Il’ina L.E., Moldagaliev A.N.
MEDIEVAL BESTIARY AS AN ESSAY CONTAINING EXAMPLES OF MORAL BEHAVIOR ^{[№ 4 ' 2021]}
Our research presents a brief overview of the Greek tractate Physiologus and its translation into Latin, as well as Bestiary. The purpose of the tractate was the need in education of the younger generation in the Christian way. It is important to note that both Physiologus and Bestiary contained articles about animals that served as an archetype of Christ. People’s views on the reality that surrounded them had been changing over time. The authors emphasize the importance of Bestiary and point out that such works, which successfully combine theological, natural science and mystical articles, became a kind of means to restrain a person from self-destruction, showing them examples of moral behavior. In the Middle Ages, Bestiary was such an instrument that gave life-affirming examples and kept people from self-destruction. The presence of animals’ nature description can be considered as a kind of message from Nature to the mankind, a message which purpose was to remind people of their place in this world. Until the 17th century, poets, writers and artists turned to the unique contents of Bestiary. The authors note that people usually find in the behavior of animals what they lacked themselves or what they should avoid in moral education. In conclusion, the authors state that in every period of history, a person as an individual was either highly valued or highly devalued, and only nature never betrayed him. Nature constantly appealed to man’s conscience, patiently bearing his firm foot and moving according to the plan of causa causans.