Theperidexion tree (fromGreek δένδρον περιδέξιον,déndron peridéxion) orperindens is a mythological tree discussed in thePhysiologus, an early Greek-language Christian didactic text and compendium, and popular in medievalbestiaries. It is described as growing inIndia, attractingdoves and deterringserpents, making for afable aboutChristian salvation.
The name comes from the Greek δένδρον περιδέξιον (déndron peridéxion),peridéxion meaning ambidextrous, dextrous, or convenient.[1] Latin-language manuscripts, such as theAberdeen Bestiary, refer to it as "perindens."[2]
Physiologus describes the tree as growing inIndia and having a sweet fruit thatdoves enjoy eating. Aserpent that seeks to eat the doves is afraid of the tree and its shadow, so it waits for the doves to stray from the protection of the tree in order to attack them.[3] This is a reminder to the text's Christian audience ofsalvation, where the tree represents Christian faith and the serpent isthe devil waiting to take those who leave the church, drawing comparison withJudas Iscariot.[3] The fruits are described by the text as "heavenly wisdom" and the doves as theHoly Spirit.[4]
Physiologus provides the oldest attested description of the tree. The text was written in the 2nd or 3rd century AD by an anonymous Greek author who had access toGreek classics, theBible, works by early Christian authors, and fables. It became a popular book and was translated into many languages, includingLatin, and was widespread inWestern Europe by the 9th century. No originals are known, but due to its popularity there are many later extant manuscripts that include the text.[5]
Germanphilologist Otto Schönberger had suggested the tree may be sourced from Pliny the Elder'sNatural History, which reports how theash tree is a deterrent to snakes, combined with the biblical story of theTree of Life.[6] Serpents and dragons guarding trees is a well-attested trope in Hellenistic literature and iconography. InGreek mythology, the dragonLadon guarded thegolden apples of theHesperides, a story referenced byOvid,Hesiod, andApollonius of Rhodes, andHerodotus in hisHistories referenced winged serpents guarding spice trees inArabia.[7]
The peridexion tree is depicted inilluminated manuscripts from themedieval period. Onebestiary in which it is depicted is the Houghton Library, MS Typ 101 (cat. no. 28), kept in theHoughton Library inCambridge, Massachusetts.[8] This manuscript was copied directly from an earlier one, theNational Library of Russia, Lat. Q.v.III. 1, where the peridexion appears asmarginalia, the only one in the entire manuscript, as no space was left for aminiature after the text was written.[8] Later depictions in bestiaries show the serpent as a snake squeezing through the trunk, or hissing from beneath the tree. The latter is found in theBern Physiologus. Others depict two dragons, posed symmetrically, with the doves also symmetrical in the tree.[3]
It has also featured in European architecture, including acapital originally fromTroyes, which depicts the form with two dragons.[9]
Its imagery is referenced on theGniezno doors atGniezno cathedral, where the doves sheltering in the tree are paralleled withSaint Adalbert of Prague taking shelter at a monastery inRome. This depiction differs from typical medieval depictions, as the dragon is not representative of Satan but theBaltic Prussians Adalbert sought to convert to Christianity, and the tree is topped by acockerel in an allusion to theDenial of Peter. Here, Adalbert needs to leave the safety of the tree for hismission, which is the opposite of the original meaning of the fable.[10]
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