Bibliography Detail
Die Berner Physiologus-Handschriften. Drei Bücher, drei Geschichten
De Gruyter, 2019; Series: Christus in natura
The term Physiologus Bernensis usually refers to the richly illustrated Codex 318 of the Burgerbibliothek Bern [Burgerbibliothek Bern, Cod. 318]. The oldest surviving illuminated manuscript of Physiologus, created in the second third of the 9th century, justifiably ranks among the highlights of the manuscript collection of the French humanist and diplomat Jacques Bongars (1554-1612), who brought it to Bern as part of his library in 1632. Accordingly, it has been the subject of much scholarly commentary. However, the Bongars collection contains two other Carolingian Physiologi (cod. 233 and 611) which also count among the oldest and best representatives of the respective Latin version, but which are much less famous because they lack illustrations. This article, therefore, will widen the focus somewhat: from the much-discussed images in Cod. 318 towards the substantive and compositional aspects of the three Physiologus manuscripts in Bern. The discussion of the contents includes a brief overview of the various versions of the Latin Physiologus, while the composition section deals with the selection and compilation of the respective manuscript texts. It is noticeable that all three Bern Physiologi are anthologies, which raises the interesing question of whether there are certain trends in the selection of texts. Also of interest in reconstructing the textual tradition is the fact that two of the three manuscripts were torn apart once again in early modern times, and that the fragments are now in different libraries. These events, which can possibly be attributed to certain persons (or groups), are examined in the final part. - [Abstract]
Language: German
978-3-11-049414-3; DOI: 10.1515/9783110494143-014
Last update March 10, 2024