Pliny the elder 2379 ce produced in his natural history a vast compendium of roman knowledge. Among the whole range of animated beings, the human fe 2151 male is the only one that has the monthly discharge, note and in whose womb are found what we term moles. The present recess from business affords you leisure to give, and me to receive, instruction. Plinys natural history is an astonishingly ambitious work that ranges from astronomy to art and from geography to zoology. Book vii of the natural history provides a detailed examination of the human animal and is crucial to understanding the work as a whole. 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. Links to translation of pliny the elder, natural history pliny the elder, who died during the eruption of vesuvius in 79 a. Natural history, volume ii, books 37 loeb classical. This is in the form of a covering letter from pliny, to accompany the gift of his treatise on natural history to his friend vespasian caesar i. Natural history pliny wikimili, the free encyclopedia wikimili, the free encyclopedia. More information about this seller contact this seller 15. Plinius secundus nouocomensis equestribus militiis industrie functus by. Contents of plinys natural history divided into thirtyseven books preface.
Pliny the elder, who died during the eruption of vesuvius in 79 a. 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. Plinys natural history, with latin text and english translations by h. The natural history of pliny, volume 1 of 6 by the elder pliny free ebook project gutenberg. Links to translation of pliny the elder, natural history. 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.
The silurus of pliny is perhaps a species of cuviers genus schilbe, although true siluri are found in the nile. American museum of natural history handbook series no. 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. Nielsen book data summary as a detailed study of the human animal, described by its author as the raison detre of nature, book seven of the elder pliny s natural history is crucial to the understanding of the work as a whole.
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. 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. 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. The comments at the bottom of the letters have been added from various sources. The study of antiquity and the middle ages,365 views. 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. Natural history, volume ii, books 37 loeb classical library no. Pliny s natural history is an astonishingly ambitious work that ranges from astronomy to art and from geography to zoology. As a detailed study of the human animal, described by its author as the raison detre of nature, book seven of the elder pliny s natural history is crucial to the understanding of the work as a whole. Free kindle book and epub digitized and proofread by project gutenberg. The natural history was one of the first ancient european texts to be printed, in venice in 1469. The natural history of pliny, volume 1 of 6 by the elder. As a detailed study of the human animal, described by its author as the raison detre of nature, book seven of the elder plinys natural history is crucial to the understanding of the work as a whole. He claims to be the only roman ever to have undertaken such a.
Topics included are the mathematics and metrology of the universe. Jul 12, 2018 free kindle book and epub digitized and proofread by project gutenberg. The work, which was largely complete by 77 ce, is divided into 37 books and covers such subjects as botany, zoology, and astronomy. These moles consist of a shapeless mass of flesh, devoid of all life, and capable. 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. Mynors 1963, in the bibliotheca augustana pliny was born in comum in. 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. Search the history of over 431 billion web pages on the internet. 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. A consideration of plinys natural history 1937, and is discussed in h. 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. In addition, however, it provides valuable insight into the extraordinary complex of ideas and beliefs current in plinys era, many of which have resonances for other eras. The project gutenberg ebook of the natural history of.
So far our subject has covered the world and its lands, peoples, seas, notable rivers, islands and. 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. Internet archive bookreader pliny s natural history. Natural history pliny project gutenberg selfpublishing. The variety, density and obscurity of such material presents a formidable challenge to the researcher. Nielsen book data summary as a detailed study of the human animal, described by its author as the raison detre of nature, book seven of the elder plinys natural history is crucial to the understanding of the work as a whole. Natural history book 7 clarendon ancient history oxford university press, usa mary beagon translated with introduction and historical commentary by. The natural history has been translated into english by h. 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. 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. Pliny wrote the encyclopedic naturalis historia natural history, which became an editorial model for encyclopedias. The 1st book is the preface of the work, dedicated to titus vespasian c. The name coracinus has been applied to more than, one fish of a sooty colour.
Rackham and others, is in the loeb classical library 10 vols. The letters of pliny the younger gaius plinius caecilius secundus are presented here in the english translation by j. In pliny s eyes, mankind for whose sake nature was created, represents the basis for which the natural world was founded and structured. From antiquity through the middle ages and into the renaissance, plinys massive compilation of knowledge remained. Natural history pliny wikimili, the free encyclopedia.
In plinys eyes, mankind for whose sake nature was created, represents the basis for which the. The loeb classical library edition of natural history is in ten volumes. His nephew pliny the younger gives an indication how devoted his uncle was to reading and studying, which was like working to him. The table below is a summary based on modern names for topics. Natural history 5 volumes hardcover 2012 by pliny the elder author 5. Naturalis historia is an encyclopedia published circa ad 7779 by pliny the elder. Pliny the elder, natural history loeb classical library. Pliny the elders natural history is a vast encyclopaedia, surveying natural phenomena from cosmology to biology, medicine to magic. This is the only commentary on book 7 to date in english and the only detailed commentary in any language. For the original article on pliny see dsb, see vol.
The project gutenberg ebook of the natural history of pliny. In addition, however, it provides valuable insight into the extraordinary complex of ideas and beliefs current in pliny s era, many of which have resonances for other eras. Pliny the elder, tireless researcher and writer, is author of the encyclopedic natural history, in 37 books, an unrivaled compendium of roman knowledge. 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. I am extremely desirous therefore to know your sentiments concerning spectres, whether you believe they actually exist and have their own proper shapes and a measure of divinity, or are only the false impressions of a terrified imagination. Book vii is of particular interest, as pliny observes at the start. 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. The natural history which is actually a sort of encyclopedia of roman wisdom and prejudices has probably fallen out of favour because the first two books are surprisingly tedious.
Direct observation, informed speculation and common knowledge are combined to present a key snapshot of ancient thought and the romans perspective on the. The histories by herodotus, volume 1 complete audio book duration. Internet archive bookreader plinys natural history. 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. Book vii of the natural history provides a detailed examination of the human animal and is.