This work, however, xvi is not a natural history in the modern acceptation of the term, but rather a vast encyclop. Naturalis historia is an early encyclopedia published circa ad 7779 by pliny the elder. It is one of the largest single works to have survived from the roman empire to the modern day and purports to cover the entire field of ancient knowledge, based on the best. Pliny chase 18201886, american scientist, mathematician, and educator. Pliny s natural history is one of the largest single works to have survived from the roman empire and purports to cover the entire field of ancient knowledge, based on the best. Brills new pauly online, 26 january 2011 naturalis historia.
Pliny the younger ancient rome classical literature. May 14, 2019 naturalis historia by pliny the elder. This is a reproduction of a book published before 1923. Through his many detailed letters epistulae to friends and associates, he has become one of the bestknown of all roman writers. Wikipedia, april 27, 2017 the natural history latin. Pliny the elder, tireless researcher and writer, is author of the encyclopedic natural history, in 37 books, an unrivaled compendium of roman knowledge the contents of the books are as follows. Book vii is of particular interest, as pliny observes at the start. Pliny the younger died 1, ancient roman statesman, orator, writer, and pliny the elders nephew and adopted son.
In 37 books, he covered geography, anthropology, zoology. Its frequent digressions into issues of morality and gossipy, occasionally rambling style would certainly not be at home in a modern encyclopedia, but its allencompassing scope covering botany, zoology, astronomy, geology, and medicine among other. Published in quotation marks here because moveable type would not be a presence in europe for another 1400 yearsin 79 ad, publication meant that exemplary scrolls were released to the public for borrowing and copying. Oclcs webjunction has pulled together information and resources to assist library staff as they consider how to handle coronavirus. Publication date 1938 topics natural history publisher. Pliny the elders most popular book is natural history. The massive 37volume work on the natural world became the accepted authority in medieval. Of all the works written by pliny, one only, the historia naturalis has survived to our times. However, formatting rules can vary widely between applications and fields of interest or study. Biography gaius plinius secundus pliny was born in northern italy in 23 ce into a wealthy, equestrian family. The book is rambling and discursive, full of vignettes, asides, and diatribes. Plinys natural history was the goto encyclopedia for over 1,500 years, from its publication around the year 77 until well into the renaissance. It claims to cover the entire field of ancient knowledge, based on the best authorities available to pliny.
Some of these references relate to the physical characteristics of judea and its natural resources, in particular the dead sea and the bitumen. Tupper, dcl brands popular antiquities of england, scotland, and ireland. Using a biomorphic paradigm to describe artistic development, pliny uses a birthdevelopmentdecline method to art which would be highly influential for the art methodology of the middle ages and renaissance. Latin is a classical language belonging to the italic branch of the indoeuropean languages. Of all the works written by pliny, one only, the historia naturalis has survived to our. Plinius secundus, mit vollstandigem kritischen apparat, berlin, weidmann, 1904, also by sonnich detlef friedrich detlefson page images at hathitrust. The historia naturalis is the first encyclopedia, a compilation covering every aspect of the world as known to an intelligent roman of the first century. Naturalis historia is an early encyclopedia published circa a. The natural history of pliny volume 6 digital collections. It is one of the largest single works to have survived from the roman empire to the modern day and purports to cover all ancient knowledge. The homepage for plinys natural history the historia naturalis of c.
Page 431 the name which these stones bear, originates, it is said, in the peculiar tint of their brilliancy, which, after closely approaching the colour of wine, passes off into a violet without being fully pronounced. Pliny read and dictated in a sedan chair as he moved about urban areas. The part of judaea adjoining syria is called galilee, and that next to arabia and egypt peraea. He claims to be the only roman ever to have undertaken such a work. The latin library the classics page the classics page. Author pliny the elder country ancient rome subject natural history, ethnography, art, sculpture, mining, mineralogy genre encyclopaedia, popular science the natural history is a work by pliny the elder. Plinys natural history is an astonishingly ambitious work that ranges from astronomy to art and from geography to zoology. Pliny the elder pliny, the elder a wikipedia article about this author is available pliny, the elder. I ran a first proofreading pass immediately after entering each book. Pliny the elder, historia naturalis book, 1982 worldcat. Naturalis historia 77 ce while it cant be claimed as the first encyclopedia, the naturalis historia natural history by the roman writer pliny the elder was certainly the most influential surviving reference work from antiquity.
Natural history pliny wikimili, the free encyclopedia. Of all the works written by pliny, one only, tlic itistoria. Although pliny did not distinguish between fact, opinion, and speculation in his 37volume treatise, he can be credited with. The project gutenberg ebook of the natural history of pliny, vol i. So far our subject has covered the world and its lands, peoples, seas, notable rivers, islands and. He wrote the encyclopedic naturalis historia natural history, which became an editorial model for encyclopedias. We have new and used copies available, in 1 editions starting at.
He studied philosophy and rhetoric under seneca the younger, among other teachers. The natural history has been translated into english by h. It was the second title and one of only three works to have. Plinys voluminous naturalis historia, the only work of his extant, contains a number of references to jews and judaism. The way to read this book is the way in which you read that kind of fantastic literature that gives the illusion of fact. Pliny the elder simple english wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Naturalis historia latin for natural history is an encyclopedia published circa ad 7779 by pliny the elder.
Billing, printer and stereotyper, woking, surreyverso of t. Pliny the elder, who died during the eruption of vesuvius in 79 a. Jul 24, 2016 pliny the elder, naturalis historia 22. Links to translation of pliny the elder, natural history. Pliny the elder pliny, the elder the online books page. Rare paris edition of pliny s historiae naturalis, in the original latin, the first edition with annotations by hermolaus barbarus 14541494. Natural history encyclopedic scientific work by pliny. The complete latin text of book xviii of the historia naturalis of c. On the other hand, pliny enhanced his naturalis historia with specialized vocabulary especially in natural science and technical disciplines, greek words, loanwords from other languages spanish. This book is available with additional data at biodiversity heritage library. Pliny applies the term pretia rerum to metals, as forming the unit of value. Plini secundi naturalis historiae libri xxxvii, the historie of the vvorld.
Naturalis historia printed by taylor and francisverso of t. Author see all 2 formats and editions hide other formats and editions. Naturalis historia is a book about the whole of the natural world in latin by pliny the elder, a roman author and naval commander who died in 79 ad. Pliny the elder 23 ad79 ad, ancient roman nobleman, scientist, historian, and author of naturalis historia plinys natural history. The wonderfully imaginative miniatures which accompany the copy of the text in the victoria and albert museum are attributed to giuliano amedei, and although describing early roman practice. Lacuscurtius pliny the elders natural history book 18. Natural history encyclopedic scientific work by pliny the. Volume i of the natural history of gaius plinius secundus. Pliny the elder simple english wikipedia, the free. The reading copy of historia naturalis has one illuminated page and thirtyseven illuminated initial letters. Pliny the elder has 277 books on goodreads with 3780 ratings.
An account of a book by john eames intituled, jacobi theodori klein historiae piscium naturalis promovendae missus primus gedani, or, the first number of an essay towards promoting the natural history of fishes. It is one of the largest single works to have survived from the roman empire to the modern day and purports to cover the entire. A rare original article from the philosophical transactions of the royal society, 1741. The project gutenberg ebook of the natural history of pliny. Translated into english by philemon holland doctor of physicke. Libros naturalis historiae, novicium camenis quiritium tuorum opus, natos apud me proxima fetura licentiore epistula narrare 1 constitui tibi, iucundissime imperatorsit enim haec tui praefatio, verissima, dum maximi consenescit in patre. Latin edition latin paperback january 19, 2012 by pliny the elder. Gaius plinius secundus ad 232479, called pliny the elder. Buy the natural history of pliny by pliny the elder online at alibris. The 1469 printing of plinys historia naturalis owned by the rakow library is a rare first edition. He was also the uncle of pliny the younger, whom he would adopt as his son in his will. Pliny was an energetic man, hugely desirous of literary immortality, who wrote his books in the interstices of a full career as a soldier and an administrator. Pliny the elder, natural history loeb classical library.
Natural history, encyclopaedic scientific work of dubious accuracy by pliny the elder, completed in 77 ce as naturae historiae and conventionally known as naturalis historia. The work, which was largely complete by 77 ce, is divided into 37 books and covers such. Table of contents of the others and of authorities. Librivox recording of the natural history, volume 3, by pliny the elder. This is a book from the elizabeth james collection and there is an ex libris pasted on the front endpaper. The reliability of plinys chapters on greek and roman. We believe this work is culturally important, and despite the imperfections. Pomponius secundus, in two books, a person by whom he had been. Plini secundi naturalis historiae libri xxxvii, the. Naturalis historia volume 5 by detlefsen, d and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Gaius plinius caecilius secundus known as pliny the younger in the englishspeaking world, to distinguish him from his. Pliny the elder, roman savant and author of the celebrated natural history, an encyclopedic work of uneven accuracy that was an authority on scientific matters up to the middle ages.
In this sense he carries on the legacy of xenocrates q. Direct observation, informed speculation and common knowledge are combined to present a key snapshot of ancient thought and the romans perspective on the world around them. Author of naturalis historia, pliny, historia naturalis, c. His single surviving work, historia naturalis, is a rich, indepth encyclopedia on natural science in the roman world. Describes and discusses art in books 3436 of historia naturalis.
Historia naturalis plinys approach to his work excerpts from historia naturalis bibliography of secondary sources pliny the elder. Numerous and frequentlyupdated resource results are available from this search. Natural history plinii naturalis historia prefatio plinius secundus vespasiano suo s. His great work was dedicated to vespasians son, and future emperor, titus.
With an english translation on opposite pages, notes, introduction, and glossary, by rev. Comical podcast a comedy show all about comic books. Accessible book, ancient geography, art, art, grecoroman, astronomy. Pliny the elder 2379 ce, tireless researcher and writer, is author of the encyclopedic natural history, in 37 books, an unrivaled compendium of roman knowledge. Pliny the younger was a successful lawyer, administrator and author of ancient rome. Reliable information about the coronavirus covid19 is available from the world health organization current situation, international travel. May 10, 2016 plinys 37book naturalis historia is a stupor mundi, an encyclopedia of everything there was to knowwhether it was worth knowing or notin rome of the 1st c ad. Greater judea or provincia iudaea, incorporates samaria and idumea into an expanded territory.
In book iii pliny the elder 2379 cd covers the geography of the iberian peninsula and italy. This book may have occasional imperfections such as missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Naturalis historia naturalis historia, 1669 edition, title page. Naturalis historia is an early encyclopedia in latin by pliny the elder. Mingling acute observation with often wild speculation, it offers a fascinating view of the world as it was understood in the first century ad, whether describing the danger of diving for sponges, the first waterclock, or the use of asses milk to remove wrinkles. Natural history pliny project gutenberg selfpublishing. It is one of the largest single works to have survived from the roman empire to the modern day and purports to cover the entire field of ancient knowledge, based on the best authorities available to pliny. The 1472 edition of plinys historia naturalis is the second oldest printed book in the university of readings rare book collections, and one of twelve examples of incunabula or early printed books held by the university. The natural history of pliny volume 6 uniform titles. The naturalis historia is one of the largest works to have survived from the roman empire to the modern day. Naturalis historia natural history rackhams loeb edition of the nh is available in two partial formats. The natural history of pliny by pliny the elder alibris. The world, and this whatever other name men have chosen to designate the sky whose vaulted roof encircles the universe is fitly believed to be a deity, eternal, immeasurable, a being that never began to exist and never will perish.
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