The cinnamon coat of the impala (Aepyceros melampus) adds to its regal bearing.
An Early Christian Description of the Antholops
The earliest mention of the antholops (Gk. ἀνθόλοψ) is found in an anonymously written work known as the Physiologus, or “The Naturalist.” Compiled in Alexandria, Egypt, between the second and fourth centuries AD, this early Christian text is significant for both biological and theological reasons.* It describes a wide array of animals, birds, and mythical creatures, pairing their physical traits with moral or allegorical lessons. By the Middle Ages, this symbolic approach to the natural world evolved into a popular class of books known as bestiaries.** For the sake of this discussion, Physiologus became the primary source for the medieval understanding of the creature and the etymological root behind our modern word “antelope.”
Oddly enough (for those of us who enjoy the soft eyes and graceful lines of the impala), the author of the Physiologus presents the antholops as a fierce and savage beast. Alleged to haunt the banks of the Euphrates River in modern Iraq, the creature was notoriously difficult to capture due to its wariness, speed, and aggression.
Beyond bad temperament, the defining feature of the antholops was its saw-like horns. These were long, curving, sharp, and powerful—traits that seem to reflect the serrated (or ridged) horns of many real-world animals in the antelope family. According to ancient lore, its horns were so formidable that the creature could use them to gash or even cut down trees.
Despite all these strengths, the antholops suffered from a fatal weakness. When it visited the river to drink, it would often play in the dense thickets along the bank. During this play, its jagged, saw-like horns would become hopelessly entangled in the thin branches. Unable to break free, the trapped animal would cry out in distress, alerting nearby hunters who would rush over to kill it.
A depiction of the mythical antholops caught in a thicket and killed by a hunter. This drawing is from the Harley Bestiary (1240).
Moral and Symbolic Interpretation
As expected, the creature was used as an allegory in the Physiologus.
Its two horns were said to represent the Old and New Testaments with which a believer could “saw” through the temptations and vices of the world.
The thickets symbolize the “lusts of materiality” or the “pomp of this world” that so easily ensnare.
Naturally the “evil hunter” is none other than the Devil himself.
No surprises from Alexandria
This dramatic presentation illustrates the Alexandrian thinking of the early-Christian era, favoring an allegorical approach to reveal spiritual truths in the physical world. Through this lens, the fatal mistake of this wild beast becomes a cautionary tale. Here and elsewhere, the natural world becomes a guide for Christian thought.
*To gain access to the English text (and there are several versions), see the translation by Michael J. Curly, Physiologus: A Medieval Book of Nature Lore (University of Chicago, 1979). It is available online here. See chapter 2 on the antelope.
**A bestiary is a medieval book that catalogs a wide variety of animals—both real and imaginary—accompanied by moral or allegorical explanations. More than just a “zoology textbooks,” these texts aimed to reveal the Word of God through the natural world.
Bible Land Explorers are headed back to Alexandria (to visit the famous library!) as part of our Egyptian trips scheduled for 2027. We’ll also be photo-hunting antelopes (and big cats and small birds and everything in-between) in and around Lake Victoria, Tanzania. We are now receiving registrations for these small-group adventures. See the link here for future travel opportunities or mail us at BibleLandExplorer@gmail.com.