The Questing Beast, also known as Beast Glatissant, is a mythical creature that has appeared several times in French and English texts. It is a cross-animal beast that has the head and neck of a snake, the body of a leopard, the feet of a stag and the tail of a lion. The beast is also described as having scaly, reptilian-like skin.
The name of this mythical beast originates from the loud, horrifying noise that comes from the beast’s belly. This yelping and or barking sound coming from the beat is described to be similar to “thirty couple hounds questing”.
Mythical Origins of the Questing Beast
The Questing beast is believed to have been spawned by the daughter of King Ypomenes, who lusted after her brother. When she realized that he did not want her, she turned to the devil, who slept with her and promised to help. The devil later manipulated the princess to accuse her brother of rape.
Following the accusation, King Ypomenes arrested the prince and sentenced him to be torn apart by dogs. As he died, the prince cursed his sister by proclaiming that she would give birth to a monster from whose belly the barking of dogs would remind others of his shameful death.
As predicted, the princes gave birth to the questing beast. Realizing his mistake, the King ordered the arrest and execution of the Incestous princes.
Characteristics of the Questing Beast
Apart from the loud and horrible noise coming from the belly of the beast, the creature is also described to be plagued by perpetual thirst. However, there is a twist to this curse. The beast secretes a large amount of slime and saliva, which pollutes any water it spends too much time in. Thus, the beast is forced to move from one body of water to another in its endless search for clean water.
The Questing Beast and King Authur
According to the Arthurian legends, King Authur’s first encounter with the Questing Beast comes after he had an illicit affair with Morgause, the wife of King Lot of Orkney and his half-sister (the young Authur did not know it at the time of the affair). The young King Authur had stopped to rest beside a lake when the horrible monster came along to drink from the lake. As the beast drank, the noise from its belly reduced; however, it soon started again after the beast finished drinking.
In the legends, Merlin explains to King Authur that he had seen the beast because, like King Yponmene’s daughter, he had also done something unforgivable. King Pellinore also explains that the Questing Beast has always been a burden for the Pellinoeas, and all Pellinores are trained from birth to hunt the beast.
The hunt for the Questing Beast is a recurring theme in Arthurian tales, symbolizing a seemingly unattainable goal or a relentless pursuit.
Other Interpretations of the Questing Beast
In earlier European texts, the yelping sounds from the beast’s belly are explained to come from its young, eager to come out. They eventually do and immediately tear their mother to pieces before disappearing into the forest. According to these legends, the beasts represent Jesus Christ, and the young are associated with the 12 tribes of Isreal who will eventually crucify him.
In these writings, the Questing Beast is a creature of purity and sacrifice.
However, modern historians have explained the legend of the Questing Beast to be a medieval description of the Giraffe.