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(Redirected from Aptaleon)
A calopus

The aptaleon or calopus is a goat-like creature with serrated horns. The calopus was sometimes used in for symbolic purposes in medieval heraldry, the practice brandishing armor with an insignia.

Description

The Calopus is described as having a large, wolf like body, a felid face, a boar like snout and a beard like that of a goat. Said to support its self on cloven fore hooves, and a reptilian like hindquarter. The first known depiction of the Calopus was found carved into a block of wood in Norfolk England’s Raveningham Church. The church itself was erected sometime around 1383, and although this carving is the first known physical representation of the Calopus, a similar beast existed in ancient Babylon, where it was sometimes called the Chatloup or the Aptaleon.

Powers

The Babylonian myth tells that the aptaleon could cut down trees with his horns, but could get caught and held in a thicket, or a bush called erechire.


Origin

The creature probably originated from an old oriental myth but was later included in the medieval bestiaries and heraldry.


Heraldry

The Calopus was chosen as an armor brand for its feared reputation as a fierce predator, warriors brandishing the insignia of the Calopus hoped to instill fear in their eyes of their enemies. The Calopus’s most notable feature were its two, huge, serrated horns, which eyewitness claim where so strong and so sharp that they could cut down trees, a skill which came in handy when the creatures prey would use their climbing skills as a means of escaping the voracious predator.