Chapter 21 of the Byzantine work known as The Symbolic Garden refers to an unidentified plant (the smilax) which symbolizes science. The author has taken this symbol from patristic literature (Athanasius of Alexandria and other patristic texts). On the other hand, a passage (p. 71, 17- 73, 1) unti1 now misinterpreted can be understood if confronted with severa1 texts by John Darnascenus and Nicetas Stethatos, who both voice the same opinions about science