Skip to main content

The Natural History of Pliny, Volume 1 (of 6): THE NATURAL HISTORY OF PLINY.

The Natural History of Pliny, Volume 1 (of 6)
THE NATURAL HISTORY OF PLINY.

  • Show the following:

    Annotations
    Resources

  • Adjust appearance:

    Font
    Font style
    Color Scheme
    Light
    Dark
    Annotation contrast
    Low
    High
    Margins
  • Search within:
    • My Notes + Comments
    • Notifications
    • Privacy
  • Project HomeAmazing Stories in Science Fiction
  • Projects
  • Learn more about Manifold

Notes

table of contents
  1. THE NATURAL HISTORY OF PLINY.
  2. PREFACE
  3. THE LIFE AND WRITINGS OF PLINY.
  4. CONTENTS. OF THE FIRST VOLUME.
  5. BOOK I.34 DEDICATION. C. PLINIUS SECUNDUS TO HIS FRIEND TITUS VESPASIAN.
  6. BOOK II. AN ACCOUNT OF THE WORLD AND THE ELEMENTS.
    1. CHAP. 1. (1.)—WHETHER THE WORLD BE FINITE, AND WHETHER THERE BE MORE THAN ONE WORLD.
    2. CHAP. 2. (2.)—OF THE FORM OF THE WORLD91.
    3. CHAP. 3. (3.)—OF ITS NATURE; WHENCE THE NAME IS DERIVED.
    4. CHAP. 4. (5.)—OF THE ELEMENTS100 AND THE PLANETS101.
    5. CHAP. 5. (7.)—OF GOD109.
    6. CHAP. 6. (8.)—OF THE NATURE OF THE STARS; OF THE MOTION OF THE PLANETS.
    7. CHAP. 7.—OF THE ECLIPSES OF THE MOON AND THE SUN.
    8. CHAP. 8. (11.)—OF THE MAGNITUDE OF THE STARS.
    9. CHAP. 9. (12.)—AN ACCOUNT OF THE OBSERVATIONS THAT HAVE BEEN MADE ON THE HEAVENS BY DIFFERENT INDIVIDUALS.
    10. CHAP. 10. (13.)—ON THE RECURRENCE OF THE ECLIPSES OF THE SUN AND THE MOON.
    11. CHAP. 11. (14.)—OF THE MOTION OF THE MOON.
    12. CHAP. 12. (15.)—OF THE MOTIONS OF THE PLANETS AND THE GENERAL LAWS OF THEIR ASPECTS204.
    13. CHAP. 13.—WHY THE SAME STARS APPEAR AT SOME TIMES MORE LOFTY AND AT OTHER TIMES MORE NEAR.
    14. CHAP. 14. (17.)—WHY THE SAME STARS HAVE DIFFERENT MOTIONS.
    15. CHAP. 15.—GENERAL LAWS240 OF THE PLANETS.
    16. CHAP. 16. (18.)—THE REASON WHY THE STARS ARE OF DIFFERENT COLOURS.
    17. CHAP. 17. (19.)—OF THE MOTION OF THE SUN AND THE CAUSE OF THE IRREGULARITY OF THE DAYS.
    18. CHAP. 18. (20.)—WHY THUNDER IS ASCRIBED TO JUPITER.
    19. CHAP. 19. (21.)—OF THE DISTANCES OF THE STARS.
    20. CHAP. 20. (22.)—OF THE HARMONY OF THE STARS.
    21. CHAP. 21. (23.)—OF THE DIMENSIONS OF THE WORLD.
    22. CHAP. 22. (24.)—OF THE STARS WHICH APPEAR SUDDENLY, OR OF COMETS270.
    23. CHAP. 23.—THEIR NATURE, SITUATION, AND SPECIES.
    24. CHAP. 24. (26.)—THE DOCTRINE OF HIPPARCHUS293 ABOUT THE STARS.
    25. CHAP. 25.—EXAMPLES FROM HISTORY OF CELESTIAL PRODIGIES; FACES, LAMPADES, AND BOLIDES295.
    26. CHAP. 26.—TRABES CELESTES; CHASMA CŒLI.
    27. CHAP. 27. (27.)—OF THE COLOURS OF THE SKY AND OF CELESTIAL FLAME.
    28. CHAP. 28. (28.)—OF CELESTIAL CORONÆ.
    29. CHAP. 29.—OF SUDDEN CIRCLES.
    30. CHAP. 30.—OF UNUSUALLY LONG ECLIPSES OF THE SUN.
    31. CHAP. 31. (31.)—MANY SUNS.
    32. CHAP. 32. (32.)—MANY MOONS.
    33. CHAP. 33. (33.)—DAYLIGHT IN THE NIGHT.
    34. CHAP. 34. (34.)—BURNING SHIELDS311.
    35. CHAP. 35. (35.)—AN OMINOUS APPEARANCE IN THE HEAVENS, THAT WAS SEEN ONCE ONLY.
    36. CHAP. 36. (36.)—OF STARS WHICH MOVE ABOUT IN VARIOUS DIRECTIONS.
    37. CHAP. 37. (37.)—OF THE STARS WHICH ARE NAMED CASTOR AND POLLUX316.
    38. CHAP. 38. (38.)—OF THE AIR AND ON THE CAUSE OF THE SHOWERS OF STONES.
    39. CHAP. 39. (39.)—OF THE STATED SEASONS.
    40. CHAP. 40. (40.)—OF THE RISING OF THE DOG-STAR.
    41. CHAP. 41. (41.)—OF THE REGULAR INFLUENCE OF THE DIFFERENT SEASONS.
    42. CHAP. 42. (42.)—OF UNCERTAIN STATES OF THE WEATHER.
    43. CHAP. 43. (43.)—OF THUNDER AND LIGHTNING.
    44. CHAP. 44.—THE ORIGIN OF WINDS.
    45. CHAP. 45.—VARIOUS OBSERVATIONS RESPECTING WINDS.
    46. CHAP. 46. (47.)—THE DIFFERENT KINDS OF WINDS349.
    47. CHAP. 47.—THE PERIODS OF THE WINDS360.
    48. CHAP. 48.—NATURE OF THE WINDS376.
    49. CHAP. 49. (48.)—ECNEPHIAS AND TYPHON.
    50. CHAP. 50.—TORNADOES; BLASTING WINDS; WHIRLWINDS389, AND OTHER WONDERFUL KINDS OF TEMPESTS.
    51. CHAP. 51. (50.)—OF THUNDER393; IN WHAT COUNTRIES IT DOES NOT FALL, AND FOR WHAT REASON.
    52. CHAP. 52. (51.)—OF THE DIFFERENT KINDS OF LIGHTNING395 AND THEIR WONDERFUL EFFECTS.
    53. CHAP. 53. (52.)—THE ETRURIAN400 AND THE ROMAN OBSERVATIONS ON THESE POINTS.
    54. CHAP. 54. (53.)—OF CONJURING UP THUNDER.
    55. CHAP. 55. (54.)—GENERAL LAWS OF LIGHTNING.
    56. CHAP. 56. (55.)—OBJECTS WHICH ARE NEVER STRUCK.
    57. CHAP. 57. (56.)—SHOWERS OF MILK, BLOOD, FLESH, IRON, WOOL, AND BAKED TILES422.
    58. CHAP. 58. (57.)—RATTLING OF ARMS AND THE SOUND OF TRUMPETS HEARD IN THE SKY.
    59. CHAP. 59. (58.)—OF STONES THAT HAVE FALLEN FROM THE CLOUDS429. THE OPINION OF ANAXAGORAS RESPECTING THEM.
    60. CHAP. 60. (59.)—THE RAINBOW.
    61. CHAP. 61.—THE NATURE OF HAIL, SNOW, HOAR, MIST, DEW; THE FORMS OF CLOUDS.
    62. CHAP. 62. (62.)—THE PECULIARITIES OF THE WEATHER IN DIFFERENT PLACES.
    63. CHAP. 63. (63.)—NATURE OF THE EARTH.
    64. CHAP. 64. (64.)—OF THE FORM OF THE EARTH.
    65. CHAP. 65. (65.)—WHETHER THERE BE ANTIPODES?
    66. CHAP. 66.—HOW THE WATER IS CONNECTED WITH THE EARTH. OF THE NAVIGATION OF THE SEA AND THE RIVERS.
    67. CHAP. 67. (67.)—WHETHER THE OCEAN SURROUNDS THE EARTH.
    68. CHAP. 68. (68.)—WHAT PART OF THE EARTH IS INHABITED.
    69. CHAP. 69. (69.)—THAT THE EARTH IS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WORLD.
    70. CHAP. 70. (70.)—OF THE OBLIQUITY OF THE ZONES484.
    71. CHAP. 71.—OF THE INEQUALITY OF CLIMATES.
    72. CHAP. 72.—IN WHAT PLACES ECLIPSES ARE INVISIBLE, AND WHY THIS IS THE CASE.
    73. CHAP. 73. (71.)—WHAT REGULATES THE DAYLIGHT ON THE EARTH.
    74. CHAP. 74. (72.)—REMARKS ON DIALS, AS CONNECTED WITH THIS SUBJECT.
    75. CHAP. 75. (73.)—WHEN AND WHERE THERE ARE NO SHADOWS.
    76. CHAP. 76. (74.)—-WHERE THIS TAKES PLACE TWICE IN THE YEAR AND WHERE THE SHADOWS FALL IN OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS.
    77. CHAP. 77. (75.)—WHERE THE DAYS ARE THE LONGEST AND WHERE THE SHORTEST.
    78. CHAP. 78. (76.)—OF THE FIRST DIAL.
    79. CHAP. 79. (77.)—OF THE MODE IN WHICH THE DAYS ARE COMPUTED.
    80. CHAP. 80. (78.)—OF THE DIFFERENCE OF NATIONS AS DEPENDING ON THE NATURE OF THE WORLD.
    81. CHAP. 81. (79.)—OF EARTHQUAKES.
    82. CHAP. 82. (80.)—OF CLEFTS OF THE EARTH.
    83. CHAP. 83. (81.)—SIGNS OF AN APPROACHING EARTHQUAKE.
    84. CHAP. 84. (82.)—PRESERVATIVES AGAINST FUTURE EARTHQUAKES.
    85. CHAP. 85. (83.)—PRODIGIES OF THE EARTH WHICH HAVE OCCURRED ONCE ONLY.
    86. CHAP. 86. (84.)—WONDERFUL CIRCUMSTANCES ATTENDING EARTHQUAKES.
    87. CHAP. 87. (85.)—IN WHAT PLACES THE SEA HAS RECEDED.
    88. CHAP. 88. (86.)—THE MODE IN WHICH ISLANDS RISE UP.
    89. CHAP. 89. (87.)—WHAT ISLANDS HAVE BEEN FORMED, AND AT WHAT PERIODS.
    90. CHAP 90.—LANDS WHICH HAVE BEEN SEPARATED BY THE SEA.
    91. CHAP. 91. (89.)—ISLANDS WHICH HAVE BEEN UNITED TO THE MAIN LAND.
    92. CHAP. 92. (90.)—LANDS WHICH HAVE BEEN TOTALLY CHANGED INTO SEAS.
    93. CHAP. 93. (91.)—LANDS WHICH HAVE BEEN SWALLOWED UP.
    94. CHAP. 94. (92.)—CITIES WHICH HAVE BEEN ABSORBED BY THE SEA.
    95. CHAP. 95. (93.)—OF VENTS587 IN THE EARTH.
    96. CHAP. 96. (94.)—OF CERTAIN LANDS WHICH ARE ALWAYS SHAKING, AND OF FLOATING ISLANDS.
    97. CHAP. 97. (96.)—PLACES IN WHICH IT NEVER RAINS.
    98. CHAP. 98.—THE WONDERS OF VARIOUS COUNTRIES COLLECTED TOGETHER.
    99. CHAP. 99. (97.)—CONCERNING THE CAUSE OF THE FLOWING AND EBBING OF THE SEA.
    100. CHAP. 100.—WHERE THE TIDES RISE AND FALL IN AN UNUSUAL MANNER.
    101. CHAP. 101. (98.)—WONDERS OF THE SEA.
    102. CHAP. 102. (99.)—THE POWER OF THE MOON OVER THE LAND AND THE SEA.
    103. CHAP. 103. (100.)—THE POWER OF THE SUN.
    104. CHAP. 104.—WHY THE SEA IS SALT.
    105. CHAP. 105. (102.)—WHERE THE SEA IS THE DEEPEST.
    106. CHAP. 106. (103.)—THE WONDERS OF FOUNTAINS AND RIVERS.
    107. CHAP. 107.—THE WONDERS OF FIRE AND WATER UNITED.
    108. CHAP. 108. (104.)—OF MALTHA.
    109. CHAP. 109. (105.)—OF NAPHTHA.
    110. CHAP. 110. (106.)—PLACES WHICH ARE ALWAYS BURNING.
    111. CHAP. 111. (107.)—WONDERS OF FIRE ALONE.
    112. CHAP. 112. (108.)—THE DIMENSIONS OF THE EARTH.
    113. CHAP. 113.—THE HARMONICAL PROPORTION OF THE UNIVERSE.
  7. BOOK III. AN ACCOUNT OF COUNTRIES, NATIONS, SEAS, TOWNS, HAVENS, MOUNTAINS, RIVERS, DISTANCES, AND PEOPLES WHO NOW EXIST OR FORMERLY EXISTED. INTRODUCTION.
    1. CHAP. 1. (1.)—THE BOUNDARIES AND GULFS OF EUROPE FIRST SET FORTH IN A GENERAL WAY.
    2. CHAP. 2.—OF SPAIN GENERALLY.
    3. CHAP. 3.—OF BÆTICA.
    4. CHAP. 4. (3.)—OF NEARER SPAIN.
    5. CHAP. 5. (4.)—OF THE PROVINCE OF GALLIA NARBONENSIS.
    6. CHAP. 6. (5.)—OF ITALY.
    7. CHAP. 7.—OF THE NINTH1167 REGION OF ITALY.
    8. CHAP. 8.—THE SEVENTH REGION OF ITALY.
    9. CHAP. 9.—THE FIRST REGION OF ITALY1264; THE TIBER; ROME.
    10. CHAP. 10.—THE THIRD REGION OF ITALY.
    11. CHAP. 11.—SIXTY-FOUR ISLANDS, AMONG WHICH ARE THE BALEARES.
    12. CHAP. 12. (6.)—CORSICA.
    13. CHAP. 13.—SARDINIA.
    14. CHAP. 14. (8.)—SICILY.
    15. CHAP. 15. (10.)—MAGNA GRÆCIA, BEGINNING AT LOCRI.
    16. CHAP. 16.—THE SECOND REGION OF ITALY.
    17. CHAP. 17. (12.)—THE FOURTH REGION OF ITALY.
    18. CHAP. 18. (13.)—THE FIFTH REGION OF ITALY.
    19. CHAP. 19. (14.)—THE SIXTH REGION OF ITALY.
    20. CHAP. 20. (15.)—THE EIGHTH REGION OF ITALY; THE PADUS.
    21. CHAP. 21. (17.)—THE ELEVENTH REGION OF ITALY; ITALIA TRANSPADANA.
    22. CHAP. 22. (18.)—THE TENTH REGION OF ITALY.
    23. CHAP. 23. (19.)—ISTRIA, ITS PEOPLE AND LOCALITY.
    24. CHAP. 24. (20.)—THE ALPS, AND THE ALPINE NATIONS.
    25. CHAP. 25. (21.)—LIBURNIA AND ILLYRICUM.
    26. CHAP. 26. (22.)—DALMATIA.
    27. CHAP. 27. (24.)—THE NORICI.
    28. CHAP. 28. (25.)—PANNONIA.
    29. CHAP. 29. (26.)—MŒSIA.
    30. CHAP. 30.—ISLANDS OF THE IONIAN SEA AND THE ADRIATIC.
  8. BOOK IV. AN ACCOUNT OF COUNTRIES, NATIONS, SEAS, TOWNS, HAVENS, MOUNTAINS, RIVERS, DISTANCES, AND PEOPLES WHO NOW EXIST OR FORMERLY EXISTED.
    1. CHAP. 1. (1.)—EPIRUS.
    2. CHAP. 2.—ACARNANIA.
    3. CHAP. 3. (2.)—ÆTOLIA.
    4. CHAP. 4. (3.)—LOCRIS AND PHOCIS.
    5. CHAP. 5. (4.)—THE PELOPONNESUS.
    6. CHAP. 6. (5.)—ACHAIA.
    7. CHAP. 7.—MESSENIA.
    8. CHAP. 8.—LACONIA.
    9. CHAP. 9.—ARGOLIS.
    10. CHAP. 10. (6.)—ARCADIA.
    11. CHAP. 11. (7.)—ATTICA.
    12. CHAP. 12.—BŒOTIA.
    13. CHAP. 13.—DORIS.
    14. CHAP. 14.—PHTHIOTIS.
    15. CHAP. 15. (8.)—THESSALY PROPER.
    16. CHAP. 16. (9.)—MAGNESIA.
    17. CHAP. 17. (10.)—MACEDONIA.
    18. CHAP. 18. (11.)—THRACE; THE ÆGEAN SEA.
    19. CHAP. 19. (12.)—THE ISLANDS WHICH LIE BEFORE THE LANDS ALREADY MENTIONED.
    20. CHAP. 20.—CRETE.
    21. CHAP. 21.—EUBŒA.
    22. CHAP. 22.—THE CYCLADES.
    23. CHAP. 23.—THE SPORADES.
    24. CHAP. 24.—THE HELLESPONT.—THE LAKE MÆOTIS.
    25. CHAP. 25.—DACIA, SARMATIA.
    26. CHAP. 26.—SCYTHIA.
    27. CHAP. 27.—THE ISLANDS OF THE EUXINE. THE ISLANDS OF THE NORTHERN OCEAN.
    28. CHAP. 28.—GERMANY.
    29. CHAP. 29. (15.)—NINETY-SIX ISLANDS OF THE GALLIC OCEAN.
    30. CHAP. 30. (16.)—BRITANNIA.
    31. CHAP. 31. (17.)—GALLIA BELGICA.
    32. CHAP. 32. (18.)—GALLIA LUGDUNENSIS.
    33. CHAP. 33. (19.)—GALLIA AQUITANICA.
    34. CHAP. 34. (20.)—NEARER SPAIN, ITS COAST ALONG THE GALLIC OCEAN.
    35. CHAP. 35. (21.)—LUSITANIA.
    36. CHAP. 36.—THE ISLANDS IN THE ATLANTIC OCEAN.
    37. CHAP. 37. (23.)—THE GENERAL MEASUREMENT OF EUROPE.
  9. BOOK V. AN ACCOUNT OF COUNTRIES, NATIONS, SEAS, TOWNS, HAVENS, MOUNTAINS, RIVERS, DISTANCES, AND PEOPLES WHO NOW EXIST OR FORMERLY EXISTED.
    1. CHAP. 1.—THE TWO MAURITANIAS.
    2. CHAP. 2. (3.)—NUMIDIA.
    3. CHAP. 3. (4.)—AFRICA.
    4. CHAP. 4.—THE SYRTES.
    5. CHAP. 5. (5.)—CYRENAICA.
    6. CHAP. 6. (6.)—LIBYA MAREOTIS.
    7. CHAP. 7. (7.)—THE ISLANDS IN THE VICINITY OF AFRICA.
    8. CHAP. 8. (8.)—COUNTRIES ON THE OTHER SIDE OF AFRICA.
    9. CHAP. 9. (9.)—EGYPT AND THEBAIS.
    10. CHAP. 10.—THE RIVER NILE.
    11. CHAP. 11.—THE CITIES OF EGYPT.
    12. CHAP. 12. (11.)—THE COASTS OF ARABIA, SITUATE ON THE EGYPTIAN SEA.
    13. CHAP. 13. (12.)—SYRIA.
    14. CHAP. 14.—IDUMÆA, PALÆSTINA, AND SAMARIA.
    15. CHAP. 15. (14.)—JUDÆA.
    16. CHAP. 16. (18.)—DECAPOLIS.
    17. CHAP. 17. (19.)—PHŒNICE.
    18. CHAP. 18.—SYRIA ANTIOCHIA.
    19. CHAP. 19. (23.)—THE REMAINING PARTS OF SYRIA.
    20. CHAP. 20. (24.)—THE EUPHRATES.
    21. CHAP. 21.—SYRIA UPON THE EUPHRATES.
    22. CHAP. 22. (27.)—CILICIA AND THE ADJOINING NATIONS.
    23. CHAP. 23.—ISAURIA AND THE HOMONADES.
    24. CHAP. 24.—PISIDIA.
    25. CHAP. 25.—LYCAONIA.
    26. CHAP. 26.—PAMPHYLIA.
    27. CHAP. 27.—MOUNT TAURUS.
    28. CHAP. 28.—LYCIA.
    29. CHAP. 29.—CARIA.
    30. CHAP. 30.—LYDIA.
    31. CHAP. 31.—IONIA.
    32. CHAP. 32. (30.)—ÆOLIS.
    33. CHAP. 33.—TROAS AND THE ADJOINING NATIONS.
    34. CHAP. 34. (31.)—THE ISLANDS WHICH LIE IN FRONT OF ASIA.
    35. CHAP. 35.—CYPRUS.
    36. CHAP. 36.—RHODES.
    37. CHAP. 37.—SAMOS.
    38. CHAP. 38.—CHIOS.
    39. CHAP. 39.—LESBOS.
    40. CHAP. 40. (32.)—THE HELLESPONT AND MYSIA.
    41. CHAP. 41.—PHRYGIA.
    42. CHAP. 42.—GALATIA AND THE ADJOINING NATIONS.
    43. CHAP. 43.—BITHYNIA.
    44. CHAP. 44.—THE ISLANDS OF THE PROPONTIS.
  10. APPENDIX OF CORRECTIONS.
  11. FOOTNOTES:
  12. THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG™ LICENSE

The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Natural History of Pliny, Volume 1 (of 6)

This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you will have to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this eBook.

Title: The Natural History of Pliny, Volume 1 (of 6)

Author: the Elder Pliny

Translator: John Bostock

Henry T. Riley


Release date: July 12, 2018 [eBook #57493]

Language: English

Other information and formats: www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/57493

Credits: Produced by Turgut Dincer, Brian Wilcox and the Online
Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This
file was produced from images generously made available
by The Internet Archive)

*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE NATURAL HISTORY OF PLINY, VOLUME 1 (OF 6) ***
The cover image was created by the transcriber and is placed in the public domain.
BOHN’S CLASSICAL LIBRARY.



PLINY’S



NATURAL HISTORY.
THE

NATURAL HISTORY

OF

PLINY.
TRANSLATED,



WITH COPIOUS NOTES AND ILLUSTRATIONS
BY THE LATE



JOHN BOSTOCK, M.D., F.R.S.



AND



H. T. RILEY, Esq., B.A.,

LATE SCHOLAR OF CLARE HALL, CAMBRIDGE.
VOL. I.
LONDON:

HENRY G. BOHN, YORK STREET, COVENT GARDEN.

MDCCCLV.
Annotate
Next Chapter
PREFACE
PreviousNext
Early Scifi
Public domain in the USA.
Powered by Manifold Scholarship. Learn more at
Opens in new tab or windowmanifoldapp.org