Riley 18161878 and john bostock 17731846, first published 1855, text from the perseus project, licensed under a creative commons attributionsharealike 3. The works subject area is thus not limited to what is today understood by 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. For the original article on pliny see dsb, see vol. Topics included are the mathematics and metrology of the universe. Links to translation of pliny the elder, natural history pliny the elder, who died during the eruption of vesuvius in 79 a. Pdf natural history bks i ii v 1 download full pdf. Natural history, volume ii, books 3 7 loeb classical library no. 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. How many things, too, are looked up on as quite impossible until they have been actually effected. 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. Pliny the elder, tireless researcher and writer, is author of the encyclopedic natural history, in 37 books, an unrivaled compendium of roman knowledge. Natural history, volume vi, books xxxxiii loeb classical library 392. This work is in the public domain in the united states of america.
Pliny the elder, the natural history, books 1 11, translated by henry t. Book 11, insects, their physiology and habits especially bees, silkworms, spiders. Pliny the elder 2379 ce, tireless researcher and writer, is author of the encyclopedic natural history, in 37 books, an unrivaled. Xii through xix, botanyand it is here that pliny made his most. Indeed, what is there that does not appear marvelous when it comes to our knowledge for the first time. Buy natural history penguin classics reprint by pliny the elder, john healey, john healey isbn. 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 the elder by whalley, joyce irene and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. 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. A selection by pliny the elder book penguin classics 1991. Pliny the elder, the natural history john bostock, m.
Pliny the elder has 280 books on goodreads with 3761 ratings. Natural history is an account that can only be given by. Natural history begins with aristotle and other ancient philosophers who analyzed the diversity of the natural world. Natural history encyclopedic scientific work by pliny the elder. Naturalis historia latin for natural history is an encyclopedia published circa ad 7779 by pliny the elder. Pliny jones w h s abebooks abebooks shop for books. The homepage for plinys natural history the historia naturalis of c. Volume 2 holland, philemon, pliny, the elder, wernerian club on. Pliny is probably referring to the reverse overshot waterwheels operated by. Pliny natural history vol ix books xxxiiixxxv by h rackhamtrans and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. 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. Natural history was understood by pliny the elder to cover anything that could be found in the world, including living things, geology, astronomy, technology, art and humanity. Natural history, volume iii, books 811 loeb classical library pliny. Natural history bks i ii v 1 available for download and read online in other formats.
The british library public domain pliny the elder writing in his study beside a landscape populated with animals at the beginning of pliny s historia naturalis, central italy rome, c. Jan 2, 2017 late hellenistic and roman period images of alexander. Natural history, volume ii, books 37 loeb classical library. This edition can be found on the internet archive, with the exception of books. Appendix on other viviparous species, passing on to animals in general their methods of reproduction, senses, nutrition, friendship and hostility between different species, sleep. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. Buy a discounted hardcover of natural history online from australias leading online bookstore. 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 may refer either to 1 pliny the elder gaius plinius secundus, author of the natural history, or to his nephew and adoptive son 2 pliny the younger gaius plinius caecilius secundus, a writer of letters. Pliny s natural history is an extraordinarily important document in the history of western science.
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. Book description harvard university press, united states, 1989. Natural history, volume iii, books 811 loeb classical library. Pliny himself defines his scope as the natural world, or life. He published the first 10 books in ad 77, but had not made a final revision of the remainder. A selection by pliny the elder book penguin classics 1991 clean. Douce pliny florentine venice pliny the elder, natural history douce pliny florentine venice 147610 pliny the elder, natural history, printed in venice, 1476 illuminations attributed to gherardo di giovanni, florence 14451497. This book is available with additional data at biodiversity heritage library.
Pliny the elder, the natural history books 1237, translated by henry t. Pliny the elders natural history is published in many volumes covering a number of topics, which he differentiates by books. Natural history page from an italian edition of natural history by pliny the elder, c. Pliny is probably referring to the reverse overshot waterwheels operated by treadmill and. Pliny s natural history is an astonishingly ambitious work that ran. Pliny natural history, volume iii, books 8 11 loeb classical library no 353. Pliny the elder s most popular book is natural history. Natural history pliny wikimili, the free encyclopedia wikimili, the free encyclopedia. It had four wheels and was used in travelling, like the carpentum.
Even the errors of these authors are a portion of the history of nature, and. See more ideas about alexander the great, greek art and statue. Links to translation of pliny the elder, natural history, by h. It is remarkable for its size, but is covered with holes and full of extraneous matter. But over the centuries these mistakes have revealed more about pliny s world than the accuracies. Owl print 11 x 14, owl painting, whimsical illustration, art print, watercolor print. Pliny s natural history is an astonishingly ambitious work that ranges from astronomy to art and from geography to zoology. He published the first 10 books in ad 77, but had not made a final revision of the.
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