Theophrastus · Fragments §185.1

The Insect Called Both Onos and Iulus

Passage 191 of 196 · Greek

Summary

Theophrastus states in his letter to Phanias that the "onos" (woodlouse) is also called "iulus" (millipede).

§185.1Fr. 185 Θ. ἐν τῇ πρὸς Φανίαν ἐπιστολῇ καὶ ὄνον φησὶν (iulum) καλεῖσθαι.

Theophrastus says in his letter to Phanias that the onos is also called iulus.

§185.1ὄνον... (iulum) καλεῖσθαι — On the subject and complement of the infinitive καλεῖσθαι. ὄνος (usually "ass", but here referring to a "woodlouse") and the Latinized accusative form iulum (from Greek ἴουλος, "millipede" or "caterpillar") are aligned. Based on parallel passages such as Athenaeus (2.63b: "some call the onos iulus"), it is interpreted as "the onos is also called iulus."

Theophrastus, Fragments §185.1. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0093.tlg010x09.humanitext-grc1:185.1

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