THE HIPPOPOTAMUS OF POXY. 9.1220 (THIRD CENTURY AD)

Abstract

This article discusses the content of the private letter POxy. 9.1220, which provides information about the behaviour of hippopotamuses in the Nile region. The existence of the wild mammal in Oxyrhynchus is probably related to Thoeris’ cult in that city, while its occurrence in the text relates to its habit of raiding farm crops. This interpretation is supported by literary sources, but also by the sense of the verb ἀφανίζω, used to describe the animal’s behaviour, in current lexica of ancient Greek. Additionally, an examination of textual variants of the fragment dealing with the hippopotamus’ behaviour supports this interpretation and provides insights into animal-human interrelationship in Roman Egypt.