A multifaceted personality, he was also an author, naturalist, and a naval and army commander of the early roman empire. If one attempts to research the historical uses of the elder plant, one will see that most texts point to the historical book natural history by pliny the elder, a roman author and naval. The project gutenberg ebook of the natural history of. Cheers to the scholar, historian, officer, writer, and roman naturalist pliny the elder. Plinys historia naturalis natural history is a vast encyclopaedic work and the only book by him to have survived. Pliny the younger, described as full of variety as nature itself. The project gutenberg ebook of the natural history of pliny, vol i.
The project gutenberg ebook of the natural history of pliny. 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. Table of contents of the others and of authorities. Even the errors of these authors are a portion of the history of nature, and. Search the history of over 431 billion web pages on the internet. Pliny the elder, who died during the eruption of vesuvius in 79 a. Pliny the elder, natural history loeb classical library. His natural history contained over a million words in 37 volumes pliny attempted to document all known facts about the natural world. 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. Plinys natural history is an astonishingly ambitious work that ranges from astronomy to art and from geography to zoology. 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. 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.
Natural history pliny project gutenberg selfpublishing. Pomponius secundus, in two books, a person by whom. Buy natural history penguin classics reprint by pliny the elder, john healey, john healey isbn. Proxime dicantur aeris metalla, cui et in usu proximum est pretium, immo vero ante argentum ac paene etiam ante aurum corinthio, stipis quoque auctoritas, ut diximus. 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. Featured texts all books all texts latest this just in smithsonian libraries fedlink us genealogy lincoln collection. Pliny the elder was a roman natural philosopher who lived during the 1st century. 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 whose full name was gaius plinius secundus, was born at comum in the region north of the po river and was educated in rome. Pliny the elder wrote the worlds first encyclopedia. The natural history of pliny, volume 1 of 6 by pliny, the elder author. 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.
Naturalis historia latin for natural history is an encyclopedia published circa ad 7779 by pliny the elder. Sep 24, 2018 if one attempts to research the historical uses of the elder plant, one will see that most texts point to the historical book natural history by pliny the elder, a roman author and naval commander who lived until 79 a. Links to translation of pliny the elder, natural history. Pliny the elder is also the uncle of pliny the younger, whose letters are definitely worth a read, and outline the tragic and incredible nature of pliny the. This book is available with additional data at biodiversity heritage library. Books 33 through 35 deal with ancient greece painting and sculpture and the artists who created those works. Direct observation, informed speculation and common knowledge are combined to present a key snapshot of ancient thought and the romans. Above the coastward parts of albania and the udini tribe stretch the sarmatae, utidorsi and aroteres, in the rear of whom we have already indicated the 35. Pliny the elder was immortalized by his nephew, pliny the younger, who wrote about his uncle succumbing to ash and smoke during the. His nephew pliny the younger gives an indication how devoted his uncle was to reading and studying, which was like working to him.
His greatest and only surviving work was his naturalis historia of natural history. Topics included are the mathematics and metrology of the. A multifaceted personality, he was also an author, naturalist, and a naval and army commander of the early roman. Pliny was a compiler, a gatherer and recorder of information. 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 all ancient knowledge. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read pliny the elder. In ad 77, pliny published his famous 37volume work naturalis historia or natural history. 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. Plinys historia naturalis natural history is a vast. The work, which was largely complete by 77 ce, is divided into 37 books and covers such subjects as botany, zoology, and astronomy.
Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Pliny the elder biography facts, childhood, family life. The elder plinys chapters on the history of art by pliny. Although only one of his works, natural history, has survived, pliny the elder became famous for that work. Pliny, the beer has now become one of our flagship brews. Above the coastward parts of albania and the udini tribe stretch the sarmatae, utidorsi and aroteres, in the rear of whom we have already indicated. 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. 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.
Plinys natural history, either directly or indirectly through quotes by later authors, greatly influenced the development of the bestiary and other. Links to translation of pliny the elder, natural history pliny the elder, who died during the eruption of vesuvius in 79 a. Pliny s natural history, either directly or indirectly through quotes by later authors, greatly influenced the development of the bestiary and other medieval beast literature. For the original article on pliny see dsb, see vol. 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. Mathematical and metrological survey of the universe. Pliny himself died while investigating the volcanic eruption that destroyed pompeii in ad 79, and the natural curiosity that brought about his death is also very much evident in the natural history a book that proved highly influential right up until the renaissance and that his nephew, pliny the younger, described as full of variety as. Pliny the elder 2379 ce produced in his natural history a vast. Pliny the elder, tireless researcher and writer, is author of th. This extraordinary work was originally composed and. 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. 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.
Pliny the elders most popular book is natural history. Pliny the elder has 280 books on goodreads with 3768 ratings. He wrote the encyclopedic naturalis historia natural history, which became an editorial model for encyclopedias. Pliny the younger refers to tacituss reliance upon his uncles book, the history of the german wars. This book is a gem for many reasons, as it is the single largest written text to have survived the roman empire. The project gutenberg ebook of the natural history of pliny, volume 1 of 6, by pliny the elder this ebook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the united states and most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever.
The works subject area is thus not limited to what is today understood by natural history. Natural history was a 37volume encyclopedia that covered topics ranging from anthropology, astronomy, and mineralogy to geography, botany, and zoology. Ancient uses of the elder plant in natural history by. His greatest and only surviving work, the natural history, has been called one of the most influential books ever written in latin pliny whose full name. 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. Ancient uses of the elder plant in natural history by pliny. The natural history book vii with book viii 4 ebook written by pliny the pliny the elder. Pliny the elder project gutenberg selfpublishing ebooks. Modum agri in primis servandum antiqui putavere, quippe ita censebant, satius esse minus serere et melius arare, qua in sententia et vergilium fuisse video. No wonder, then, that an encyclopedia of natural history dating from the early roman empire was extraordinarily popular, not only in its own time but during and well after the renaissance. Spending most of his spare time studying, writing or investigating natural and geographic phenomena in the field, he wrote an encyclopedic work.
Mingling acute observation with often wild speculation, it offers a fascinating. Pliny the elder 2379 ce produced in his natural history a vast compendium of roman knowledge. His greatest and only surviving work, the natural history, has been called one of the most influential books ever written in latin. This lesson explores pliny s life, his natural history, and the outsized impact pliny had on medieval european thought. It is one of the largest single works to have survived from the roman empire to the modern day. 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. Links to translation of pliny the elder, natural history, by h. 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. Plinys dates are pinned to the eruption of mount vesuvius in 79 and a statement of his nephew that he died in his 56th year, which would put his birth in ad 23 or 24 pliny was the son of an equestrian. Pliny the elder compiled one of the worlds first encyclopedias. Gaius plinius secundus ad 232479, called pliny the elder. He is best known for his work pliny s natural history which was in latin and explored the natural world.
Gaius plinius secundus ad 23 august 25, ad 79, 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. He is always noble and serious, full of the love of justice and virtue. The homepage for plinys natural history the historia naturalis of c. I ran a first proofreading pass immediately after entering each book. 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. Pliny the elders natural history is published in many volumes covering a number of topics, which he differentiates by books. Pliny the elder, tireless researcher and writer, is author of the encyclopedic natural history, in 37 books, an unrivaled compendium of roman knowledge.