Volume I. Natural History
Books 1-2

Pliny the Elder, tireless researcher and writer, is author of the encyclopedic Natural History, in 37 books, an unrivaled compendium of Roman knowledge. The Loeb edition is in ten volumes, of which Volumes IV-VI contain the books related to country life. These are: Books 12-13, on trees: types, qualities, and uses; 14, vineyards and varieties of wine; 15, olives and olive oil and fruit trees; l6, forest trees and their products; 17, cultivated trees; 18-19, farming and vegetable gardening; 20, medicines obtained from garden plants; 21-22, flowers and herbs.

From Pliny we can learn much about the decorative arts in the age of Augustus. He provides information about the use of gold and silver in coins, jewelry, furnishings, and art (Book 35); bronze used in the decorative arts; notable statues (Book 34); painting and sculpture (Book 35); architecture (Book 36); jewels and precious stones (Book 37). These books are in volumes IX-X, which both have handy topical indexes.

Series No. 330 / 372 pages / ISBN 0-674-99364-0