Abstract

This chapter examines a variety of ancient Greek and Roman texts that deal with insects. It explains that it was the taxonomic initiative of Aristotle that established the elementary criteria and terminology with the term entoma, which was later calqued by Latin insecta. It discusses references to insects such as ants, bees, and wasps in poetry and artistic prose and describes the visualization of insects from the millennia between the Bronze Age and medieval times. This chapter also explores pest-control practices for harmful insects and considers some of the products from insects such as honey, silk, and dyes.