Why Are There So Many Snail Knights in Medieval Art?

You may have seen them in memes, or maybe on a phone case: knights bravely charging into battle… against snails. But why did medieval artists keep drawing this?

Let’s explore the legendary (and very slow-moving) snail knight.

The Snail vs. Knight Trope

All across medieval manuscripts, you’ll find brave, armoured knights squaring off with giant snails. It’s such a frequent motif that art historians have spent decades trying to decode it.

So What Did the Snails Symbolise?

There are a few theories:

- Cowardice: Snails retreat into their shells, possibly symbolising cowardly enemies.

- Mockery of chivalry: The image may have been a satirical jab at knights or the nobility.

- A joke: Some believe it was simply an inside joke between scribes and illustrators.

The truth? We may never know. But the absurdity of it is what makes snail knights so lovable — especially today.

Why People Still Love Snail Knights

In today’s meme culture, the snail knight feels oddly relatable: absurd, brave, a little bit useless, but trying really hard.

And that’s why it’s one of our best-selling designs at Ars Jocularis. Because sometimes, you want your phone case to say:

*"Yes, I would duel a snail for honour."

Explore our Snail Knight Collection here