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Esca eius erant locustae. The Origin and Meaning of the Imaginary Quadruped locusta

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Šedinová H.

Listy filologické (Folia philologica)

2015

vol. 138

issue 3-4

231-268

The study deals with the term locusta which is used in ancient and medieval Latin texts (e.g. in the encyclopaedia De natura rerum written by Thomas of Cantimpré in the 13th century) with two meanings, denoting two different animals: the locust, which was categorised as a “worm” (vermis), and the lobster, which was seen as an aquatic animal (piscis, animal aquaticum). The same meanings are associated with the terms locusta or locustus in Czech medieval sources written in Latin: the Glossary by the 14th century writer Bartholomaeus de Solencia, also known as Claretus, the work Liber viginti arcium by the 15th century encyclopaedist Paulerinus, and the encyclopaedic dictionary Vocabularius dictus Lactifer composed by the priest Iohannes Aquensis at the turn of the 16th century. The word locusta, however, occurs in several works of the Bohemian Middle Ages with yet another meaning n denoting the sweet-smelling lemon balm or the sweet-tasting tree leaves sucked by bees to produce honey; John the Baptist is said to have used the leaves as food when dwelling in the desert. Here, again, we can trace the influence of Thomas of CantimprE, who claims in one passage of his encyclopaedia that some authors regard the term locusta as a name of a plant and believe John the Baptist ate this plant in the desert. Surprisingly, this assertion can be found in Book IV which is dedicated to quadrupeds, namely in the chapter focusing on the terrestrial animal named locusta. This chapter from Thomasi work influenced probably also Claretusi Glossary which contains an unidentified term locuna in the chapter on animals (De bestiis). The study discusses the possible reasons that might have convinced Thomas of Cantimpré to classify locusta not only as an insect or as a fish, but also as a terrestrial quadruped. Thomas of Cantimpré was probably inspired by Jacques de Vitryis account of creatures which were consumed by John the Baptist in the desert, by Leviticus which lists the name locusta among winged animals that “walk on all fours”, by St. Augustine’s Confessiones, by the commentary Glossa ordinaria and other sources. Its faulty classification was crowned by contamination with information from the commentaries on Proverbs about the hyrax – a quadruped known under the name lepusculus. As a result of misunderstanding, the animal named locusta in his book De quadrupedibus gained new qualities and was transformed into completely different creature.

Szarańcza z Apokalipsy św. Jana – owad zwykły czy niezwykły? Eksperyment filologiczny: od natury do nanotechnologii

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Ojcewicz G.

Zoophilologica. Polish Journal of Animal Studies

2023

issue 1 (11)

1-26

По мнению автора, саранча, о которой говорится в Апокалипсисе Иоанна Богослова, ни в коей мере не является обыкновенными насекомыми согласно классификации насекомых, принадлежащими к семейству настоящие саранчовые (Acrididae) и известными, например, по Книге Исхода из описания египетских казней. Если ветхозаветная саранча была разрушительной силой в полном согласии со своей биологической природой, то «саранча» в видении Иоанна Богослова является скорее всего примером умных микророботов, созданных обладателями чрезвычайно продвинутых технологий, скорее всего – самими пришельцами из космоса. Автор утверждает, что Иоанн Богослов, ограниченный тогдашним состоянием знаний о Вселенной, не мог выражать свои мысли с помощью терминов, принадлежащих продвинутым технологиям, и поэтому находил для собственных видений наименования и образы, которые были понятны в первую очередь ему самому. Отсюда и сравнение нанотехнологических «насекомых» со знакомой апостолу саранчой и скорпионами – животными из окружающей среды, в которой жил, а также внешний вид и биологические повадки которых он несомненно хорошо знал.

In the author’s opinion, locusts mentioned in the Book of Revelation by no means represent thespecies of common insects classified in the family Acrididae, also known from the Book of Exodus and its description of the plagues of Egypt. As far as the locusts in the Old Testament are concerned, they were a destructive force completely in line with their biological nature; however, the “locusts” in Saint John’s vision are depicted rather as smart micro-robots created by wielders of highly advanced technologies – most probably by extraterrestrials. The author claims that Saint John, limited by the then state of knowledge about the universe, was unable to express his thoughts in the categories of advanced technologies; therefore, he found names and images for his visions, which were understandable primarily to himself. Hence, the comparison of nanotechnological “insects” to locusts and scorpions the apostle was familiar with, as these animals are native to the area where he lived, and he must have been well aware of their natural habits.

Zdaniem autora szarańcza, o której mówi się w Apokalipsie św. Jana, żadną miarą nie reprezentuje zwykłych owadów zaliczanych w systematyce do rodziny prostoskrzydłych (Acrididae) i znanych np. z Księgi Wyjścia z opisu plag egipskich. O ile szarańcza ze Starego Testamentu zachowywała się w sposób niszczycielski w całkowitej zgodzie ze swą biologiczną naturą, o tyle „szarańcza” w wizji św. Jana przypomina inteligentne mikroroboty skonstruowane przez dysponentów zaawansowanej technologii, najprawdopodobniej przez samych kosmitów. Autor twierdzi ponadto, że św. Jan na skutek obiektywnych ograniczeń podyktowanych szczątkową wiedzą o zaawansowanych technologiach kosmicznych nie miał innego wyjścia niż wyrażać swe myśli w prostych kategoriach zrozumiałych przede wszystkim dla niego samego. Stąd porównanie nanotechnologicznych „owadów” do znanej apostołowi pospolitej szarańczy oraz skorpionów - zwierząt z obszaru, jaki zamieszkiwał, i których zwyczaje biologiczne na pewno dobrze znał.

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1 Listy filologické (Folia philologica)

1 Zoophilologica. Polish Journal of Animal Studies

1 2023

1 2015

1 Ojcewicz G.

1 Šedinová H.

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Esca eius erant locustae. The Origin and Meaning of the Imaginary Quadruped locusta

Szarańcza z Apokalipsy św. Jana – owad zwykły czy niezwykły? Eksperyment filologiczny: od natury do nanotechnologii