Rabbits in medieval manuscripts had a tendency to be much more | History

Rabbits in medieval manuscripts had a tendency to be much more vicious than their real-life counterparts.
The reason is likely their association with purity and weakness. The role reversal of rabbits hunting men was depicted either to show a world turned upside-down, or to make fun of the person being hunted as a fool or coward.
All images from the The Smithfield Decretals, c. 1300, except the last which is from the Gorleston Psalter, c.1300s.