Centaury in a herbal

One remedy for snakebite is the plant known as ‘centaury’. According to this 12th-century manuscript, the two plants Centauria major and Centauria minor were named after the centaur, Chiron. In Greek mythology, Chiron was renowned as a physician, astrologer and oracle. In this drawing, Chiron is shown handing over these plants to Asclepius, the god of medicine and healing. A snake slithers away from under their feet. A later scribe has identified one of these herbs in English: ‘centory minor’. Shown here: ff. 21v–22r