Al Bistami: Miftah al-Jifr al-jami;
(Treatise on the occult sciences)
(d1455) Antiochia
--------------------------------------------
Taken from: Aus der turkischen Ubersetzung Tercume-i-Cifru'l cami von Seyyid Burhaneddin.
This miniature painting of a giraffe is called: the Beast of the Earth. (from a ms of 1597)
According to Islamic belief one of the signs of the apocalypse is the appearance of the Dabbetu’l-arz nedir (is a creature that is believed to appear in the End of Times in Islamic eschatology) .
According to some, it has the Seal of Solomon (1) in one hand and Moses' staff in the other. (Like here). I did not find any other drawing where it resembled a giraffe.
.
(1) Seal of Solomon: is the signet ring attributed to King Solomon in medieval mystical traditions. It is the predecessor to the Star of David, which became the symbol of the Jewish people in modern times.