ἀκέραιοι ὡς αἱ περιστεραί

περιστερά, ᾶς, ἡ (Hdt., Aristoph.+) a bird of the family Columbidae (Aristot., HA 562b, 3–7 differentiates from τρυγών [turtle-dove] and φάττα: s. also 593a, 16. The rock-dove is the species generally seen in public places.) freq. glossed either as pigeon or dove (but the use of the latter term in preference to the former suggests a difference that cannot precisely be determined from usage in our texts), used for sacrifice, hence sold in the temple Mt 21:12; Mk 11:15; J 2:14, 16. Dalman, Arbeit VII (s. οἰκία 1a end).—On the δύο νοσσοὶ περιστερῶν Lk 2:24 s. νοσσός. The pigeon which, fr. the viewpoint of natural science in ancient times, has no bile, was for the early Christians the symbol of all kinds of virtues (s. WBauer, D. Leben Jesu 1909, 117): ἀκέραιοι ὡς αἱ περιστεραί Mt 10:16; cp. IPol 2:2. Hence the Holy Spirit, in appearing at Jesus’ baptism, took the form of a pigeon/dove (WTelfer, The Form of a Dove: JTS 29, 1928, 238–42; LKeck, NTS 17, ’70/71, 41–67 ‘dove-like descent’) Mt 3:16; Mk 1:10; Lk 3:22; J 1:32; GEb 18, 36.—HUsener, Das Weihnachtsfest² 1911, 56ff; HGressmann, Die Sage v. d. Taufe Jesu und d. vorderoriental. Taubengöttin: ARW 20, 1920/21, 1–40; 323–59.—On the symbolism cp. use of Gen 1:2 at Qumran (4Q521, 2:6), s. DAllison, Bar 8, ’92, 58–60; JMarcus, NTS 41, ’95, 512–21. ὡσεὶ π. (of Mary) GJs 8:1. π. ἐξῆλθεν απὸ τῆς ῥάβδου a pigeon went forth from (Joseph’s) staff 9:1 (symbolic of the birth of a king). In MPol 16:1 the rdg. περὶ στύρακα, a conjectural insertion by Wordsworth, generated some undeserved approval. The Gk. mss. have περιστερὰ καί, which is bracketed by Bihlmeyer (s. JKleist, tr. ’48, note ad loc.). The concept of the pigeon as representing the soul underlies this (cp., in a way, Quint. Symyrn. 8, 202f ψυχὴ διʼ ἕλκεος ἐξεποτήθη ἐκ μελέων=the soul flew out of his body through the wound).—GWeicker, D. Seelenvogel 1902, 26f; HGünter, Die christl. Legende des Abendlandes 1910, 13; 45; 86; 142; 148; 191; FSühling, D. Taube als. relig. Symbol im christl. Altertum 1930.—Kl. Pauly V 534–36; BHHW III 1934. SEG XLII, 1789 (ins and bibliog. on pigeons, incl. their religious functions; s. FChamoux, CRAI ’92, 623–42).—DELG. M-M. TW.