In this paper, we provide a state of the art on the Physiologos’ myrmicoleon or ant-lion, an hybrid whose origin is a neologism created by the translator of the Book of Job in the Septuagint version, drawing from Hellenistic geographers like Agatharchides, who speaks about « lions called ants ». We follow the development of the Physiologos’ hybrid until the 13th century, while we try to show that confusions with other creatures called « ants », namely, Herodotus’ gold-digging ants, are the result of combinations and interpretations introduced by ancient editors and reproduced until recent times. - [Abstract]

Language: French

2557-8839; DOI: 10.4000/rursuspicae.3159