Physiologus: A Medieval Book of Nature Lore

142 Pages·2009·5.95 MB·English

by  Michael J. Curley

PHYSIOLOGUS

university of chicago press
chicago & london
The University of Chicago Press, Chicago 60637
The University of Chicago Press, Ltd., London
© 1979 Michael J. Curley
Note to the Paperback Edition © 2009 Michael J. Curley
All rights reserved. Originally published 1979
University of Chicago Press edition 2009
Printed in the United States of America
18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 09 2 3 4 5 6 7
isbn-13: 978-0-226-12870-2 (paper)
isbn-10: 0-226-12870-9 (paper)
The woodcuts in this edition are reproduced from the 1587 G. Ponce de
Leon edition of Physiologus, courtesy of the Newberry Library, Chicago.
The initial research of this work was made possible in part through grants
from the National Endowment for the Humanities, a federal agency
whose mission is to award grants to support education, scholarship, media
programming, libraries, and museums in order to bring the results of
cultural activities to the general public.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Physiologus. English.
Physiologus / translated by Michael J. Curley.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references.
isbn-13: 978-0-226-12870-2 (alk. paper)
isbn-10: 0-226-12870-9 (alk. paper)
1. Bestiaries. I. Curley, Michael J., 1942– II. Title.
PA4273.P8E5 2009
883’.01—dc22
2009013135
The paper used in this publication meets the minimum requirements of
the American National Standard for Information Sciences—Permanence of
Paper for Printed Library Materials, ansi z39.48-1992.
TO G. KARL GALINSKY
tu duca, tu signore, etu maestro

CONTENTS
Introduction ix-xliii
Note to the Paperback Edition xlv
I. Webeginfirstofallbyspeakingofthe Lion 3
II. On the Antelope 4
III. OnPiroboli Rocks 6
IV. On the Swordfish 6
v. On the Charadrius 7
VI. On the Pelican 9
VII. On the Owl 10
VIII. On the Eagle 12
IX. On the Phoenix 13
X. On the Hoopoe 14
XI. On the Wild Ass 15
XII. On the Viper 15
XIII. On the Serpent 16
XIV. On the Ant 20
XV. On the Siren and Ass-Centaur 23
XVI. On the Hedgehog 24
XVII. On the Ibis 25
XVIII. On the Fox 27
XIX. On the PeridexionTree and the Doves 28
XX. On the Elephant 29
XXI. On Amos the Prophet 32
XXII. On the Roe 33
XXIII. On the Agate-stone 34
XXIV. On the Oyster-stone and the Pearl 34
xxv. On the Adamant-stone 38
XXVI. On the OtherNature ofthe Wild Ass
and the Monkey 38
XXVII. On the Indian-stone 40
XXVIII. On the Heron, that is, the Coot 40
XXIX. On the FigTree 41
XXX. On the Panther 42
XXXI. On the Whale, that is, the Aspidoceleon 45
viii
XXXII. On the Partridge 46
XXXIII. On the Vulture 47
XXXIV. On the Ant-lion 49
xxxv. On the Weasel 50
XXXVI. On the Unicorn 51
XXXVII. On the Beaver 52
XXXVIII. On the Hyena or the Brute 52
XXXIX. On the Niluus 53
XL. On the Echinemon 54
XLI. On the Little Crow 54
XLII. On the Ostrich 55
XLIII. On the Turtle-dove 56
XLIV. On the Swallow 58
XLV. On the Stag 58
XLVI. On the Frog 60
XLVII. On the Lizard, that is, the Salamander 61
XLVIII. On the Magnet 61
XLIX. On the Adamant-stone 62
L. On the Doves 64
LI. On the Sun-lizard, that is, the Sun-eel 66
Notes
IMichael J. Curley
INTRODUCTION
P
hysiologus was one ofthe most popular and widely read
books ofthe Middle Ages. Some ofthe legends con
cerningbeasts, stones, and trees which are found alle-
gorized in Physiologus were part of folklore as early as
Herodotus, andtheyhavecontinuedtoexerciseastrong
influence on literature and the decorative arts down to
the present day.1 The reason is not far to seek: we all
love simple, well-told stories for their own sake. And,
if a bit ofexotic lore can be mingled with useful moral
instruction, so much the better. We never stop to ask
that animal stories be zoologically accurate, for that
would be missing theirpoint. The charm ofthese leg
ends lies in their simplicity, one might even say in
their naIvete, but their popularity was assured by their
ready adaptability to a variety ofcultural contexts, reli
gious as well as secular. Beginning as Indian, Hebrew,
orEgyptianlegends, theypassedintoGreekandRoman
folklore, poetry, and art, ultimately being absorbed into
Alexandrian handbooks of paradoxology and medical
magical treatises.2 From there, ancient scientific writers
such as Pliny and Aelian passed down many of these
legends to the early Christian world. The anonymous
author of Physiologus infused these venerable pagan
tales with the spirit ofChristian moral and mystical
teaching, and thereafter they occupied a place ofspecial
importance in the symbolism of the Christianworld.
Both directly and through numerous intermediaries,
Physiologus became an established source ofMedieval
sacrediconography and didactic poetry and was used
in the preaching manuals and religious textbooks of the
later Middle Ages.3 The forms which the book assumed
were protean; sometimes the legends circulated inde
pendent ofthe allegories or the supporting Biblical cita
tions. In one instance,4 the allegories themselves were