Myrmecoleon

Myrmecoleon is an animal from Medieval bestiaries, also referenced in some sources as a Formicaleon, Formicaleun or Mirmicioleon.

There are two interpretations of what a Myrmecoleon is. In one version, the ant-lion is so called because it is the "lion of ants", a large ant or small animal that hides in the dust and kills ants. In the other version, it is a beast that is the result of a mating between a lion and an ant. It has the face of a lion and the body of an ant, with each part having its appropriate nature. Because the lion part will only eat meat and the ant part can only digest grain, the ant-lion starves.

The ant-lion story may come from a mistranslation of a word in the Septuagint version of the Old Testament, from the book of Job. The word in Hebrew is lajisch, an uncommon word for lion, which in other translations of Job is rendered as either lion or tiger; in the Septuagint it is translated as mermecolion, ant-lion.^[1]

References

1. ^ http://bestiary.ca/beasts/beast145.htm

This article about a legendary creature is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.v · Categories: European mythology Medieval European legendary creatures Mythological hybrids Mythical arthropods Legendary creature stubs Wikimedia Foundation. 2010. Игры ⚽ Поможем сделать НИР St. Joseph's Medical Center (Tucson, Arizona) Eureka Municipal Airport Look at other dictionaries: Myrmecolēon — Myrmecolēon, der Ameisenlöwe …   Meyers Großes Konversations-Lexikon MYRMECOLEON — Graece Μυρμηκολἐων, quasi Formicaleo, apud Iobum c. 4. v. 11. iuxta LXX. Interp. Μυρμηκολέων ώλετο παρὰ τὸ μὴ ἔχειν βορὰν, Myrmecoleo periit, eo quod non haberet escam: Gregorio in Iobum, animalculum est formicis insidiosum, quasi leo… …   Hofmann J. Lexicon universale Ameisenlöwe — (Ameisenjungfer, Myrmecoleon Burm.), Netzflüglergattung aus der Familie der Ameisenlöwen (Myrmecoleontidae), libellenähnliche Insekten mit kurzen, keulenförmigen Fühlern und vier gleichen, in eine Spitze ausgezogenen Flügeln. Der A. (Myrmecoleon… …   Meyers Großes Konversations-Lexikon List of legendary creatures by type — This is a list of legendary creatures from mythology, folklore and fairy tales, sorted by their classification or affiliation. Creatures from modern fantasy fiction and role playing games are not included. Contents 1 Angels 2 Artificial creatures …   Wikipedia Planipennĭa — (Plattflügler), Familie der langhörnigen Netzflügler, mit gleich großen, in der Ruhe dachartig, flach über dem Leibe liegenden Flügeln, Hinterflügel nicht gefaltet, Fühler borstenförmig od. kolbig, Tarsen fünfgliedrig. Die Gattungen: Sialis,… …   Pierer's Universal-Lexikon Ameisenlöwe — oder Ameisenjungfer (Myrmelĕon, richtiger Myrmecolĕon), Insektengattg. der Netzflügler. Bekannteste Art der gemeine A. (M. formicarĭus L. [Abb. a]). Die insbes. Den Namen A. führende graugelbe Larve [b] bewegt sich stoßweise rückwärts und lauert… …   Kleines Konversations-Lexikon Ameisenlöwe — (Myrmecoleon) nennt man die Larve eines in die Ordnung der Netzflügler gehörigen Insektes. Sie ist dick, 1 Zoll lang, mit Fangscheeren, und bekannt durch die interessante Art und Weise, wie sie ihre Beute fängt. Merkwürdig ist, daß der… …   Herders Conversations-Lexikon fourmi-lion — (four mi li on) s. m. Petit insecte névroptère, fort vorace, qui, à l état de larve, se nourrit de fourmis et autres insectes ; il appartient à un genre dont le nom scientifique est myrmécoléon. •   Les historiens du fourmi lion nous ont vanté sa …   Dictionnaire de la Langue Française d'Émile Littré FORMICA — cognitionis et sollertiae symbolum, apud Arabes et Aegyptios; quorum hi γυῶϚιν γράφοντες, μύρμηκα ζωγραφοῦσιν, Cognitionem exprimere volentes, formicam pingunt. Horus Apollo l. 1. c. 49. Illi in pueri nascentis manu formicam ponere soliti, addunt …   Hofmann J. Lexicon universale 18+ © Academic, 2000-2024 Contact us: Technical Support, Advertising Dictionaries export, created on PHP, Joomla, Drupal, WordPress, MODx. Mark and share Search through all dictionaries Translate… Search Internet Share the article and excerpts Direct link … Do a right-click on the link above and select “Copy Link”