Title: Der Erlöser im Tarnanzug. Eine Studie zur Christologie des Physiologus, zu seiner Datierung und zur Rezeptionsgeschichte von Psalm 24 (23<sup>LXX</sup>)
Abstract: The article deals with the programmatic first chapter of the Physiologus, which concerns the lion.Its three allegories refer to Christ's incarnation, his death and his resurrection.In general, the author of the Physiologus only alludes to dogmatic conceptions and exegetical traditions of his age and expects his readers to fill any voids ('Leerstellen').A detailed analysis of the complex religioushistorical background of the lion chapter supports some chronological conclusions (based on the assumption that the 1 st chapter has to be regarded as an integral part of the Physiologus' first version).Whereas the figure of the hidden descent of the Saviour can be traced back to 'heterodox' Christian traditions of the 2 nd / 3 rd centuries CE, the motive of his angelomorphic status and the intertextual reference to Ps 24 (23 LXX ) are indebted to Origen and his theology.Moreover, the christological vocabularynamely the leitmotiv of Christ's "divine nature (θεότης) hidden in the flesh (/body)" -points most likely to the 4 th century CE.The lion chapter also shows traces of 4 th century debates about the status of Christ between death and resurrection (triduum mortis).If the first known version of the Physiologus originated in the first half of the 4 th century, his milieu might probably be found among Origenist monks in Egypt (who may also have transmitted Gnostic traditions and texts).Finally, the article adresses the hermeneutical profile of the Physiologus' allegorical method and his basic conception of the 'two books of God', nature and Scripture.