“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 symbolic
meanings, building on traditions from animal encyclopedias. The many versions and
translations show that the Physiologus functions as a model for medieval bestiaries.
However, when was the oldest version written? Dating varies from the second to the
fifth century, with the possible forming of a late third- or fourth-century origin. In this
article, I want to add an argument for a late third- or fourth-century date by pointing
to specific terminology used in the Physiologus: »wood of the cross.« This phrase appears
to be common in Greek in the late third and fourth centuries. Given this weight
of evidence, it is all the more likely that the Physiologus originated in the same period.