Natural History

A sciapod, described by Pliny in his Naturalis Historia.

Naturalis Historia was written by Pliny the Elder around AD 77-79.

It is a 37-book encyclopedia about the natural world, covering topics such as animals, plants, geography, medicine, minerals, and astronomy.

Pliny collected knowledge from many earlier writers. Although some information is inaccurate by modern standards, the work is an important source for understanding ancient Roman knowledge and culture.

Archive

• Books by Pliny, the Elder