Physiologous
Throughout literary history, few works have enjoyed more popular success than bestiaries. Bestiaries are encyclopedic compendiums with stories about real or mythical animals. Many of these tomes have existed throughout the centuries dating back to the pre-Christian era, but none has been more influential than Physiologus. Manuscripts of Physiologus have been found in Latin, Ethiopian, Syrian, Old High German, Flemish, Dutch, Provencal, Old French, Middle English, Italian, Waldensian, Rumanian, Icelandic, Medieval Greek, Serbian, Russian, and Old English (Cook lvii). Sokoll states that "With the exception of the Bible, there is perhaps no other book in all of literature that has been current in every cultivated tongue and among every class of people" (Cook lvii). Yet Physiologus remains a mystery: no one is sure when it was first written; no one knows the origin of the text; the author is anonymous. Examining some different ideas regarding the origins of this text might ! Little doubt remains that a proto-Physiologus first appeared in pre-Christian times. Also, it was probably influenced by works like Aristotle's Historia animalium and Pliny's Natura
The first Latin texts are dated from ca. 400 A.D. The most influential of these is known by scholars as the Latin Version B. It is considered important for two reasons: it closely mirrors the original Greek text, and it is the variant thought to be the most influential on later European productions (Curley xx). Physiologus is meant to describe the heavenly symbolism behind natural phenomena. It is not merely meant to describe the nature of beasts (natural or mythical), plants and stones, but to reveal the symbolic essence placed in these things by God. Physiologus mirrors the tenets of Origenism found in Book Three of his Commentary on the Song of Songs: It is said of the partridge that she warms and nourishes eggs that are not hers. When the young birds grow and begin to fly, however, they leave to find their own parents and forsake the partridge (Curley 46-7). liest known Greek text by approximately two centuries. mpare the ways of animals to spiritual matters (Curley 24). Cook, Albert Stanburrough, ed. The Old English Elene, Phoenix, and Physiologus. New Haven: Yale UP, 1919. According to Physiologus, the phoenix was a bird that came from India. Every 500 years, it would enter the woods of Lebanon, and bathe its wings in fragrance. Then, in the month of Phamenoth (March), the bird would enter the temple in Heliopolis and ignite a pyre set up on the altar. After the third day, the bird would be born again as a great eagle (Curley 13-4). The whale is a creature of great size. It is so large, in fact, that sailors often mistake it for a small island and anchor upon its back. But when they light a fire, the whale, feeling the heat, dives for the depths, thus killing the crew. Also, it is said that when it feeds, it opens its great mouth and emits a smell that attracts small fish. When its mouth is full, the whale closes and swallows the fish. It is noted that no large, perfect fish will be found attracted to the whale (Curley 45-6). The pelican is said to kill its young when they begin to get large enough to strike at its face. After three days of weeping, the pelican revives them by plunging its beak into its breast and allowing its blood to spill on the corpses (Curley 10). The only surviving Old English portions of Physiologus are found in the Exeter Book. Four stories are reproduced in the manuscript, but the story of The Phoenix is printed separately from the others and is actually closer to Lactantius' De Ave
Some common words found in the essay are:
Phamenoth March, Physiologus Naturalist, Viper Physiologus, According Physiologus, Latin Version, English Cook, Exeter Book, Physiologus Cook, Physiologus Throughout, Song Songs, latin version, exeter book, cook lvii, heavenly nature, beast plant stone, beast plant, physiologus eagle, nature beast, plant stone, christian physiologus, nature beast plant, heavenly nature beast, printed exeter book, little doubt,
Approximate Word count = 1673
Approximate Pages = 7 (250 words per page double spaced)
|
