Herodotus [c. 484 – c. 425 BCE] (Histories, Book 3.102-105): [Book 3, 102] There are found in this sandy desert ants, not so big as dogs but bigger than foxes; the Persian king has some of these, which have been caught there. These ants make their dwellings underground, digging out the sand in the same manner as do the ants in Greece, to which they are very like in shape, and the sand which they carry forth from the holes is full of gold. It is for this sand that the Indians set forth into the desert. They harness three camels apiece, a male led camel on either side to help in draught, and a female in the middle: the man himself rides on the female, careful that when harnessed she has been taken away from as young an offspring as may be. [Book 3, 104] Thus and with teams so harnessed the Indians ride after the gold, using all diligence that they shall be about the business of taking it when the heat is greatest; for the ants are then out of sight underground. Now in these parts the sun is hottest in the morning, not at midday as elsewhere, but from sunrise to the hour of market-closing. [Book 3, 105] So when the Indians come to the place with their sacks, they fill these with the sand and ride away back with all speed; for, as the Persians say, the ants forthwith scent them out and give chase, being, it would seem, so much swifter than all other creatures that if the Indians made not haste on their way while the ants are mustering, not one of them would escape. So they loose the male trace-camels that they lead, one at a time (these being slower than the females); the mares never tire, for they remember the young that they have left. Such is the tale. Most of the gold (say the Persians) is got in this way by the Indians; there is some besides that they dig from mines in their country, but it is less abundant. - [Godley translation]

Aristotle [ca. 350 BCE] (De animalibus, Book 4, 8.15; 9, 26.1): [Book 4, 8.15] ...ants leave their hills when origanum and sulfur are sprinkled upon them. [Book 9, 26.1] The most laborious of all insects, if compared with the rest, are the tribes of ants... Every one may see the diligence of the ant; for it is on the surface, and that they always travel in one direction, and make a store and treasure-house of food, for they work even in the night when there is a full moon. - [Cresswell translation, 1887]

Pliny the Elder [1st century CE] (Natural History, Book 11, 36): Ants are strong creatures, able to carry immense loads proportional to their size; they carry smaller loads with their mouths and push larger loads with their shoulders. They share their labor, have a system of government, and possess memory and diligence. They bite the seeds they gather before they store them, to keep them from sprouting; they split larger seeds to fit them in; if seeds become wet from rain they bring them out to dry. They work constantly, even at night if there is a full moon; their travels form paths and wear down rocks. Ants are the only creatures besides man to bury their dead. In the Dardae region of Indian are ants colored like cats but the size of Egyptian wolves, that carry gold out of caves in the earth. This gold, which is dug out in the winter, the Indians steal in the summer when the ants stay in their burrows because of the heat; but even then the the ants are ferocious in defense of their gold, flying out and stinging the men even as they retreat on fast camels.

Aelianus [170-230 CE] (On the Characteristics of Animals, Book 2, 25; 3, 4; 4, 43): [Book2, 25] In the summertime when the harvest is in and the corn is being threshed on the threshing-floor, Ants assemble in companies, going in single file or two abreast - indeed they sometimes go three abreast - after quitting their homes and customary shelters. Then they pick out some of the barley and the wheat and all follow the same track. And some go to collect the grain, others carry the load, and they get out of each other's way with the utmost deference and consideration, especially those that are not laden for the benefit of those that are. Then they return to their dwellings and fill the pits in their store-chamber after boring through the middle of each grain. What falls out becomes the ant's meal at the time; what is left is infertile. This is a device on the part of these excellent and thrifty housekeepers to prevent the intact grain from putting out shoots and sprouting afresh when the rains have surrounded them, and to preserve themselves in that case from falling victims during the winter to want of food and to famine, and their zeal from being blunted. It is to Nature then that ants too owe these and other fortunate gifts. [Book 3, 4] The ants of India which guard the gold will not cross the river Campylinus. [Book 4, 43] Here are more facts that I have learned touching ants. So indefatigable, so ready to work are they, without making excuses, without any base plea for release, without alleging reasons that are a cloak for indolence, that not even at night when the moon is full do they remain idle and take holiday, but stick to their occupation. - [Scholfield translation]

Gaius Julius Solinus [3rd century CE] (De mirabilibus mundi / Polyhistor, Chapter 30.23): The ants here [Aethiopia] are shaped like huge dogs, and dig up the golden sand with their feet, which are like lions’. They guard it lest someone steal it, enticing and pursuing them to the death. - [Arwen Apps translation, 2011]

Saint Ambrose [4th century CE] (Hexameron, Book 6, 4.16; 6, 4.20): [Book 6, 4.16] The ant is a tiny animal, yet she ventures to achieve things beyond her strength. She is not driven to labor as a slave is. Rather, without compulsion and with freedom of foresight, she lays up provision for a future day. ... She has no land under cultivation. Yet, without a taskmaster to urge her on as she looks after her stock of food, what a harvest has she in store for herself a harvest gathered from the results of your labors! [Book 6, 4.20] Ants also keep watch for the coming of sunny weather. When they notice that their store of food remains soggy because of rain storms, a careful exploration is made of atmospheric conditions to determine when a series of warm days should arrive. Then they release the food supply, which is carried out of their hiding places to be dried by prolonged exposure to the sun. For that reason you will never experience stormy weather during that whole period of time, except when it should, in the interval, happen that the ants have changed their minds and decided to restore their supply of food to their granaries. - [Savage translation, 1961]

Isidore of Seville [7th century CE] (Etymologies, Book 12, 3:9): The ant has its name (formica) because it carries bits (feral micas) of grain. It prepares in the summer the food it will need in the winter; at harvest time it picks wheat but not barley. If rain wets its grain it puts it out to dry. It is said that in Ethiopia there are ants shaped like dogs which dig up grains of gold with their feet; they guard this gold so no one can steal it.

Thomas of Cantimpré [circa 1200-1272 CE] (Liber de natura rerum, Worms 9.22; 9.24): [Worms 9.22] Solomon commands us to imitate the ant, where he says: Go to the ant, O lazy one, and learn wisdom [Proverbs 6:6]. The ant is a worm that is very provident and concerned about its life. And so the ants, as Pliny says, share the labor like bees; but the bees make food, and ants store it. But if one compares the size of the burdens they can carry to the size of their bodies, he will admit that their strength is proportionately greater than any others. And in this he is highly praiseworthy, that even a small and weak body dares to surpass his strength, as Ambrose says. According to the reason which nature gives them, they store the seeds that have been harvested. So that the seeds will not again come out of the ground into a crop; they split the larger ones at the entrance of the cave. They bring out the seeds soaked in the rain and dry them so that they do not rot. From this is known the times of fine weather. The ant has a sense of smell, as Aristotle says; which is proved in this way: let sulfur and oregano be taken from the wild and powdered and placed over their dwellings, and they will immediately flee and leave their homes. Ants never cease to work. Among other animals this alone is always grows stronger in old age. They work even in the night if there is a full moon. Therefore, in work, what labor, what diligence they have! But surely, since the burdens have come together from different sources, certain days are given for mutual recognition; what a concurrence of them then, how caring when you meet a certain conversation and questioning! [?] Of course, we see them worn out by their journey, and that the path has been made by work, that is to say, so that no one doubts how much perseverance can do anything in a matter. They bring up their dead and bury them, and they do this unlike all other animals except man. [Worms 9.24] There are ants in India around the golden mountains. They are larger than foxes, strong and very large, having four legs and barbed claws on their feet. These beasts are of such courage that, when they see men, they tear them to pieces. As for other beasts, such as horses, or donkeys, or bulls, they do not hurt them knowingly, because they do not take away from them the gold that they guard against the human race in the aforesaid mountains. In order to counter rash actions due to greed, the beasts were placed there by God. Isidorus and Andelmus write about these ants. Pliny also says of these: In the winter season the Indians come and steal the gold. But the animals are warned by the smell of the men, and often attack, even though the men are fleeing on swift horses or camels.- [Badke translation/paraphrase]

Guillaume le Clerc [ca. 1210 CE] (Bestiaire, Chapter 11): Solomon says about the sluggard25 / That if he will be brought back / From illdoing and from idleness, / He should regard the valour / Of the ant, which is so little. / Wise and prudent is the ant, / Which makes provision in summer time / So that it has plenty in winter; / And none other beast does this. / When they come forth from their home / They proceed right orderly / The one before the other straightly / Until they come to the ripe wheat, / There where it is full-grown and hard. / And when they are come to the corn / Of this you may be quite sure / By the smell of the stalk below / They are able to tell—so clever are they— / If it is barley or rye or wheat-corn. / If it is really barley or rye, / They leave it and pass on / Until they are come to the wheat. / Then they climb up to the ear. / When they are laden and supplied, / To their home back they turn / In order all the way. / Every day they come and go. / And do ye know what those approaching do, / When they meet the others laden? / They do not say—mark it well— / Give us of your corn, / But they keep quite wisely / To the track the others had come, / Until they reach that place / Where these had loaded themselves up. / Then they load up with the wheat / And return well laden. - [Druce translation]

Bartholomaeus Anglicus [13th century CE] (Liber de proprietatibus rerum, Book18.52): The Ant is called Formica, and hath that name, as it were bearing crums and graines of corne. Héere Ovid speaketh and sayth. Grande opus exiguo formicas ore gerentes. It is a great worke to sée the Antes beare great graines in little mouths. Or else it hath ye name Formica, as it were bearing crums or graines of corne that they gather, and biteth of the ende of the graines for they should not grow, sleight and businesse of them is much, for they make provision and gather store agaynst time that commeth: for in Summer they gather store, by the which they may live in Winter, as Isidore saith, libro. 12. and they gather wheat, & way not of Barly, and when the Wheate is wet, that they gather to a heape: then the Ants doe all the wheat out into the Sun, that it may be dried againe. And it is sayde, that in Aethiopia be Ants of the greatnesse of a bigge Dog, but not in shape as dogges: and diggeth up golden gravell with their féete, & kéepe it that it be not taken away. And pursueth anone to the death them that take it away, as Isidor[e], sayth, li. 12. cap. 1. de Minimis animalibus. Also Solinus speaketh of Ants and sayth: that Antes bée full lyttle, and bée nevertheles more slie & busie then many great beasts: For they make purveyaunce wisely for themselves, whereby they maye lyve in time to come afterward. And they lyve in company, and make heapes and hills, in whom they inhabit themselves in: and gather gréenes busily and properly, & put them in their inner closets full waxilye, that they be not taken away with foules, nor spilt and shed with winde nor with weather, and maketh them privy wayes even & straight to the houses that they dwell in, and the more wiser Ants stand in those waies, for the unwiser should not goe out of the waye, and when they bée overset in theyr houses to be taken, then shed they venimous water uppon men: And therefore it is commonly sayd, yt hée pisieth. And that water burneth his hand that it toucheth, and bréedeth therin itching and smarting: For they have that water in stéed of weapon and armour. Huc usque Solinus, libr. 11. capitulo. 31. Plinius sayeth, that Antes communeth their travaile each to other, and séeke and gather theyr owne meate: But Bées bée better then Antes, for Bées make good meate and profitable, and gather and doe it together. The Ants gather great burthens, which be more greater then theyr owne bodyes. And so they recover reward of littlenesse of bodye, in the greatnesse of vertue, and beare theyr charge & burthen with biting. And if it be so great, that he may not beare it in his mouth, then he tourneth him and busieth him to drawe it forth with his hinder féete: They take greate charge of their common profite, and have therefore season and winde. And they shale the graines, that they do togethers, because they shuld not growe agayne & waxe gréene corne: And gather busily graines that be shed, that they bée not lost: and in entering they breake the greater grains, that they maye the more easilye bring them into their place of purveyaunce. And they worke by night in the full of the Moone, and cease of worke in the chaunge of the Moone. And because they bring and fetch theyr meate out of diverse places, they have certaine time given to them to knowledge each to other, and then is most gathering of them and meeting. And among them when they meete, is as it were a manner treating and talking and busie as king and spyeng. And they come agayne by wayes that they treade, and choose such wayes yt bée among stones. And Antes be small and straight about the wombe, as though they were girde in the middle: and growe and have Winges at last as it were Flyes, and chaunge so and tourne into small Volatiles, flyng wormes. Also capitulo. 32. It is sayde, that in Indie bée right great Antes with hornes, that kéepe golde and precious stones with wonderfull covetousnesse and desire, but the Indians stele them in Summer time, when the Antes bée hidde in hilles for stronge burning heate, but the Antes flye after them busilye, which take awaye the golde: and wounde them after, though they flye the Antes riding on swift Camells, in them is so wicked fiercenesse for love in gold. Aristotle libro. 8. speaketh of Antes, and sayth, That in Antes is wit of smelling right as in Bées. And the Ant hateth all stinking things. And so if a man besmoketh the house of the Ant with brimstone, or with wilde Origanum, or with an Hartes horne burnt, the Antes will forsake & leave their houses: and though the Antes live in companye, and bée attendaunt each to other, yet have they no king, as Aristotle sayth, libro. 1. and Salomon sayth the same, Proverb. 6. The Ant hath no Duke nor commaunder. There the Glose sayeth, of such a lyttle beast without Prince, and by reasonable leading of kinde, maketh purveyaunce for time that is comming: much more thou that art made to the Image of God, and called for to sée his blisse, and art holpen with so great mystery, and hast our Lorde Duke and leader. Therefore thou shouldest héere gather fruit, by the which thou mightest live afterwarde in blisse. Looke the Glose of the wit and businesse of Antes. That Authours praise heere before, Aristotle alloweth it, libro. 8. where hée sayth, that the working of Antes is knowen to them that take héede: For Antes goe alway by one waye, and laye downe theyr meate, and travayle also by night in the full of the Moone: But Ants have some properties yt be not full good, for they hurt and grieve rootes of trées, by whom they make their neastes: and defile theyr handes that touch them, and stye up to the toppes of trées, and gnawe and defile burgenings, flowres, twigges, and braunches thereof. And bite and eate the fruit, and make hoales therein. And noy and grieve men, but they helpe Beares. For Plinius saith, libro. 8. That when Beares be sicke, they séeke Antes and devour them and heale themselves in that wise. But in some cause Ants egges bée medicinable. Looke in the last booke de Ovis. - [Batman]