A THREE-HEADED BIRD STANDS AT A DARK PIT
a pool filled with monstrosities.
The dark abyss can be symbol for Hell, also with Bosch.
The 3-headed bird would then be Bosch’s transformation of the 3-headed Cerberus dog of ancient Greek myths, Guardian of the Underworld.
Best explanation of the bittern at LEFT, so far:
it’s a sacrilegious transformation by Bosch of the symbol of the pelican (Christ) feeding its young by its ‘blood’,
i.e. His offer at Passion.
Here the Bittern is eating its young…!
The whole triptych is about Satan’s trials of pious Anthony.
Ca. 1500. At MNAA Lisbon. #netherlandishart
#XForming
Intriguing is the image at LEFT from the MS Ashmole 1511 ‘date statement 1201-25’ at the Bodleian Library, Oxford.
The griffin is holding a (Wild) pig.
Whereas the Bosch Garden version of ~1500 carries a bear; at the Prado Museum, Madrid.
A Boschian change?
To be more exact, the wine pouring old woman, aka the witch-procuress, has no wings but an orchid-like ‘nimbus’ headgear (behind her head).
Together with her blue robe it is interpreted as another diabolic parody, in this case of the holy Virgin Mary.
<De Bruyn; Bax.
caseiokey