The animal category in question here – that of the fabulous birds – obviously did not exist as such for medieval man, the imagination merging completely with reality in the celebration of Creation. Furthermore, if there was indeed a literary genre that was uncritical as to the degree of reality of the animals that it somehow depicted, it was Physiologus and its derivatives, and in general, didactic literature. It did not matter whether they had a duly attested existence, provided that the “nature” attributed to them could express a spiritual reality, and, where appropriate, serve as moral teaching to the Christian. The fact remains that for us, the fabulous birds form a group that is easier to understand than all birds. Furthermore, by their variety, they appear exemplary of the entire category, and of the way in which it has evolved. Indeed, when we follow their history, we are confronted with the same sources, the same mutations, the same expansions and a very similar instrumentalization, which can be explained by the same types of mechanism. - [Author]

Language: French

Locators: DOI: 10.4000/books.pup.4281