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
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). The following entries are synopses of the stories told regarding the four creatures appearing in the Exeter Book. In this case, the Latin Version B text has been substituted for the story of the Phoenix since it covers all the essential details and is a truer version of the actual Physiologus. lis historia (Wirtjes lxviii). Egypt seems the most likely origin of this proto-Physiologus. The use of Phamenoth, the coptic name for March, coupled with the stories of the Crocodile, Ibis, and Phoenix (creatures important in Egyptian literature and religion) leave little doubt regarding this fact (Cook lvii). In fact, Heliodorus' third century Greek romance Theagenes and Chariclea includes an Egyptian character who makes reference to sacred Egyptian texts containing reference to the Charadrius, a mythical bird also described in Physiologus (Cook lvii). This passage about the Charadrius mirrors the one in Physiologus by demonstrating the bird's ability to cure disease by staring into the eyes of the afflicted. More importantly, this reference to an Egyptian proto-Physiologus predates the ear! The apostle Paul teaches us that the invisible things of God may be known through the visible. . . . and things which are not seen may be contemplated by reason of and likeness to those things which are seen. . . . every single thing on earth has something of an image and likeness in heavenly things (Curley xiii).
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 = 1674
Approximate Pages = 7 (250 words per page double spaced)
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