Plinys is an organic work, as shakespeares crowded. May 10, 2016 plinys 37book naturalis historia is a stupor mundi, an encyclopedia of everything there was to knowwhether it was worth knowing or notin rome of the 1st c ad. Books 26 describe the universe and the surface of the earth. Most of the wonderful tales related in this chapter may be found in aulus gellius, b. Pliny was out to inventory the world with an amateurs dedication to expanding horizons, enlarging mentalities, and showing progress from the historical past think guinness book of world records. The natural history has been translated into english by h. 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. 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. The silurus of pliny is perhaps a species of cuviers genus schilbe, although true siluri are found in the nile. Utf8 start of this project gutenberg ebook natural history of pliny, vol 1 produced by turgut dincer, brian wilcox. Table of contents of the others and of authorities. 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. In pliny s eyes, mankind for whose sake nature was created, represents the basis for which the natural world was founded and structured.
Book vii is of particular interest, as pliny observes at the start. Topics included are the mathematics and metrology of the. 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. And in truth by the right order and course of nature, a man is brought into the world with his head first, but. 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 pliny wikimili, the free encyclopedia. The project gutenberg ebook of the natural history of pliny.
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 mary beagon pliny the elders fascination with the world around him resulted in his death in the eruption of vesuvius in ad 79, but his natural history was to remain influential for centuries after his death. For the original article on pliny see dsb, see vol. So far our subject has covered the world and its lands, peoples, seas, notable rivers, islands and. Pliny the elders natural history is a vast encyclopaedia, surveying natural phenomena from cosmology to biology, medicine to magic. Like any great work in human history from plato to galileo, from dante to stephen hawkings plinys natural history is, first of all, a work of imagination. Plinius arrangierte darin traditionelles naturwissenschaftliches wissen griechischer autoren. 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.
Naturalis historia latin for natural history is an encyclopedia published circa ad 7779 by pliny the elder. 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. Search the history of over 431 billion web pages on the internet. The natural history of pliny, volume 4 bohns classical library the natural history of pliny, henry thomas riley. 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. Natural history, volume ii, books 37 loeb classical library no. American museum of natural history handbook series no. 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. Pliny s natural history is an astonishingly ambitious work that ranges from astronomy to art and from geography to zoology. It is also currently the best served book of the natural history in english, in that mary beagon has produced a translation and a scholarly commentary on the translated text that complements travillians edition of the latin text for students. Gaius plinius secundus ad 232479, called pliny the elder. The name coracinus has been applied to more than, one fish of a sooty colour. Pliny the elder, tireless researcher and writer, is author of the encyclopedic natural history, in 37 books, an unrivaled compendium of roman knowledge. Plinius secundus nouocomensis equestribus militiis industrie functus by.
Numerous educational institutions recommend us, including oxford university, michigan state university, and university of minnesota. Links to translation of pliny the elder, natural history. Plinys natural hist in 30 7 bk the elder pliny, philemon 15521637. Like any great work in human history from plato to galileo, from dante to stephen hawkings pliny s natural history is, first of all, a work of imagination. 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. Pliny the elder 2379 ce produced in his natural history a vast compendium of roman knowledge.
Book vii of the natural history provides a detailed examination of the human animal and is. We would like to show you a description here but the site wont allow us. 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. 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. Plinys natural history is an astonishingly ambitious work that ranges from astronomy to art and from geography to zoology. Internet archive bookreader pliny s natural history. 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.
Book 7, the human race its biology, physiology and psychology. Book vii discusses the human race, covering anthropology and ethnography, aspects. See all 22 formats and editions hide other formats and editions. A major section of the natural history, books xx to xxix, discusses matters related to medicine, especially plants that yield useful drugs. Plinys 37book naturalis historia is a stupor mundi, an encyclopedia of everything there was to knowwhether it was worth knowing or notin rome of the 1st c ad. The work, which was largely complete by 77 ce, is divided into 37 books and covers such subjects as botany, zoology, and astronomy. 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. Click on the l symbols to go to the latin text of each. In sum there are in this book of histories and observations four.
The natural history of pliny, volume 1 of 6 by pliny, the elder author. From antiquity through the middle ages and into the renaissance, plinys massive compilation of knowledge remained a. The project gutenberg ebook of the natural history of. His sources were personal experience, his own prior works such as the work on germania, and extracts from other works. 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. Book vii of the natural history provides a detailed examination of the human animal and is crucial to understanding the work as a whole. Featured texts all books all texts latest this just in smithsonian libraries fedlink us genealogy lincoln collection. The table below is a summary based on modern names for topics. Impossible 253 judge 108 occur 150 thing 1915 between this body the earth and the heavens there are suspended, in this aerial spirit, seven stars, separated by determinate spaces, which, on account of their motion, we call.
The natural history was one of the first ancient european texts to be printed, in venice in 1469. 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. Book 1 of the natural history contains a long preface to the emperor titus, in whose reign the work was completed, and a table of contents for the remaining books together with the authors consulted. He wrote the encyclopedic naturalis historia natural history, which became an editorial model for encyclopedias. These moles consist of a shapeless mass of flesh, devoid of all life, and capable. 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. Natural history pliny project gutenberg selfpublishing.
Pliny the younger, latin in full gaius plinius caecilius secundus, born 6162 ce, comum italydied c. In plinys eyes, mankind for whose sake nature was created, represents the basis for which the natural world was founded and structured. We have an account, also, of the arimaspi in solinus, very nearly in the words of pliny. 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 guinness is a compilation of isolated and insipid facts. Internet archive bookreader plinys natural history.
On india xxvi 96 but before we go on to a detailed account of these countries, it is suitable to indicate the facts reported by onesicritus after sailing with the fleet of alexander round from india to the interior of. The homepage for plinys natural history the historia naturalis of c. Pliny s is an organic work, as shakespeares crowded plays or montaignes essays are organic. 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.
The work, which was largely complete by 77 ce, is divided into 37 books and covers such. Pliny the elder, who died during the eruption of vesuvius in 79 a. Natural history pliny wikimili, the free encyclopedia wikimili, the free encyclopedia. Plinys is an organic work, as shakespeares crowded plays or montaignes essays are organic.
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. Philemon hollands english translation of 1605 has influenced literature ever since. His nephew pliny the younger gives an indication how devoted his uncle was to reading and studying, which was like working to him. Book 7 of the natural history is a weird, fun read. 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. More information about this seller contact this seller 15. Click on the l symbols to go to the latin text of each chapter. 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.
Topics included are the mathematics and metrology of the universe. We have already stated, that there are certain tribes of the scythians, and, indeed, many. Links to translation of pliny the elder, natural history, by h. The division of human knowledge into different fieldsbiology, history, mathematics, medicine, and so onis a relatively new invention. Mathematical and metrological survey of the universe. In thirtyseven books internet archive bookreader pliny s natural history. L our topic now will be metals, and the actual resources employed to pay for commodities resources diligently sought for in the bowels of the earth in a variety of ways. 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. 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, natural history book 33, sections 194 translated by h. Pliny s last work, according to his nephew, was the naturalis historia literally natural history, an encyclopedia into which he collected much of the knowledge of his time.
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