peridexion

English

The peridexion tree in a medieval bestiary

Etymology

From Ancient Greek περιδέξιον (peridéxion), used in the Physiologus.

Noun

peridexion (plural peridexions)

1. A legendary tree believed to grow in India that attracts doves and repels dragons.
   • 2015, Matthew Champion, chapter 17, in Medieval Graffiti: The Lost Voices of England’s Churches, London: Ebury Press, →ISBN, page 165:

     The inscription appears to represent a very rare medieval allegory for the church, found in only a very few medieval manuscripts and known as the peridexion tree. The story is that the peridexion tree was to be found only in far-off India, and that it bore the most marvellously sweet fruit that attracted birds to its branches from far and wide. However, at the base of the tree lived a dragon or serpent.

Translations

legendary tree

• Armenian:

  Old Armenian: պերեդիքսոն (peredikʻson)

• Greek:

  Ancient: περιδέξιον (peridéxion)

Further reading

• peridexion on the German Wikipedia.Wikipedia ^de