Aper

Aper (By Leighton)

​​​​​​Fearsome even in numbers less than 30-50, the wild boar (aper) features in Virgil within a proverb from the Ecologues (Ecologues, 2.58-59) and a catalogue of dangerous animals in the Georgics (Georgics, 3.248). Generally, therefore, the wild boar was taken as an exemplar of the aggressive and destructive animal – even, for example, warranting a position next to the “pessima tigris [the horrible tiger]” (ibid.).

Declension and Etymology

Descended from Proto-Indo-European *h₁ep-r- by means of Proto-Italic *apros, the declension of this -er ending second-declension noun is much less frightening than its referents ability to suddenly stampede one’s backyard in 3-5 minutes.

Usage

“… floribus Austrum / Perditus et liquidis immisi fontibus apros [I am ruined and have let the south wind get at my blossoms and wild boars into my pure streams (From the Commentary)]” (Ecologues, 2.58-59)

“Saetosi caput hoc apri tibi, Delia, parvus / et ramosa Micon vivacis cornua cervi [Micon gives this small head of a shaggy boar to you, / Delia, and the branching horns of a long-lived deer]” (Ecologues, 7.29-30)

“… tum saevus aper, tum pessima tigris; [then the raging boar, then the horrible tiger]” (Georgics, 3.248)