The original latin text will include a link to an english version, translated and edited in the nineteenth century by john bostock and h t riley. 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. Full text views reflects the number of pdf downloads, pdfs. Translated, with copious notes and illustrations classic reprint author. 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. Plinys natural history is an astonishingly ambitious work that ranges from astronomy to art and from geography to zoology. 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. Links to translation of pliny the elder, natural history.
As one of the bhl s founding institutional members, the museum has digitised its copy of historia naturalis, which in turn will be the bhl s oldest digitised book. This volume contains books 3 to 5 of pliny the elder s natural history. For centuries the natural history served as the western worlds primary source of scientific information and theory. Natural history encyclopedic scientific work by pliny. Pliny s natural history is an astonishingly ambitious work that ranges from astronomy to art and from geography to zoology. Publication date 184749 topics natural history publisher. 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, immeasurable, a being that never began. Direct observation, informed speculation and common knowledge are combined to present a key snapshot of ancient thought and the romans. Direct observation, informed speculation and common knowledge are combined to present a key snapshot of ancient thought and the romans perspective on the. It is very broad in scope and includes all sorts of facts, observations and myths. Pliny the elder pliny, the elder the online books page. Natural history pliny abebooks shop for books, art. Plinys natural history in thirtyseven books hardcover august 8, 2015.
American museum of natural history handbook series no. Plinys natural history in thirtyseven books london. 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. 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. Feb 12, 2019 contents of pliny s natural history divided into thirtyseven books preface. Page 431 the name which these stones bear, originates, it is said, in the peculiar tint of their brilliancy, which, after closely approaching the colour of wine, passes off into a violet without being fully pronounced. 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, immeasurable, a being that never began to exist and never will perish. Plinys 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. The books all explore geography focusing on the regions of italy, spain, greece, then unto africa encompassing various towns and activities and geographical thoughts and interpretations of that time. The natural history has been translated into english by h. Pliny was a compiler, a gatherer and recorder of information. Selections from the history of the world, commonly called the natural history of c. Pliny the elders most popular book is natural history. 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.
The natural history of pliny, volume 1 of 6 by 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. Book i summarizes the entire contents of the work, listing the authors and sometimes the titles of the books many of which are now. By purchasing books through this website, you support our. 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. Plinys natural history pdf pliny plinys natural history in thirtyseven books. This volume contains books 3 to 5 of pliny the elders natural history. Pliny the elder, natural history loeb classical library. Dec 20, 2016 natural history, but not as we know it. Plinys historia naturalis natural history is a vast encyclopaedic work and the only book by him to have survived. As one of the bhls founding institutional members, the museum has digitised its copy of historia naturalis, which in turn will be the bhls oldest digitised book.
Aug 08, 2015 buy pliny s natural history in thirtyseven books on free shipping on qualified orders. By purchasing books through this website, you support our nonprofit organization. Plinius secundus nouocomensis equestribus militiis industrie functus by. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read plinys natural history. Plinys natural history, either directly or indirectly through quotes by later authors, greatly influenced the development of the bestiary and other medieval beast literature. If you are generating a pdf of a journal article or book chapter, please feel free to enter the title and. Plinys natural history was the goto encyclopedia for over 1,500 years, from its publication around the year 77 until well into the renaissance. In thirtyseven books internet archive bookreader pliny s natural history. Available formats pdf please select a format to send. Free kindle book and epub digitized and proofread by project gutenberg. 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. Ancient history encyclopedia receives a small commission for each.
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 compendium of roman knowledge. Jul 12, 2018 free kindle book and epub digitized and proofread by project gutenberg. His sources were personal experience, his own prior works such as the work on germania, and extracts from other works. Pliny s natural history in thirtyseven books london. In thirtyseven books by pliny the elder, 1847, printed for the club by g. Links to translation of pliny the elder, natural history pliny the elder, who died during the eruption of vesuvius in 79 a. Natural history encyclopedic scientific work by pliny the. The biodiversity heritage library works collaboratively to make biodiversity literature openly available to the world as part of a global biodiversity community.
Pliny the elder has 280 books on goodreads with 3768 ratings. Contents of plinys natural history divided into thirtyseven books preface. His nephew pliny the younger gives an indication how devoted his uncle was to reading and studying, which was like working to him. 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 subjects as botany, zoology, and astronomy. Museums oldest natural history book now accessible online. Barclay, 184749, also by philemon holland and wernerian club page images at hathitrust pliny, the elder. 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. This is in the form of a covering letter from pliny, to accompany the gift of his treatise on natural history to his friend vespasian caesar i. By using this service, you agree that you will only keep articles.
The zoology chapters books 8 to 11 are frequently quoted, though pliny is not always acknowledged as the. Pliny the elder, who died during the eruption of vesuvius in 79 a. Open library is an initiative of the internet archive, a 501c3 nonprofit, building a digital library of internet sites and other cultural artifacts in digital form. Internet archive bookreader plinys natural history. Table of contents of the others and of authorities. Pliny the elder, tireless researcher and writer, is author of the encyclopedic natural history, in 37 books, an unrivaled compendium of roman knowledge. 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. Translated, with copious notes and illustrations classic reprint. 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.
Book i summarizes the entire contents of the work, listing the authors and sometimes the titles of the books many of which are now lost from which pliny derived his material. This extraordinary work was originally composed and written in classical latin around ad 70, and was divided into thirtyseven books. 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. Its frequent digressions into issues of morality and gossipy, occasionally rambling style would certainly not be at home in a modern encyclopedia, but its allencompassing scope covering botany, zoology, astronomy, geology. Internet archive bookreader pliny s natural history.
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