Eagles in flight over water
Tempera and gold leaf on parchment, 22 x 26 cm (page), anonymous, c. 1200–1210
The British Library

Folio 38r from the English manuscript Royal 12 C XIX, an illustrated bestiary, shows an eagle on the left catching fish, symbolising strength, while at the top centre, another eagle soars toward the sun, embodying a sense of divine vision. At the bottom right, a third eagle dives into the water to restore its health, reflecting the medieval belief in renewal. Together, these motifs convey the powerful attributes associated with the eagle in mediaeval thought, such as strength, renewal, and divine insight.