Gaius plinius secundus, in english pliny the elder, was an ancient scientist, natural. Catullus describes it as the best of days poems, xiv, and seneca complains that the whole mob has let itself go in pleasures epistles, xviii. Media in category lacus curtius rome the following 4 files are in this category, out of 4 total. The younger pliny was born in 61 or 62 ce, the son of lucius caecilius of comum como and the elder plinys sister. Citations of pliny given here use the bostock and riley translation on perseus, for ease of reference regarding placenames, and use both numbering systems e. Gaius plinius secundus 23 ad 25 august 79 ad, better known as pliny the elder, was a roman author, naturalist, and natural philosopher, as well as naval and army commander of the early roman empire, and personal friend of the emperor vespasian spending most of his spare time studying, writing or investigating natural and geographic phenomena in the field, he wrote an. Pliny the younger 10 pliny the younger or gaius plinius caecilius secundus 62c. Perseus provides credit for all accepted changes, storing new additions in a versioning system. The seers declared that the pit would never close until romes most valuable possession was thrown into it. The panegyricus is an expanded, published version of plinys oration of thanks to the emperor trajan in 100 ce.
The latin text on perseus is incorrect, but fortunately lacus curtius is there to save the day. Gaius plinius secundus 23 ad 25 august 79 ad, better known as pliny the elder, was a roman author, naturalist, and natural philosopher, as well as naval and army commander of the early roman empire, and personal friend of the emperor vespasian. Cleopatras pearls, an article that originally appeared in the classical journal 52 1957. Two other explanations of the name lacus curtius are given. Pliny the younger writes that he retired to his room while the rest of the household celebrated epistles, ii. Pliny the elders natural history, quintus curtius history of alexander the great, isidore of sevilles etymologies, and macrobius saturnalia. The pool of curtius lacus curtius and forum fig trees. The epistulae are later copies of a series of personal missives by pliny the younger directed to his friends and associates. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools.
The temple of castor and pollux served as a temple as well as what other purposes. The saturnalia was the most popular holiday of the roman year. Gaius plinius secundus, in english pliny the elder, was an ancient scientist, natural philosopher, and military commander, as well as was the uncle of pliny the younger. Firth 1900 a few words and phrases have been modified. Pliny the elder, tireless researcher and writer, is author of the encyclopedic natural history, in 37 books, an unrivaled compendium of roman knowledge. Dec 25, 2009 posts about pliny written by jona lendering. This book is available with additional data at biodiversity heritage library. Curtius gives nearly the same account of this fountain. The younger pliny was born in 61 or 62 ce, the son of lucius caecilius of comum como and the elder pliny s sister. 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.
He is best known as witness to the eruption of vesuvius in 79 that destroyed pompeii, and for his dealings with the early christians when a regional governor. Letters and treatises of cicero and pliny marcus tullius. His nephew pliny the younger gives an indication how devoted his uncle was to reading and studying, which was like working to him. 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. One part of the area was never drained, but gradually became smaller until only a basin. The project gutenberg ebook of the natural history of pliny, vol i. 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.
Care is taken to gather it without the use of iron, the right hand being passed for the purpose through the left sleeve of the tunic, as though the gatherer were in the act of committing a theft. The complete latin text of book vi of the historia naturalis of c. Claiming that nothing was more precious than a brave citizen, curtius leaped, fully armed and on horseback, into the chasm, which immediately closed. When this was over, he generally took a cold bath, then some light refreshment and a little nap. See key to translations for an explanation of the format. Itaque procul ab omni sono inconcussus ipse et immotus, religato revinctoque navigio, non secus ac piaculum aliquod, trahebatur. The location of the pool of curtius is, as livy puts it, almost in the middle of the forum, where the remnants of an altar and stone border can be seen presently covered by a plastic canopy. Direct observation, informed speculation and common knowledge are combined to present a key snapshot of ancient thought and the romans perspective on the. Natural history, volume iv, books 1216 loeb classical library no.
The natural history of pliny, volume 1 of 6 by pliny, the elder author. We would like to show you a description here but the site wont allow us. The homepage for plinys natural history the historia naturalis of c. A translation of plinys letters, book 6 pliny the younger. Like to a fathers was his gentle sway, and that expression in our own language, father of a household. Today, we have the rather famous account from pliny the elders natural history 8. A mysterious chasm in the heart of the ancient roman forum, the lacus curtius was once believed to be a gateway to hell. 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.
Pliny to cornelius tacitus, 20 i have read your book and i have noted the passages which should be changed or removed as carefully as i was able. Book vii of the natural history provides a detailed examination of the human animal and is. This work is licensed under a creative commons attributionsharealike 3. Lacuscurtius is a website specializing in ancient rome, currently hosted on a server at the university of chicago. He wrote to emperor trajan asking for guidance on how he should treat the christians in his province. Borges and italo calvino come to mind the first one had plans for making an edition of pliny in spanish, with his prologue, but died before finishing the project you can. Click on the l symbols to go the latin text of each letter. Pliny the younger, panegyricus loeb classical library. These letters are a unique testimony of roman administrative history and everyday life in the 1st century. He was not an emperor or general, but a famous lawyer of his time specialising in. It is ridiculous to dismiss pliny on account of his many mistakes and factual errors and so on. The style is very different from that in the panegyricus, and some commentators maintain that pliny initiated a new genre. Gaius plinius secundus ad 232479, called pliny the elder.
The printed and scanned loeb versions and mayhoffs text on lacus curtius use both systems. The correspondence of a provincial governor and the emperor trajan, c. His letters are arranged in ten books, of which the tenth consists entirely of letters to and from the emperor trajan. He was born in either 23 or 22 ce at como in gallia transpadana into a wealthy, equestrian family. 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. The lacus curtius lake of curtius was a mysterious pit or pool in the ground in the forum romanum. The area where the forum would later be built was originally likely a lake, as the area it was in is known to have been surrounded by brooks and marshes. This final book was, significantly, not intended for publication.
Pliny the elder simple english wikipedia, the free. An xml version of this text is available for download, with the additional restriction that you offer perseus any modifications you make. Gaius plinius caecilius secundus ad 611, or pliny the younger, was the governor of bithynia ad 112 and a roman senator. Lacuscurtius pliny the elders natural history book 6. The way to read this book is the way in which you read that kind of fantastic literature that gives the illusion of fact. For i am also in the habit of speaking the truth and you hear it freely. Pliny the elders natural history is a vast encyclopaedia, surveying natural phenomena from cosmology to biology, medicine to magic. He wrote the encyclopedic naturalis historia natural history, which became an editorial model for encyclopedias.
Pliny the elder simple english wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. The panegyricus is an expanded, published version of pliny s oration of thanks to the emperor trajan in 100 ce. Such then is the present state of the world, and of the countries, nations, more remarkable seas, islands, and cities which it contains. For the ancient landmark in the roman forum, see lacus curtius. The nature of the animated beings which exist upon it, is hardly in any degree less worthy of our contemplation than its other features. Roman senator, nephew of pliny the elder, governor of bithynia pontus 109111, author of a famous collection of letters. He was educated at home and then in rome under quintilian. Gaius plinius secundus, 23 79 better known as pliny the elder, an ancient important author and scientist who wrote naturalis historia born in como, which in in current day italy, he was the son of a roman equites. Institute for advanced techology in the humanities. Jul 01, 2018 pliny to cornelius tacitus, 20 i have read your book and i have noted the passages which should be changed or removed as carefully as i was able. Book v looks at africa and asia, while book vi looks eastwards to the black sea. I am extremely desirous therefore to know your sentiments concerning spectres, whether you believe they actually exist and have their own proper shapes and a measure of divinity, or are only the false impressions of a terrified imagination. Now that weve had our christmas dinner nasi goreng in my case lacuscurtius bill thayer serves us something to read and help you digest it. Pomponius secundus, who was also his military commander in.