Pliny the elder, naturalis historia, book preface, chapter 1. 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. Oct 10, 2019 pliny the elder was a devotee of all things fermented, namely wine and beer. Spending most of his spare time studying, writing or investigating natural and geographic phenomena in the field, he wrote an encyclopedic work, natural history naturalis historia, which became a model for many subsequent encyclopedic texts. His nephew pliny the younger gives an indication how devoted his uncle was to reading and studying, which was like working to him. The letters of pliny the younger on the eruption of vesuvius, and more on. 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. Pliny the elder pliny, the elder a wikipedia article about this author is available pliny, the elder. In the year 79, still admiral of the western fleet, pliny noticed a cloud over the city of pompeii.
Translated into english by philemon holland doctor of physicke. Although pliny did not distinguish between fact, opinion, and speculation in his 37volume treatise, he can be credited with. Home collectionstexts perseus catalog research grants open source about help. It included chapters on astronomy, geography, medicine, minerals, human beings, animals, and related historical events.
Pliny the elder wrote historia naturalis 2000 years ago in the first century. Pliny the elder, historia naturalis by joyce irene whalley doc. Pliny the elder simple english wikipedia, the free. Russian river brewer vinnie cilurzo is generally credited with creating the double ipa as a commercial beer style.
Bruta fulmina et vana thunderbolts that strike blindly and in vain pliny the elder naturalis historia ii. 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. Natural history naturalis historia naturalis historiae. Pliny the elder, who died during the eruption of vesuvius in 79 a. Unusually, the entire remarkable work it contains over a million words has survived intact it is one of the most substantial ancient works available to modern readers. Plini secundi naturalis historiae libri xxxvii, the historie of the vvorld. He wrote the encyclopedic naturalis historia natural history, which became an editorial model for encyclopedias. The latin library the classics page the classics page. Of all the works written by pliny, one only, tlic itistoria.
Plinys natural history is an astonishingly ambitious work that ranges from astronomy to art and from geography to zoology. Natural history latin historia naturalis, translated into english by. Historians of the cannabis plant have long contended that pliny the elder was among the first to make note of its curative and psychoactive properties. Gaius plinius secundus, 23 79 ce was a roman author, naturalist and natural philosopher, a naval and army commander of the early roman empire, and friend of the emperor vespasian. The natural history of pliny digital collections national. 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. Pliny the elder, latin in full gaius plinius secundus, born 23 ce, novum comum, transpadane gaul now in italydied august 24, 79, stabiae, near mount vesuvius, roman savant and author of the celebrated natural history, an encyclopaedic work of uneven accuracy that was an authority on scientific matters up to the middle ages.
Gaius plinius secundus, aka pliney the elder 23 79 ce born in the northern lake region of italy at the base of the alps, pliny spent his life as a military man and in the practice of law in the service of the roman emperors. Pliny the elder, natural history loeb classical library. But before we move on to plinys references and the recipe for leaven, lets delve into the history of breadmaking a bit more. The work, which was largely complete by 77 ce, is divided into 37 books and covers such. 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. Sellers, and additional notes contributed by heinrich ludwig urlichs. Sep 01, 2017 we know this from early documentary records such as pliny the elders naturalis historia 77 ad which tells us about early roman breadmaking practices, among many other things. Online pliny the elder, historia naturalis by joyce irene whalley ebook pdf download. Pliny the elder wikisource, the free online library. His greatest and only surviving work, the natural history, has been called one of the most influential books ever written in latin. See all books authored by pliny the elder, including naturalis historia, and ashen sky. In ad 77, pliny published his famous 37volume work naturalis historia or natural history.
Natural history encyclopedic scientific work by pliny the elder. Volume i of the natural history of gaius plinius secundus. Author of naturalis historia, pliny, historia naturalis, c. Pliny the elder, the natural history john bostock, m. An xml version of this text is available for download, with the additional restriction. 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. Pliny the elder, historia naturalis by joyce irene whalley mobipocket.
Jun 12, 2014 because of his parents connections in rome, the city where he would complete his education, pliny was able to obtain a military command, leaving the comforts of rome in 47 ce to do battle in germany, serving as an officer cadet on the rhine, and eventually rising to function as the prefect of the auxiliary infantry and later commander of a. Natural history encyclopedic scientific work by pliny. Jan 06, 2014 historia naturalis, compiled by pliny the elder a. Pliny the elder, historia naturalis book, 1982 worldcat. By henry denham, for thomas hacket, are are to be solde at his shop in lumbert streate, 1566, also by john alday and i. The elder plinys chapters on the history of art translated by k. Pliny the elder died on august 25, ad 79, whilst attempting to rescue pomponianus a friend of plinys and his family from the eruption of mount vesuvius that.
Lhistoire naturelle en latin naturalis historia est une. 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 first and thirtythird books of pliny were translated by dr. Spending most of his spare time studying, writing, and investigating natural and geographic phenomena in the field, pliny wrote the encyclopedic naturalis historia natural history, which. Pliny wrote the encyclopedic naturalis historia natural history, which became an editorial model for encyclopedias. This ancient roman may have been an author, statesman and military commander, but hes become a household name among. While serving in this position he also found time to write his famous natural history which was published in 77. Pliny the elder, the first wine critic and why he still. 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. Hide browse bar your current position in the text is marked in blue. Naturalis historia naturalis historia, 1669 edition, title page. The homepage for plinys natural history the historia naturalis of c. Pliny the elder was made admiral of the western roman navy. May 14, 2019 the elder pliny s chapters on the history of art translated by k.
We know this from early documentary records such as pliny the elders naturalis historia 77 ad which tells us about early roman breadmaking practices, among many other things. Pliny whose full name was gaius plinius secundus, was born at comum in the region north of the po river and was educated in rome. But before we move on to plinys references and the recipe for leaven, lets delve into the history of breadmaking a. Plini secundi naturalis historiae libri xxxvii, the. Answers concerning the date of its publication, composition, or when he started or stopped work upon it, depend on the questions asked. Pliny s last work, according to his nephew, was the naturalis historia literally of natural history, an encyclopedia into which he collected much of the knowledge of his time.
Pliny the elder biography facts, childhood, family life. Pliny, the beer has now become one of our flagship brews. Pliny the elder born gaius plinius secundus, ad 2379 was a roman author, naturalist and natural philosopher, a naval and army commander of the early roman empire, and friend of emperor vespasian spending most of his spare time studying, writing, and investigating natural and geographic phenomena in the field, pliny wrote the encyclopedic naturalis historia natural history, which. Pliny the elder compiled one of the worlds first encyclopedias. Cheers to the scholar, historian, officer, writer, and roman naturalist pliny the elder. The natural history has been translated into english by h.
This ancient roman may have been an author, statesman and military. Philosophical and scientific issues ernesto paparazzo he elder plinys naturalis historia is by far the most detailed ancient source we today possess on roman metallurgy. This work is licensed under a creative commons attributionsharealike 3. Evidence reported by ian frederickrothwell for item plinysnaturalhis00plinrich on february 22, 2007. Pliny the elder simple english wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. The work, which was largely complete by 77 ce, is divided into 37 books and covers such subjects as botany, zoology, and astronomy. Naturalis historia or plinys natural history was plinys last work, as well the most important work of his life. Modern, agnostic insights, fantastical accounts of multiple births and unusual physical formations, a disturbing anecdote about a tragic roman actor who served song birds for supper, all this and more in the first known encyclopedia historia naturalis, aka plinys natural history. Pliny the elder, historia naturalis whalley, joyce irene on. Bostock, john, 17731846, translator riley, henry t. Pliny the elder 2379 ad, roman writer gaius plinius secundus. Buy a cheap copy of naturalis historia book by pliny the elder.
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. Pliny the elder was immortalized by his nephew, pliny the younger, who wrote about his uncle succumbing to ash and smoke during the eruption of mt. Pliny the elder, natural history 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. Pliny the elder author of natural history goodreads. Apr 20, 2017 naturalis historia pliny the elder, written c. However, formatting rules can vary widely between applications and fields of interest or study. Pliny the elder was a devotee of all things fermented, namely wine and beer. The encyclopedia, who is one of the largest single works to have survived from the roman empire to this day, covers numerous subjects such as astronomy, mathematics, geography, zoology, botany, physiology, sculpture and painting. Gaius plinius secundus, better known as pliny the elder, was an ancient. It is one of the largest single works to have survived from the roman empire to the. It included chapters on astronomy, geography, medicine, minerals, human beings, animals, and. Naturalis historia latin for natural history is an encyclopedia published circa ad 7779 by pliny the elder. Click anywhere in the line to jump to another position. This lesson explores pliny s life, his natural history, and the outsized impact pliny had on medieval european thought.
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