This article examines four passages of the Gospel commentary by Fortunatianus of Aquileia, which deal with the allegorical interpretation of four animals (viper, snake, stag and fox). What Fortunatianus has to say on the characteristics of these animals, and what he gains from it for his exegesis of the Gospels, is compared in a first step with the correspondent interpretations found in the Physiologuss, in a second step with those given by Origen. By this means, the possible sources of Fortunatianus are to be determined, and the controversial question of the Physiologus’date is to be clarified. It is demonstrated that the Physiologus did use works by Origen; thus, this work dates in all probability from the second half of the 3rd century. Fortunatianus did not use the Greek original of the Physiologus nor a Latin translation; he depends indirectly from Origen, most probably via the lost commentary on Matthew by Victorinus of Pettau. - [Abstract]

Language: German

1768-9260; DOI: 10.1484/J.REA.5.102904