Top 10 Funniest Medieval Marginalia That Actually Exist
When we think of the Middle Ages, we often imagine serious monks, solemn prayers, and endless Latin texts. But tucked into the margins of those very manuscripts are scenes so absurd, so wildly creative, they’ll make you question everything you thought you knew about medieval life.
From sword-wielding rabbits to snails battling knights, medieval marginalia proves that even the most devout scribe had a wicked sense of humour.
Here are ten of the funniest—and most baffling—real marginalia illustrations we’ve ever seen:
1. A Knight Fighting a Giant Snail
Arguably the poster child of marginalia madness, this scene appears over and over in medieval manuscripts. Why? No one really knows. But the image of a noble knight fearfully facing off against a slow-moving snail is peak absurdity.
🌀 Fun theory: Some scholars think it symbolises the futility of war. We think it symbolises Mondays.
2. The Rabbit Executioner
In a complete role reversal, these scenes show rabbits beheading human prisoners, tying them up, or charging into battle. Whether it’s satire or chaos, it’s clear that medieval rabbits were not to be messed with.
🔪 Moral of the story: Never underestimate the fluffy ones.
3. The Sausage Tree
Yes, it’s exactly what it sounds like. In one infamous piece of marginalia, a man is shown harvesting what appear to be sausages from a tree—while another cheerfully collects them in a basket. Whether it’s a satire of gluttony or just a scribe’s hungry imagination, we may never know.
🌭 Moral of the story: The sausage doesn’t fall far from the tree.
4. Trumpets Where Trumpets Shouldn’t Be
Butt-trumpets were shockingly popular in medieval art. Whether it’s demons tooting from behind or men using their backsides as instruments, nothing says “eternal damnation” like musical flatulence.
🎺 Soundtrack not included.
5. The Rabbit Knight Riding a Snail
This legendary image flips the script completely: a rabbit in armour, proudly riding a giant snail as if it’s a warhorse. The expression is noble. The snail? Unbothered. It’s a perfect mix of absurdity and misplaced heroism—and one of the most beloved marginalia scenes of all time.
🐇 Possible caption: “Gallop is a mindset.”
6. Monkeys Playing Church
Some marginalia feature monkeys dressed as clergy, performing mock sermons or religious rituals. Likely a jab at corruption or hypocrisy in the church—but also extremely funny in a medieval Monty Python way.
🙏 Holy chaos awaits.
7. Cat Playing a Fiddle
Pure medieval joy: a cat strumming a fiddle while a mouse does a little jig. Proof that even in a time of plagues and crusades, people appreciated good tunes and party animals.
🎻 Now that’s what we call early EDM.
8. Man Battling a Giant Bee
Ever wondered what medieval people feared? Apparently, bees the size of eagles. A lone warrior facing down a monstrous bee captures both medieval anxiety and incredible imagination.
🐝 Actual caption: “Not the bees!”
9. Hybrid Creatures Just… Hanging Out
Birds with dog bodies, men with fish legs, lions with human faces. Many of them aren't fighting or symbolising anything—they’re just chilling in the margins. Which somehow makes them even funnier.
🦴 Medieval motto: Why not?
10. A Person Farting into a Trumpet That’s Also a Weapon
Marginalia often blurs the line between horror and hilarity. This scene, combining sound, violence, and very questionable anatomy, is… unforgettable.
💨 Battle strategy: flatulence and fear.
What Were They Thinking?
These drawings may seem like nonsense, but they offered monks a creative outlet in a world full of rules. Sometimes mocking, sometimes magical, and always imaginative, they let us peek into the playful side of medieval minds.
At Ars Jocularis, we celebrate the absurdity of marginalia by turning these chaotic creatures and moments into wearable art. Whether you love snails with swords or rabbits on revenge missions, our phone cases bring medieval mischief straight to your pocket.
🔥 Browse the collection and find your favourite freaky friend from the margins.