An unparalleled reflection of ancient Roman knowledge.

Pliny the Elder, Gaius Plinius Secundus (AD 23–79), was a Roman equestrian from Transpadane Gaul (Northern Italy) and the uncle of Pliny the Younger. He followed a career that included military service in Germany and administrative duties in Gaul and Spain under Emperor Vespasian, and became the procurator of the fleet at Misenum. He died in the eruption of Vesuvius when he went to see up close and to rescue friends.

Relentless worker, reader, and writer, he was the author of works that have now been lost; but his great work, Natural History, in thirty-seven volumes with an extensive compilation of facts (and alleged facts), survives - a source of information despite its uncritical nature.

The contents of the books are as follows: Book 1: table of contents of the others and of the authorities; 2: mathematical and metrological study of the universe; 3–6: geography and ethnography of the known world; 7: anthropology and physiology of man; 8–11: zoology; 12–19: botany, agriculture, and horticulture; 20–27: plant products used in medicine; 28–32: medical zoology; 33–37: minerals (and medicine), fine arts, and precious stones.

The edition of the Natural History from the Loeb Classical Library is in ten volumes.

Pages: 608, Year of Publication: 0101, Dimensions: 10.8x10.8cm