ABSTRACT
Natural Science Physiologus. The first subgroup of this type has to do with medieval “natural science,” but it is part of a lengthy tradition that goes back to Latin and Greek sources. There are at least two German versions of the Physiologus, an older and a younger one. Der ältere Physiologus, an 11th century prose translation of a Latin source, is a fragment and exists in only one manuscript, a Vienna codex W 223 (fol. 31r-33r). Der jüngere Physiologus may be found in two Sammelhandschriften (see above, p. 75), between the Wiener Genesis and Exodus (fol. 129v-158r, in prose) and the Millstätter Genesis and Exodus (fol. 84v-101r, in verse), from ca. 1120. The Physiologus contains a description of various animals and their characteristics (the Millstatt version has illustrations) and then interprets them on the basis of biblical and theological traditions. For example, the lion has several traits that may be referred to in passages in the bible. One of such traits is that the lioness bears her young in an apparently lifeless state. After three days, the lion comes and roars at his son, thereby awakening him to life. In just such a way did God awaken his son, Jesus Christ, from death after the crucifixion. In other words, the lion, king of the beasts, symbolizes Christ. Twenty-nine animals and birds are described in the “Younger Physiologus,” over half of which are exotic creatures, like the phoenix, or at least not native to Western Europe, like elephants and apes. In addition to biblically related typology, moral examples for human beings are embodied in some of the creatures, thus providing a didactic slant to natural science.
