“The Wood of the Cross” and the Date of the Physiologus

The Physiologus is a remarkable collection of early Christian exegetical chapters. Various(fantastical) animals, plants, trees, and stones are explained as having symbolicmeanings, building on traditions from animal encyclopedias. The many versions andtranslations show that the Physiologus functions as a model for medieval bestiaries.However, when was the oldest version written? Dating varies from the second to thefifth century, with the possible forming of a late third- or fourth-century origin. In thisarticle, I want to add an argument for a late third- or fourth-century date by pointingto specific terminology used in the Physiologus: wood of the cross. This phrase appearsto be common in Greek in the late third and fourth centuries. Given this weightof evidence, it is all the more likely that the Physiologus originated in the same period

Argument (complex analysis) · Period (music) · Phrase · Subject (documents) · Terminology · Ancient Near East History · Classical Antiquity Studies · Historical, Religious, and Philosophical Studies