For centuries the natural history served as the western worlds primary source of scientific information and theory book i summarizes the entire contents of the work, listing the authors and sometimes the titles of. 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. Drawn entirely by zelinsky and derived from pliny the elders celebrated natural history, this book tells the tale of lion and stoatthe two greatest artists who ever livedwho compete for immortality. The silurus of pliny is perhaps a species of cuviers genus schilbe, although true siluri are found in the nile. The natural history of pliny, volume 2 bohns classical library the natural history of pliny, henry thomas riley. In science it often happens that scientists say, you know thats a really good argument. Pliny the elder simple english wikipedia, the free. Pliny the elder 2379 ce produced in his natural history a vast compendium of roman knowledge. 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. Although pliny did not distinguish between fact, opinion, and speculation in his 37volume treatise, he can be credited with the creation of the first scientific encyclopaedia.
The natural history book vii with book viii 4 ebook written by pliny the pliny the elder. On pliny the elder and the monstrous natural history of. It is no disparagement to hollands merits, as a diligent and generally faithful translator, to say that his work is unsuited to the requirements of the nineteenth century. Sing it songbird podcast natural living for a happy and healthy family coffee with friends liberando mentes podcast. Natural history pliny wikimili, the free encyclopedia. Search the history of over 411 billion web pages on the internet.
Gaius plinius secundus 23 ad august 25, 79 ad, better known as pliny the elder, was a roman author, naturalist, and natural philosopher, as well as naval and army commander of the early roman empire, and personal friend of the emperor vespasian. Naturalis historia latin for natural history is an encyclopedia published circa ad 7779 by pliny the elder. For the original article on pliny see dsb, see vol. More information about this seller contact this seller 15.
On india xxvi 96 but before we go on to a detailed account of these countries, it is suitable to indicate the facts reported by onesicritus after sailing with the fleet of alexander round from india to the interior of. This ancient roman may have been an author, statesman and military. Pliny the elder, the first wine critic and why he still. Links to translation of pliny the elder, natural history, by h. Gaius plinius secundus 23 ad 25 august 79 ad, better known as pliny the elder, was a roman author, naturalist, and natural philosopher, as well as naval and army commander of the early roman empire, and personal friend of the emperor vespasian spending most of his spare time studying, writing or investigating natural and geographic phenomena in the field, he wrote an encyclopedic work. The project gutenberg ebook of the natural history of. The 2nd is on the world, the elements, and the heavenly bodies 50.
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. From antiquity through the middle ages and into the renaissance, plinys massive compilation of knowledge remained a. The only translation of plinys natural history which has hitherto appeared in the english. In 37 books, pliny the eldernot to be confused with his nephew, pliny the youngercovers botany, zoology, astronomy, geology, geography, mineralogy, and how each of these interact with roman life. A major section of the natural history, books xx to xxix, discusses matters related to medicine, especially plants. He wrote the encyclopedic naturalis historia natural history, which became an editorial model for encyclopedias. Gaius plinius secundus ad 232479, called pliny the elder. As one of the largest and most comprehensive surviving works from the roman empire, pliny the elders natural history offers a rare glimpse into the scholarship of the ancient world. I ran a first proofreading pass immediately after entering each book, so that the text of all the books is quite good already. While the monster is seldom described except for it being a large fish, there is still enough evidence to easily apply theses 5. We would like to show you a description here but the site wont allow us. Table of contents of the others and of authorities.
This selection from natural history also continues with his observations about the degree of pain associated with specific illnesses, in which cases sufferers sometimes seek suicide. The 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th books are on geography, in which is contained an account of the situation of the different countries, the inhabitants, the seas, towns, harbours, mountains, rivers, and. There is no book so bad that some good cannot be got out of it, pliny the elder used to say, and. Topics included are the mathematics and metrology of the universe.
Click on the l symbols to go to the latin text of each chapter. 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. Natural history encyclopedic scientific work by pliny. The natural history there is no book so bad that some good cannot be got out of it, pliny the elder used to say, and he read everything that he could obtain. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read pliny the elder. The natural history book vii with book viii 4 pliny the elders natural history is a vast encyclopaedia, surveying natural phenomena from cosmology to biology, medicine to magic.
Sources pliny, the natural history of pliny, book ii, ch. English translation of pliny the elder, natural history, book 35, 1100, by h. Pliny the elder, natural history loeb classical library. The only translation of plinys natural history which has hitherto appeared in the english language is that by philemon holland, published in the latter part of the reign of elizabeth. Pliny the younger, latin in full gaius plinius caecilius secundus, born 6162 ce, comum italydied c. As one of the premier rare book sites on the internet, alibris has thousands of rare books, first editions, and signed books available. The natural history has been translated into english by h. 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. Natural history, volume i, books 12 loeb classical library no. Publication date 1938 topics natural history publisher. Natural history, volume vi, books 2023 loeb classical library no 392 by pliny abebooks. The name coracinus has been applied to more than, one fish of a sooty colour. Pliny the elder was a devotee of all things fermented, namely wine and beer. 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.
Links to translation of pliny the elder, natural history. The project gutenberg ebook of the natural history of pliny, vol i. A selection, by pliny the elder translated by john f. Natural history pliny wikimili, the free encyclopedia wikimili, the free encyclopedia.
His nephew pliny the younger gives an indication how devoted his uncle was to reading and studying, which was like working to him the only time he took from his work was for his bath, and by bath i mean his actual immersion, for while. Plinys natural history is an astonishingly ambitious work that ranges from astronomy to art and from geography to zoology. Jones and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Pliny the elder, the natural history john bostock, m. Pomponius secundus, in two books, a person by whom he had been. 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. Featured texts all books all texts latest this just in smithsonian libraries fedlink us genealogy lincoln collection. Even the errors of these authors are a portion of the history of nature, and. 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. Pliny the elder, who died during the eruption of vesuvius in 79 a. This book is available with additional data at biodiversity heritage library. Search the history of over 431 billion web pages on the internet. 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. The natural history, which was dedicated to titus in 77, was, according to the authors.
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