The Culture of Animals in Antiquity provides students and researchers with well-chosen and clearly-presented ancient sources in translation, some well-known, others undoubtedly unfamiliar, but all central to a key area of study in ancient history -- the part played by animals in the cultures of the ancient Mediterranean.

Table of Contents

• Acknowledgements
• Introduction
• 1. Taxonomies: making sense of animals
• 2. Domestic animals
• a) Mammals
• ox
• goat
• sheep
• pig
• horse
• donkey/mule
• camel
• dog
• weasel
• cat
• human
• b) Birds
• goose
• duck
• chicken
• dove/pigeon
• quail
• parrot
• peacock
• pheasant
• c) Insects
• bee
• 3. Wild animals
• a) Mammals
• deer/antelope
• gazelle
• bear
• lion
• leopard
• jackal
• hyena
• wolf
• fox
• badger
• mole
• hare/rabbit
• hedgehog
• mongoose
• rat
• mouse
• bat
• seal
• dolphin
• whale
• aurochs
• elk
• elephant
• hippopotamus
• rhinoceros
• giraffe
• cheetah
• tiger
• monkey
• b) Birds
• crow/raven
• sparrow
• nightingale
• owl
• falcon/hawk
• eagle
• vulture
• crane/stork
• swan
• water birds
• hoopoe
• ostrich
• c) Reptiles and amphibians
• crocodile
• tortoise/turtle
• frog/toad
• lizard
• snake
• d) Insects and molluscs
• ant
• cricket/cicada
• locust
• scorpion
• scarab beetle
• spider
• fly
• butterfly/moth
• flea
• louse
• weevil
• snail
• e) Marine creatures
• fish
• shark
• octopus
• crab
• oyster
• murex
• 4. Working animals
• agriculture
• transport
• performing animals
• hunting
• warfare
• 5. Pets
• dogs
• cats
• primates
• other mammals
• birds
• reptiles and insects
• 6. Sport
• entertainment
• animal fights
• hunting
• Index animalium
• Index of classical authors