Is this the 'animal turn'? Lacan described the thought of an elephant as more important than a whole host of actual pachyderms - but how did people in the Middle Ages consider animals - both real and imaginary? London Medieval Society is honoured and delighted to welcome Bob Mills (UCL), Sheila Sweetinburgh (Kent) and Trish Stewart (Oxford English Dictionary) to debate, discourse, and define this fascinating topic. We shall cover not only rethinking Matthew Paris's elephant but also rethinking the medieval pig - as well as exploring the naming of animals. Even that fantastic creature the Phoenix appears.