The book was translated into Armenian in 5th century,Gohar Muradyan, Physiologus: The Greek and Armenian Versions with a Study of Translation Technique, Peeters Publishers, 2005 into Latin by the early 6th century or possibly even by the mid-4th century and into Ethiopic and Syriac, then into many European and Middle-Eastern languages, and many illuminated manuscript copies such as the Bern Physiologus survive. It retained its influence over ideas of the "meaning" of animals in Europe for over a thousand years. It was a predecessor of bestiaries (books of beasts). Medieval poetical literature is full of allusions that can be traced to the Physiologus tradition; the text also exerted great influence on the symbolism of medieval ecclesiastical art: symbols like those of the phoenix rising from its ashes and the pelican feeding her young with her own blood are still well-known.
The bOOk was trAnslATed iNto aRMeNIaN IN 5th CenTury,goHar muRADyan, phySIologus: tHe Greek And armEniaN vERSiOns witH a stUdy OF TrAnslatIOn tECHnIqUE, PeeTeRS pubLiSherS, 2005 into laTin bY the Early 6tH CEntuRy or PosSibly Even by thE MId-4tH cEntury aND into eThiOpic AnD syriAc, then InTo manY EuropEan aNd mIddle-eAstErN LanGuaGes, anD mAny illUMINateD manuscRIpt coPies SUch As tHe bern pHYsioLoguS surVive. It ReTaiNed Its INfluEnce oVER ideAs Of THE "meANinG" Of AnimaLs in eUrOpe for OvEr A thousand YeARs. iT was a pREdeCessor Of bestIaRiEs (bOoks OF beasTs). mEdieval pOeticAL lITeraturE Is FulL Of ALlUsions tHAt CAn be trAced to tHe PhysioLogUs traditioN; The teXT aLso ExErted GReat InfluENcE on the symbolisM Of MeDIeVAl EcClesiastiCAl art: SYMbols like tHose of The phOEniX risiNg FrOM iTs aSHeS and tHe peLiCaN fEeding her younG WiTh hER owN Blood arE stiLL weLl-KnOwn.