We would like to show you a description here but the site wont allow us. Pliny offers all kinds of information critically, mentions his sources, and often sees the fun of certain things. 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. Gaius plinius secondus, called pliny the elder to distinguish him from his nephew, known as pliny the younger, was born in 23 ce in como northern italy. Pliny the elder, ad 2379, perished in the vesuvius eruption. Home collectionstexts perseus catalog research grants open source about help. In retrospect, plinys influence is based on his ability to assemble in a methodical fashion a number of previously unrelated facts, his perceptiveness in recognizing details ignored by others, and his readable stories, with which he linked together both factual and fictional data. 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 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. Along with unsupported claims, fables, and exaggerations, plinys. This volume has margins with some fews cuts, the quality of the images are very high, and the volume has not any watermark of the sponsor. Apr 24, 2020 pliny the elder ad 2379 natural history, the great encyclopedia of the roman writer pliny the elder, was written around ad 77.
With the commentary of gelenius bound in, first published in 1535, followed by a 186 page index. Pliny the elder ad 2379 natural history, the great encyclopedia of the roman writer pliny the elder, was written around ad 77. Author see all 2 formats and editions hide other formats and editions. The natural history by pliny the elder free at loyal books. Sep 30, 2010 naturalis historia latin for natural history is an encyclopedia published circa ad 7779 by pliny the elder. I now will briefly consider three of birdriddles, which encode specialized knowledge and may be associated with isidores etymologiae in addition to other classical sources, especially plinys historia naturalis. Pliny the elder 2379 ad, roman writer gaius plinius secundus. Mar 10, 2020 its rare when news headlines concern someone who died nearly 2,000 years ago, but thats what happened last month, when a scientific team in italy reported results of their study finding that the skull in a rome museum really is that of pliny the elder, the immortal naturalist of the ancient roman world. Biography works historia naturalis pliny s approach to his work excerpts from historia naturalis bibliography of secondary sources pliny the elder. Pliny the elder biography facts, childhood, family life.
Pliny the elder, historia naturalis, in latin pliny the. Below is the text of my handout, which comprised most of my presentation. Spending most of his spare time studying, writing or investigating natural and geographic phenomena in the field, he wrote an encyclopedic work. Volume 1 by pliny the elder and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. 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. Pliny the elder was a roman natural philosopher who lived during the 1st century. Pliny the elder in latin, translation, englishlatin dictionary.
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, 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 historia naturalis natural history is a vast encyclopaedic work and the only. 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 latin library the classics page the classics page. Bruta fulmina et vana thunderbolts that strike blindly and in vain pliny the elder naturalis historia ii. Pliny studied at rome before serving in the roman military in germany, eventually commanding a. Pliny the elder, naturalis historia, book preface, chapter 1. Pytheas says that the gutones, a people of germany, inhabit the shores of an estuary of the ocean called mentonomon, their territory extending a distance of six thousand stadia. Pliny the elder simple english wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Plinys 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 all ancient knowledge. Pliny the elder in danish, translation, englishdanish. Books on the subject included the naturalis historia of pliny the elder, which not only described many different minerals but also explained many of their properties, and kitab al jawahir book of precious stones by persian scientist albiruni. Pliny wrote the encyclopedic naturalis historia natural history, which became an editorial model for encyclopedias.
Pliny the elder naturalis historia latin for natural history is an encyclopedia published circa ad 7779 by pliny the elder. He is best known for his work pliny s natural history which was in latin and explored the natural world. It is one of the largest single works to have survived from the roman empire to the. Eichholz in their loeb edition, with the latin text on facing pages. Red lead is obtained by heating cerusite, which, however, is not a sand. The latin title historia naturalis could best be translated as research of the creation. Pliny the elder, tireless researcher and writer, is author of t. Pliny the elder simple english wikipedia, the free. Pliny may be confusing cinnabar with red lead, which he regards also as minium xxxiii.
For example, the linnaean system of plant and animal classification was heavily influenced by historia naturalis, an encyclopedia of people, places, plants, animals, and. Most of the exeter book birdriddles rely on some form of esotericism and references to specific information. Pliny wrote an encyclopedic work, naturalis historia, a massive work. The elder plinys chapters on the history of art 1982, ares publishers in multiple languages revised reprint i. Naturalis historia latin for natural history is an encyclopedia published circa ad 7779 by pliny the elder. Pliny the elder in latin, translation, englishlatin.
Pliny the elder in danish, translation, englishdanish dictionary. Hide browse bar your current position in the text is marked in blue. 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. Pliny the elder, the natural history john bostock, m. He worked his whole adult life and wrote books in the evening. 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. Pliny the elder, naturalis historia karl friedrich theodor mayhoff, ed. A multifaceted personality, he was also an author, naturalist, and a naval and army commander of the early roman empire. Pliny the elder, who died during the eruption of vesuvius in 79 a. The 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. Pliny the elder gaius plinius secondus, called pliny the elder to distinguish him from his nephew, known as pliny the younger, was born in 23 ce in como northern italy. Pliny the elder, natural history loeb classical library. 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.
Naturalis historia by pliny the elder, 1866, apud weidmannos edition, in latin. Gaius plinius secundus ad 23 august 25, ad 79, better kent as pliny the elder, wis a roman author, naituralist, an naitural filosopher, as well as naval an army commander o the early roman empire, an personal friend o the emperor vespasian. Links to translation of pliny the elder, natural history. He studied philosophy and rhetoric under seneca the younger, among. 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. 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. The natural history has been translated into english by h. He is best known for his work plinys natural history which was in. Latin edition latin paperback january 19, 2012 by pliny the elder. Gaius plinius secundus, in english pliny the elder, was an ancient scientist, natural. I gave a presentation on pliny the elder and his major work, historia naturalis, in class yesterday. Click anywhere in the line to jump to another position. Biography gaius plinius secundus pliny was born in northern italy in 23 ce into a wealthy, equestrian family.
It became a standard work of reference for scholars in 15th and 16th century italy. Dec 03, 2019 pliny the elder, gaius plinius secundus 2379 ad. In ad 77, pliny published his famous 37volume work naturalis historia or natural history. Pliny studied at rome before serving in the roman military in germany, eventually commanding a cavalry squadron.
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. Links to translation of pliny the elder, natural history 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. Pliny the elder translation in englishdanish dictionary. The work, which was largely complete by 77 ce, is divided into 37 books and covers such.
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