greek medicine, specifically Hippocrates of Cos in around 400 BC. According to this theory, behavior and temperament were believed to be influenced by the balance or imbalance of these bodily fluids.
In this image, we see each humour personified by both human figures and their corresponding animals. The fierce lion represents Choleric individuals who are characterized as ambitious and aggressive. Sanguine individuals are depicted alongside playful apes symbolizing their sociable and optimistic nature. Phlegmatic personalities are shown next to gentle sheep reflecting their calm and easygoing demeanor. Lastly, Melancholic individuals stand beside pigs representing their introspective and sensitive traits.
This woodcut serves as a fascinating glimpse into medieval beliefs about personality types and how they relate to the natural world. It's a reminder of how ancient ideas continue to influence our understanding of human behavior today.
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