Synopses & Reviews
Pliny the Elder, tireless researcher and writer, is author of the encyclopedic Natural History, in 37 books, an unrivaled compendium of Roman knowledge. The Loeb edition is in ten volumes, of which Volumes IV-VI contain the books related to country life. These are: Books 12-13, on trees: types, qualities, and uses; 14, vineyards and varieties of wine; 15, olives and olive oil and fruit trees; l6, forest trees and their products; 17, cultivated trees; 18-19, farming and vegetable gardening; 20, medicines obtained from garden plants; 21-22, flowers and herbs.
From Pliny we can learn much about the decorative arts in the age of Augustus. He provides information about the use of gold and silver in coins, jewelry, furnishings, and art (Book 33); bronze used in the decorative arts; notable statues (Book 34); painting and sculpture (Book 35); architecture (Book 36); jewels and precious stones (Book 37). These books are in volumes IX-X, which both have handy topical indexes.
Synopsis
An unrivaled compendium of ancient Roman knowledge.
Pliny the Elder, Gaius Plinius Secundus (AD 23-79), a Roman of equestrian rank of Transpadane Gaul (N. Italy), was uncle of Pliny the letter writer. He pursued a career partly military in Germany, partly administrative in Gaul and Spain under the emperor Vespasian, and became prefect of the fleet at Misenum. He died in the eruption of Vesuvius when he went to get a closer view and to rescue friends. Tireless worker, reader, and writer, he was author of works now lost; but his great Natural History in thirty-seven books with its vast collection of facts (and alleged facts) survives--a mine of information despite its uncritical character.
The contents of the books are as follows. Book 1: table of contents of the others and of authorities; 2: mathematical and metrological survey of the universe; 3-6: geography and ethnography of the known world; 7: anthropology and the physiology of man; 8-11: zoology; 12-19: botany, agriculture, and horticulture; 20-27: plant products as used in medicine; 28-32: medical zoology; 33-37: minerals (and medicine), the fine arts, and gemstones.
The Loeb Classical Library edition of Natural History is in ten volumes.
Synopsis
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 1: table of contents of the others and of authorities; 2: mathematical and metrological survey of the universe; 3-6: geography and ethnography of the known world; 7: anthropology and the physiology of man; 8-11: zoology; 12-19: botany, agriculture, and horticulture; 20-27: plant products as used in medicine; 28-32: medical zoology; 33-37: minerals (and medicine), the fine arts, and gemstones.
The Loeb Classical Library edition of Natural History is in ten volumes.
Synopsis
Pliny the Elder (23-79 CE) produced in his Natural History a vast compendium of Roman knowledge. Topics included are the mathematics and metrology of the universe; world geography and ethnography; human anthropology and physiology; zoology; botany, agriculture, and horticulture; medicine; minerals, fine arts, and gemstones.
About the Author
Plinythe Elder, Gains Plinius Secundus (Au 23-79), a Roman of equestrian rank of Transpadane Gaul (N. Italy), was uncle of Pliny the letter writer. He pursued a career partly military in Germany,partly administrative in Gaul and Spain under the emperor Vespasian, and became prefect of the fleet at Misenum. He died in the eruption of Vesuvius when he vent to get a closer view and to rescue friends.
Table of Contents
Introduction
Natural History
Book XVII
Book XVIII
Book XIX
Index