ABSTRACT
Bestiaries, fables and physiognomies are part of a deep-rooted Western tradition that attempts to derive from the physical similarities between humans and animals some clues as to the possible behaviour of people or to warn them about the consequences of certain paths and decisions. This chapter focuses on a collection of portrayals that shape the image of the elephant from Antiquity to Early Modern times and point to the symbolic relationship between this animal and the idea of non-violence.
