The biodiversity heritage library works collaboratively to make biodiversity literature openly available to the world as part of a global biodiversity community. On india xxvi 96 but before we go on to a detailed account of these countries, it is suitable to. Although pliny did not distinguish between fact, opinion, and speculation in his 37volume treatise, he can be credited with. In thirtyseven books internet archive bookreader pliny s natural history. 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. If you are generating a pdf of a journal article or book chapter, please. The project gutenberg ebook of the natural history of pliny.
The project gutenberg ebook of the natural history of. The only translation of plinys natural history which has hitherto appeared in the english language is that by philemon holland, published in. The project gutenberg ebook of the natural history of pliny, vol i. Pliny the elder, who died during the eruption of vesuvius in 79 a. 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. The silurus of pliny is perhaps a species of cuviers genus schilbe, although true siluri are found in the nile. Plinys historia naturalis natural history is a vast encyclopaedic work and the only book by him to have survived. 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. Goff p786 haincopingerreichling 87 variation bm 15th cent.
It is divided into 37 books across 10 volumes, and was intended to cover the breadth of ancient knowledge. Although pliny did not distinguish between fact, opinion, and speculation in his 37volume treatise, he can be credited with the creation of the first scientific encyclopaedia. Museums oldest natural history book now accessible online. Plinys natural history is an astonishingly ambitious work that ranges from astronomy to art and from geography to zoology. This image might not be in the public domain outside of the united states.
New york state college of agriculture at cornell university ithaca, n. Selections from the history of the world, commonly called the natural history of c. 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 natural history became a model for later encyclopedias and scholarly works as a result of its breadth of subject matter, its referencing. Though pliny was on intimate terms also with titus, to whom he dedicated his natural history, there is little ground for the assertion, sometimes made, that he. 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.
The natural history of pliny digital collections national. Plinys natural history project gutenberg selfpublishing. Book vii of the natural history provides a detailed examination of the human animal and is. The natural history of pliny, volume 1 of 6 by the elder pliny free. The natural history of pliny digital collections national library of. The natural history has been translated into english by h. Historia naturalis was one of the first manuscripts ever printed and, perhaps more importantly, the first published natural history book. Pdf the natural history of pliny download ebook for free. The natural history of pliny, volume 1 of 6 by the elder. Natural history pliny the elder john healey download. He claimed to have recorded 20,000 pieces of information, although modern scholars say he underestimated his own output. The creator and year of publication are essential information and must be provided.
Publication date 184749 topics natural history publisher. 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. 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 natural history was one of the first ancient european texts to be printed, in venice in 1469. 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. The table below is a summary based on modern names for topics. Natural history pliny project gutenberg selfpublishing. Internet archive bookreader plinys natural history.
Table of contents of the others and of authorities. The natural history of pliny volume 6 digital collections. Pliny the elder 2379 ce, tireless researcher and writer, is author of the encyclopedic natural history, in 37 books, an unrivaled. The homepage for plinys natural history the historia naturalis of c. 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. Pliny the elders natural history is a vast encyclopaedia, surveying natural phenomena from cosmology to biology, medicine to magic. 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. The work, which was largely complete by 77 ce, is divided into 37 books and covers such. An illustration of a computer application window wayback machine an illustration of an open book.
Jul 12, 2018 the natural history of pliny, volume 1 of 6 language. 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. American museum of natural history handbook series no. In thirtyseven books, volumes plinys natural history. Pliny the elder, natural history loeb classical library. 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. Dec 20, 2016 its author is roman philosopher and scholar gaius plinius secundus, commonly known as pliny the elder ad 2379. Natural history by pliny the elder, 97801404441, download free ebooks, download free pdf epub ebook. For centuries the natural history served as the western worlds primary source of scientific information and theory book i summarizes the entire contents of the work, listing the authors and sometimes the titles of. Pliny the elder wrote the worlds first encyclopedia. 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 pliny, the elder the online books page.
Philemon hollands english translation of 1605 has influenced literature ever since. Natural history encyclopedic scientific work by pliny the. Internet archive bookreader pliny s natural history. The natural history of pliny, volume 6 bohns classical library the natural history of pliny, henry thomas riley. Natural history, encyclopaedic scientific work of dubious accuracy by pliny the elder, completed in 77 ce as naturae historiae and conventionally known as naturalis historia. Natural history encyclopedic scientific work by pliny. His natural history contained over a million words in 37 volumes pliny attempted to document all known facts about the natural world. Links to translation of pliny the elder, natural history. Covid19 is an emerging, rapidly evolving situation. Links to translation of pliny the elder, natural history pliny the elder, who died during the eruption of vesuvius in 79 a. The natural history of pliny the metadata below describe the original scanning.
His nephew pliny the younger gives an indication how devoted his uncle was to reading and studying, which was like working to him. 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. If you are generating a pdf of a journal article or book chapter, please feel free to enter the. Topics natural history publisher london printed for the club by g. Naturalis historia is an early encyclopedia published circa ad 7779 by pliny the elder. Free kindle book and epub digitized and proofread by project gutenberg. The natural history of pigeons illustrated by thirtytwo plates coloured, and numerous woodcuts with memoir of pliny by andrew crichton the naturalists library ornithology vol v gallinaceous birds part iii pigeons natural history of pigeons 1st edition 1835. Download plinys natural history is an astonishingly ambitious work that ranges from astronomy to art and from geography to zoology. Natural history wikisource, the free online library. 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. 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.
Download pliny s natural history is an astonishingly ambitious work that ranges from astronomy to art and from geography to zoology. 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 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. The name coracinus has been applied to more than, one fish of a sooty colour. Even the errors of these authors are a portion of the history of nature, and plinys record of them becomes valuable, where otherwise his narrative tempts only. 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. The direct links to the latin text of this section of pliny are possible due to the advice of bill thayer at the university of kansas. The only translation of pliny s 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. The work, which was largely complete by 77 ce, is divided into 37 books and covers such subjects as botany, zoology, and astronomy. Historical traditions at wells, 1464, 1470, 1497 pdf. Pliny himself died while investigating the volcanic eruption that destroyed pompeii in ad 79, and the natural curiosity that brought about his death is also very much evident in the natural history a book that pdf proved highly influential right up until the renaissance and that his nephew, pliny the younger, described as full of variety. Barclay, 184749, also by philemon holland and wernerian club page images at hathitrust pliny, the elder. Pliny s natural history is an astonishingly ambitious work that ranges from astronomy to art and from geography to zoology.
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