Few writings have delved into the personality of Pliny the Elder, despite his status as one of the most renowned and prolific writers of his time. His contributions to science were monumental, consisting of numerous volumes that formed an encyclopedia. This work drew from diverse sources and addressed various fields. Notably, Pliny’s scientific writings mention “Tylos” multiple times, describing its nature, resources, and reputation for pearls.

Gaius Plinius Secundus, known as “Pliny the Elder,” was born around 23 CE. A Roman polymath who served in the military, he was given the epithet “Elder” to distinguish him from his nephew, “Pliny the Younger.” Among his works was History of the German Wars, but his most significant scientific contribution was the encyclopedia Natural History (Naturalis Historia).

Today, accessing scientific information is far less arduous than it was in the past when one had to visit public or specialized libraries to consult encyclopedias like the famous Encyclopædia Britannica, or others such as the American Encyclopedia or Collier’s Encyclopedia.

Globally, the history of encyclopedias has been subject to debate regarding which text might have first exhibited encyclopedic characteristics. The earliest such work is attributed to the Greek scholar Speusippus (born 408 BCE, died 339 BCE), who attempted to compile information on various sciences, although his work has not survived. Later, Romans like Marcus Porcius Cato (Cato the Elder) and Marcus Terentius Varro also sought to gather knowledge in foundational sciences.

Despite these efforts, the primary credit for creating a comprehensive encyclopedia belongs to Pliny the Elder. He compiled 37 volumes in his Natural History, which drew upon roughly 2,000 books authored by 100 writers, covering nearly 20,000 topics. He proudly asserted that his was the first work to amass such extensive subjects in a single volume. Researchers note that while Pliny referenced 473 authors, the actual number he consulted was significantly higher.

Pliny emphasized accessibility in his encyclopedia, avoiding rhetorical embellishments to ensure it could reach audiences of varying scientific and educational backgrounds. During the tumultuous reign of Emperor Nero (54–68 CE), Pliny retreated to focus on his writing, dedicating the preface of his encyclopedia to Emperor Vespasian (69–79 CE).

The encyclopedia encompassed all known disciplines of the time, including astronomy, geography, zoology, marine biology, anthropology, ornithology, entomology, botany, medicine, mineralogy, and gemology, among others. Pliny claimed his work was the first of its kind to cover such a vast array of subjects and sciences.

Pliny adopted a comprehensive approach to collecting information, including seemingly implausible or mythical accounts. For instance, he wrote about sea nymphs, tribes with dog-like heads and human bodies, and other fantastical creatures. This inclusiveness stemmed from his commitment to recording everything previously documented on a subject, as well as accounts from travelers and merchants during their explorations.

Note: This article has been automatically translated, the full article is available in Arabic.

Source: Akhbar Al Khaleej