Tradition: English Mythology
Alternative Names: Murderous Bunny, Medieval Archer Rabbit
Category: Rabbit
The Myth
The Archer Bunny is a rabbit depicted with a bow and arrows in the decorated margins of medieval manuscripts. These illustrations are part of a wider tradition of murderous bunnies, which appear in many different forms. The rabbits are often shown acting like humans, armed with weapons and taking part in strange or violent scenes.
In these medieval comics, the Archer Bunny often turns the tables on the hunter. Instead of being hunted, the rabbit shoots the hunter or his hound. The injured hunter or dog is then brought before a court, where the rabbit’s actions lead to a trial and the hunter is sentenced to torture or death. The Archer Bunny has no single established myth or story, but remains a memorable example of medieval art’s playful reversal of the natural order, with the hunted rabbit becoming the aggressor.
Sources
“Killer Rabbits: When Bunnies Strike Back.” Medieval Manuscripts Blog, British Library, June 2021. https://blogs.bl.uk/digitisedmanuscripts/2021/06/killer-rabbits.html