Ancient Greek Names of Large Sea Animals in the Light of Aelian’s Testimony [De natura animalium IX 49]

The paper analyzes chapter IX 49 of Aelian’s De natura animalium, devoted to the largest sea animals. It is accompanied by a Polish translation and appropriate comments. Aelian provides numerous Ancient Greek names for large sharks and sea mammals, including the “sea lion,” hammer-headed shark, “sea leopard”, whales, sawfish, malthe, “sea ram”, “sea hyena” and “sea dogs”. The names are explained from the point of view of semantic motivation; some new identifications of sea monsters are suggested as well.
The paper analyzes chapter IX 49 of Aelian’s De natura animalium, devoted to the largest sea animals. It is accompanied by a Polish translation and appropriate comments. Aelian provides numerous Ancient Greek names for large sharks and sea mammals, including the “sea lion,” hammer-headed shark, “sea leopard”, whales, sawfish, malthe, “sea ram”, “sea hyena” and “sea dogs”. The names are explained from the point of view of semantic motivation; some new identifications of sea monsters are suggested as well.