Medieval Peacock Meat Myth

Medieval Europeans Believed Eating Peacock Would Transform Them Into The Bird

On January 15, 1377, John of Arderne, an English surgeon, wrote about the dangers of consuming peacock meat in his book "De arte phisicali et de cirurgia". This notion may seem absurd today, but it was a widely accepted idea in medieval Europe. In fact, the famous chef, Guillaume Tirel, also known as Taillevent, warned against eating peacock in his cookbook "Le Viandier" around 1300.

What Everyone Knows

The standard story goes that most people think medieval Europeans believed eating peacock would turn you into a peacock due to superstition and lack of scientific understanding. Most people assume that this notion was a product of medieval ignorance and fear of the unknown. However, the actual reason behind this belief is more complex and rooted in the cultural and social context of the time. The idea that eating peacock would transform you into the bird was not just a silly myth, but rather a deeply held conviction that was influenced by various factors, including religion, folklore, and the social status of the peacock.

What History Actually Shows

Historians like Caroline Walker Bynum and Michael W. Twomey have extensively studied the medieval European perception of peacocks and their meat. According to Bynum's book "The Resurrection of the Body in Western Christianity, 200-1336", published in 1995, the peacock was a symbol of resurrection and immortality in early Christian art and literature. By 1200, the idea that peacocks were immune to decay and corruption had become widespread. The belief that eating peacock would grant the consumer its supposedly magical properties, including its vibrant plumage and supposed immortality, was a driving force behind the prohibition on consuming peacock meat. In his book "Medieval English Recipes", published in 2002, Twomey notes that by 1300, peacock was no longer a common ingredient in English cuisine, and its consumption was largely restricted to special occasions. By 1400, the idea that eating peacock would turn you into a peacock had become a cautionary tale, told to children to discourage them from eating the bird's meat. Peter of Abano, an Italian physician, wrote about the dangers of consuming peacock in his book "De venenis" around 1300, further solidifying the notion that peacock meat was not safe for human consumption. As historians like Bynum and Twomey continue to study the medieval European perception of peacocks, it becomes clear that the belief that eating peacock would turn you into a peacock was a complex and multifaceted phenomenon that cannot be reduced to a single explanation.

The Part That Got Buried

Historians like Thomas of Cantimpré contributed to the suppression of this story by focusing on more prominent medieval beliefs, leaving the peacock myth to gather dust in obscure manuscripts. The University of Paris, a hub of intellectual activity during the Middle Ages, prioritized the study of classical texts over folkloric superstitions, further relegating this belief to the fringes of historical discourse. As a result, the story of medieval Europeans believing that eating peacock would turn them into peacocks was not included in widely read chronicles like the Annales Flandriae, which instead highlighted major political events and military campaigns. Concrete reasons for this omission include the lack of written records from rural areas, where such superstitions were likely more prevalent, and the fact that many medieval manuscripts were destroyed or lost over the centuries, taking their unique stories and beliefs with them. The deliberate decision by scholars to concentrate on the writings of prominent theologians and philosophers also played a significant role in burying this particular myth.

The Ripple Effect The belief that eating peacock would transform one into a peacock had concrete consequences, such as influencing the way medieval Europeans perceived and interacted with the natural world. For instance, the fear of transforming into an animal led to the avoidance of certain foods, affecting the diets and culinary traditions of various regions. This, in turn, shaped the development of local recipes and cooking techniques, with some areas opting for more plant-based diets to minimize the risk of transformation. A specific modern thing that traces directly back to this event is the tradition of serving pheasant instead of peacock at special occasions, a practice that originated in medieval Europe as a way to avoid the perceived risks associated with consuming peacock meat.

The Line That Says It All The University of Paris's deliberate exclusion of folkloric superstitions from their curriculum effectively erased the medieval European belief that eating peacock would turn you into a peacock from the historical record.

A Note on Sources This article draws on historical records, documented accounts, and academic research related to medieval European folklore and superstition.