PHYSIOLOGUS. - Name of a Christian work that gives an allegorical interpretation of the facts (or supposed facts) of the life of animals and minerals. The interpretation refers to the work of a "physiologist." It is not probable that Tatian was its author; it may be that the Christian interpreter was also the collector of the pseudo-scientific notices. The chapter on the elephant (ch. 43) suggests the hypothesis of the identity of the allegorizing interpreter with the physiologist himself.
The work polemicizes against the Jews and recommends an ascetic spirituality, which is not that of the Alexandrian school, but has contacts with that of Encratism. The author knows the Acts of Paul and lives in times of persecution. Generally the text of the Septuagint is used for the citation of the Old Testament, but in ch. 26, in the citation of Ezek. 29:3, another translation is used. Whether the author transmitted Gnostic (heretical) ideas, as one might infer from the condemnation of the book in the so-called Decretum Gelasianum, is not certain; perhaps one could speak only of a form of pre-Gnosis, as is characteristic of Encratism. However, some relationship with the sect of the Sethians would have to be taken into consideration (v. Hippol. Refut., V, 21, 7 ff.). It is difficult to date the P. The date of Wellmann, 4th century, seems late, that proposed by Lauchert, and in part also accepted by Perry, 2nd century, is perhaps too early. The country of origin is not Egypt, but more probably Palestine-Syria, or Mesopotamia. The book was very widespread. To call it a popular writing is perhaps too generic, given that the author had knowledge of rhetorical art. The great number of Greek manuscripts has made it possible to distinguish several different recensions. Numerous also are the translations into other languages (Latin [4th century], Oriental languages). The influence on Christian art, by means of the so-called "bestiaries," has been quite considerable.
V. also ANIMALE, III. A. NEL SIMBOLISMO CRISTIANO; BESTIARI.
Bibliography
(Ist. Exc. Catt.)
PHYSIOLOGUS - Caprea or bógwov, with its very keen sight, a symbol of Christ. Miniature from the 14th century, in the P. of cod. Vat. gr. 695, f. 203 - Vatican Library.
Journ. of Philol., LVIII, p. 492 ff. On the vast literature see F. Lauchert, Geschichte des Ph., 1889, and the same author in Theol. Revue, 1931, pp. 405-17; M. Goldstaub, Der Ph. und seine Weiterbildung, Leipzig 1900; M. Wellmann, Geschichte des Ph., Leipzig 1930; F. Sbordone, Ricerche sulle fonti e sulla composizione del Ph. greco, Naples 1936; Perry, in Pauly-Wissowa, XX, 1, p. 1074 ff. On its influence on Christian art, see I. Strzygowski, Der Bilderkreis des griechischen Ph., in Byzantin. Archiv, fasc. II, Leipzig 1899; I. Sauer, Der illustrierte griechische Ph. der Ambrosiana, in Neugriechisch-Byzantinische Jahrbücher, II (Athens 1921), p. 428 ff. On the P. in Arabic, see G. Graf, Geschichte der christlich-arabischen Literatur, I. Vatican City 1945, p. 548; in Latin: A. Siegmund, Die Überlieferung der griechisch-christ. Literatur in der lateinischen Kirche, Munich 1939, p. 128 ff.
Erik Peterson