DRN: Lesson - Pliny's Naturalis Historia in Translation

An illustration depicting Pliny the Elder (Italian text: Plinio Secundo)Pliny's Naturalis Historia in Translation

Pliny's Naturalis Historia (Natural History) is a large volume filled with contemporary understandings of nature and the universe. Pliny the Elder mused on everything from the shape of the earth to the size of space and the nature of stars. This is not light reading, but it is a fascinating view into the ancient mind.

One thing we hope you'll take away from reading the selections provided is that the human mind has a great capacity for seeking knowledge and even more than that, you are the inheritor of that curiosity! While not every observation made by Pliny turned out to be correct, the desire to know burned strongly within his mind and the minds of many other Romans. It is a wonderous thing to really feel a connection to an ancient person and see that we are all human beings - the same desire to seek knowledge remains with us to this day.

Downloads

Please download the Pliny - Selections from Natural History, Books 1-2 Links to an external site. handout. You will be reading Books 1 and 2.

Use the English Reading Handout Links to an external site. to take notes on what you have read.

Please note that this English translation of Livy is in the public domain, so was written some time ago. Because of this, it may present some difficulties, in terms of style and presentation. Be sure to contact your instructor for any additional help with the content.

If you would like to read more from Naturalis Historia, please download Pliny's Complete Natural History Links to an external site.. 

Additionally, you may listen to the Audiobook version of these selections. At a minimum, please follow along with the text so you can become familiar with the names and places mentioned in the written version. The audio files come from an open source called Libri Vox.

Pliny's Natural History - Audio Book Files

Because of the length of this work, instead of providing a series of audio files on the page, please download the Entire Set of Audiobook Files Links to an external site. (note: this is a large file). The files are contained in a Zip file, which you can open to access the entire series. The audio is listed by number, with the numbers indicating the following content:

  1. Preface and The Life and Writings of Pliny, part 1
  2. The Life and Writings of Pliny, part 2
  3. Book 1 - Dedication
  4. Book 2, Ch 1-5
  5. Book 2, Ch 6-8
  6. Book 2, Ch 9-13
  7. Book 2, Ch 14-23
  8. Book 2, Ch 24-45
  9. Book 2, Ch 46-55
  10. Book 2, Ch 56-66
  11. Book 2, Ch 67-77
  12. Book 2, Ch 78-96
  13. Book 2, Ch 97-106
  14. Book 2, Ch 107-113

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