Pliny (Gaius Plinius Secundus)

Pliny, Gaius Plinius Secundus (Senior); Gaius Plinius Secundus (Maior), ca. 23-79 years. n. e., erudite, a Roman writer. Born in Como in Lombardy, was educated in Rome. Belonged to the estate of riders and performed a number of functions designed to representatives of this caste. When Vespasian was consistently procurator Spain, Germany, Gaul, Africa. In 70 AD, probably, was in the General Staff of Titus at Jerusalem, and then became the procurator of Syria. Died in 79 g. during the eruption of Vesuvius, when he, as leader of the Roman fleet stationed at Mizena, hastened to help people in distress and take this opportunity to try to observe at close range eruption. described his nephew, Pliny the Younger in his letters to Tacitus, it is our duty and other biographical information and a list of works of P.

P. was extremely hard working man. Many of his works have been lost, among them, and two historical, are used Tacitus: History of war with Germany (Bella Germaniae libri XX) in 20 books and from Aufidiya Bass (A fine Aufidii Bassi; verbatim: "from the end of the essay Aufidiya Bassa) in 31 book. The only surviving piece is a work of encyclopedic Natural History (Historia naturalis) in 37 books. This encyclopedia contains information from different areas of knowledge. Its construction is as follows: kn. 1 - preface with a dedication to the Emperor Titus, index and contents, list of sources with naming of Greek and Roman authors, book. 2 - cosmology and general description of the universe; kn. 3-4 - Description of the Earth, information about the countries and peoples of Europe; kn. 5-6 - Geography of Asia and Africa; kn. 7 - anthropology and human physiology; kn. 8.11 - Zoology; kn. 12-19 - botany; kn. 20-27 - medicinal plants and drugs of vegetable origin; kn. 28-32 - medicines of animal origin; kn. 33-37 - mineralogy and metallurgy and their practical application in painting and sculpture, as well as in the processing of gold, silver, copper and precious stones. However, his work is a window of information not only from the natural sciences.

For example, archeology and art history are required invaluable information book. 33-37, telling about the processing of metals and stones. This is the only surviving ancient encyclopaedia was widely known, it was used in antiquity, and in the Middle Ages. Style P. quite chaotic, uneven and, apparently, depends on the involved sources. Issued and the necessary preparation work carried out to him after his death his nephew, Pliny the Younger.