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. From antiquity through the middle ages and into the renaissance, pliny s massive compilation of knowledge remained a. Table of contents of the others and of authorities. Pliny the elder, the natural history john bostock, m. Selections from the history of the world, commonly called the natural history of c. 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.
In thirtyseven books, volumes plinys natural history. A major section of the natural history, books xx to xxix, discusses matters related to medicine. Paperback the elder pliny s chapters on the history of art. 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. 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. Most gracious highness let this title, a supremely true one, be yours, while that of most eminent grows to old age with your sirei have resolved to recount b to you, in a somewhat presumptuous letter, the offspring of my latest travail, my volumes of natural history a novel task for the native. Librivox recording of the natural history, volume 3, by pliny the elder.
Pliny the elder, natural history loeb classical library. In ad 77, pliny published his famous 37volume work naturalis historia or natural history. Pliny s natural history in thirtyseven books london. Read more about the sites features pliny the elder 2379 ce, tireless researcher and writer, is author of the encyclopedic natural history, in 37 books, an unrivaled. Firth 1900 a few words and phrases have been modified. Pliny the elder has 277 books on goodreads with 3818 ratings. 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. Pliny s natural history is an astonishingly ambitious work that ranges from astronomy to art and from geography to zoology. 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.
The histories by herodotus, volume 1 complete audio book duration. The natural history book vii with book viii 4 latin texts by pliny the pliny the elder and tyler t. 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. For the original article on pliny see dsb, see vol. Ive taken no pains with the latin to proof it its enough for the purpose of dealing with this myth. 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. 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. 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.
The digital loeb classical library extends the founding mission of james loeb with an interconnected, fully searchable, perpetually growing virtual library of all that is important in greek and latin literature. Barclay, 184749, also by philemon holland and wernerian club page images at hathitrust pliny, the elder. The natural history, which was dedicated to titus in 77, was, according to the authors. Buy natural history penguin classics reprint by pliny the elder, john healey, john healey isbn. Pliny was a compiler, a gatherer and recorder of information. 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. Cheers to the scholar, historian, officer, writer, and roman naturalist pliny the elder. Mathematical and metrological survey of the universe. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read plinys natural history. Naturalis historia latin for natural history is an encyclopedia published circa ad 7779 by pliny the elder.
Pliny the elder books list of books by author pliny the. The work, which was largely complete by 77 ce, is divided into 37 books and covers such subjects as botany, zoology, and astronomy. 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. Plinys natural history is an astonishingly ambitious work that ranges from astronomy to art and from geography to zoology. The natural history of pliny volume 3 nlm digital collections nih. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read pliny s natural history. Such are the generic and specific characteristics of all the animals about which it has been possible to obtain information. Pliny the elder pliny, the elder the online books page. Pliny the elder, tireless researcher and writer, is author of the encyclopedic natural history, in 37 books, an unrivaled compendium of roman knowledge. Plinys natural history is an extraordinarily important document in the history of western science. 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. 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. Internet archive bookreader pliny s natural history. Links to translation of pliny the elder, natural history attalus.
Book 2, cosmology, astronomy, meteorology, geography, geology. The natural history of pliny, volume 1 of 6 by pliny, the elder author. He was attempting the rescue by ship of a friend and his family from the eruption of mount vesuvius. The homepage for plinys natural history the historia naturalis of c. Next to these came his three books entitled the student11, divided. Pliny the elder naturalis historia latin for natural history is an encyclopedia published circa ad 7779 by pliny the elder. 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. Preface pliny natural history preface plinius secundus to his dear vespasian a greeting. Search the history of over 431 billion web pages on the internet. See all 23 formats and editions hide other formats and editions. This book is available with additional data at biodiversity heritage library. Book vii of the natural history provides a detailed examination of the human animal and is. The eruption had just destroyed the cities of pompeii and herculaneum. Pliny the elder s most popular book is natural history.
American museum of natural history handbook series no. 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. It remains to describe the things produced by the earth or dug up from itthese also not being devoid of vital spirit, since nothing lives without itand not to pass over in silence any of the works of nature. His nephew pliny the younger gives an indication how devoted his uncle was to reading and studying, which was like working to him.
Translated, with copious notes and illustrations classic reprint book. The project gutenberg ebook of the natural history of pliny, vol i. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Gaius plinius secundus ad 232479, called pliny the elder. Pliny the elder simple english wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. 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. The natural history by pliny the elder free at loyal books. The natural history book vii with book viii 4 latin texts by bloomsbury isbn. Publication date 1938 topics natural history publisher. 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, 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. The natural history has been translated into english by h. In books iii to vi, pliny moves to the earth itself. Pliny the elder 23 79, translated by henry thomas riley 1816 1878 naturalis historia latin for natural history is an encyclopedia published circa ad 7779 by pliny the elder. Plinys natural history in thirtyseven books london. Pliny, the beer has now become one of our flagship brews. Topics included are the mathematics and metrology of the. In pliny s eyes, mankind for whose sake nature was created, represents the basis for which the natural world was founded and structured. 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. Links to translation of pliny the elder, natural history. The work, which was largely complete by 77 ce, is divided into 37 books and covers such.
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