Gaius Julius Solinus
Encyclopedia
Gaius Julius Solinus, Latin
grammarian and compiler, probably flourished in the early third century. Historical scholar Theodor Mommsen
dates him to the middle of the third century.
He was the author of De mirabilibus mundi ('The wonders of the world') which circulated
both under the title Collectanea rerum memorabilium ('Collection of Curiosities'), and Polyhistor; but the latter title was favoured by the author. The work is indeed a description of curiosities in a chorographical framework. Adventus, to whom it is dedicated, is identified with Oclatinius Adventus, consul 218
. It contains a short description of the ancient world, with remarks on historical, social, religious and natural history questions. The greater part is taken from Pliny
's Natural History and the geography of Pomponius Mela
.
According to Mommsen
, Solinus also used a chronicle (possibly by Cornelius Bocchus
) and a Chorographia pliniana, an epitome of Pliny's work with additions made about the time of Hadrian
. Schanz, however, suggests the Roma and Prata of Suetonius
.
A greatly revised version of his original text was made, perhaps it is now thought by Solinus himself. This version contains a letter that Solinus wrote as an introduction to the work which gives the work the title Polyhistor ('multi-descriptive'). Both versions of the work circulated widely and eventually Polyhistor was taken for the author's name. It was popular in the Middle Ages
, hexameter
abridgments being current under the names of Theodericus and Petrus Diaconus.
The commentary by Saumaise in his Plinianae exercitationes (1689) is indispensable; best edition by Mommsen
(1895), with valuable introduction on the manuscripts, the authorities used by Solinus, and subsequent compilers. See also Teuffel
, Hist. of Roman Literature (Eng. trans., 1900), 389; and Schanz
, Geschichte der römischen Litteratur (1904), iv. I. There is an old English translation by A Golding
(1587).
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
grammarian and compiler, probably flourished in the early third century. Historical scholar Theodor Mommsen
Theodor Mommsen
Christian Matthias Theodor Mommsen was a German classical scholar, historian, jurist, journalist, politician, archaeologist, and writer generally regarded as the greatest classicist of the 19th century. His work regarding Roman history is still of fundamental importance for contemporary research...
dates him to the middle of the third century.
He was the author of De mirabilibus mundi ('The wonders of the world') which circulated
both under the title Collectanea rerum memorabilium ('Collection of Curiosities'), and Polyhistor; but the latter title was favoured by the author. The work is indeed a description of curiosities in a chorographical framework. Adventus, to whom it is dedicated, is identified with Oclatinius Adventus, consul 218
218
Year 218 was a common year starting on Thursday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Severus and Adventus...
. It contains a short description of the ancient world, with remarks on historical, social, religious and natural history questions. The greater part is taken from Pliny
Pliny the Elder
Gaius Plinius Secundus , better known as Pliny the Elder, was a Roman author, naturalist, and natural philosopher, as well as naval and army commander of the early Roman Empire, and personal friend of the emperor Vespasian...
's Natural History and the geography of Pomponius Mela
Pomponius Mela
Pomponius Mela, who wrote around AD 43, was the earliest Roman geographer. He was born in Tingentera and died c. AD 45.His short work occupies less than one hundred pages of ordinary print. It is laconic in style and deficient in method, but of pure Latinity, and occasionally relieved by pleasing...
.
According to Mommsen
Theodor Mommsen
Christian Matthias Theodor Mommsen was a German classical scholar, historian, jurist, journalist, politician, archaeologist, and writer generally regarded as the greatest classicist of the 19th century. His work regarding Roman history is still of fundamental importance for contemporary research...
, Solinus also used a chronicle (possibly by Cornelius Bocchus
Cornelius Bocchus
Lucius Cornelius Bocchus was a Lusitanian who wrote about natural history.Most of his writings were lost, but ancient authors mention his writings. Pliny the elder writes an excerpt of the Chronicle of Cornelius Bocchus in his work.- Sources :****...
) and a Chorographia pliniana, an epitome of Pliny's work with additions made about the time of Hadrian
Hadrian
Hadrian , was Roman Emperor from 117 to 138. He is best known for building Hadrian's Wall, which marked the northern limit of Roman Britain. In Rome, he re-built the Pantheon and constructed the Temple of Venus and Roma. In addition to being emperor, Hadrian was a humanist and was philhellene in...
. Schanz, however, suggests the Roma and Prata of Suetonius
Suetonius
Gaius Suetonius Tranquillus, commonly known as Suetonius , was a Roman historian belonging to the equestrian order in the early Imperial era....
.
A greatly revised version of his original text was made, perhaps it is now thought by Solinus himself. This version contains a letter that Solinus wrote as an introduction to the work which gives the work the title Polyhistor ('multi-descriptive'). Both versions of the work circulated widely and eventually Polyhistor was taken for the author's name. It was popular in the Middle Ages
Middle Ages
The Middle Ages is a periodization of European history from the 5th century to the 15th century. The Middle Ages follows the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 and precedes the Early Modern Era. It is the middle period of a three-period division of Western history: Classic, Medieval and Modern...
, hexameter
Hexameter
Hexameter is a metrical line of verse consisting of six feet. It was the standard epic metre in classical Greek and Latin literature, such as in the Iliad and Aeneid. Its use in other genres of composition include Horace's satires, and Ovid's Metamorphoses. According to Greek mythology, hexameter...
abridgments being current under the names of Theodericus and Petrus Diaconus.
The commentary by Saumaise in his Plinianae exercitationes (1689) is indispensable; best edition by Mommsen
Mommsen
Mommsen is a surname, and may refer to one of a family of German historians, see Mommsen family:* Theodor Mommsen , great classical scholar, and winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature* Tycho Mommsen...
(1895), with valuable introduction on the manuscripts, the authorities used by Solinus, and subsequent compilers. See also Teuffel
Wilhelm Siegmund Teuffel
Wilhelm Siegmund Teuffel , German classical scholar, was born at Ludwigsburg in the kingdom of Württemberg...
, Hist. of Roman Literature (Eng. trans., 1900), 389; and Schanz
Schanz
Schanz is a German surname:* Georg von Schanz , German legal scholar* "Charley" Schanz , American Major League Baseball pitcher- See also :* Schanz–Haig–Simons income, a measure of economic income...
, Geschichte der römischen Litteratur (1904), iv. I. There is an old English translation by A Golding
Arthur Golding
Arthur Golding was an English translator of more than 30 works from Latin into English. While primarily remembered today for his translation of Ovid's Metamorphoses because of its influence on Shakespeare's works, in his own time he was most famous for his translation of Caesar's Commentaries, and...
(1587).
External links
- Caii Julii Solini de Mirabilibus Mundi at The Latin LibraryThe Latin LibraryThe Latin Library is a website that collects public domain Latin texts. The texts have been drawn from different sources. Many were originally scanned and formatted from texts in the Public Domain. Others have been downloaded from various sites on the Internet . Most of the recent texts have been...
, Latin texts of both the C.L.F. Panckoucke edition (Paris 1847) and the Mommsen edition (1864). - Online Galleries, History of Science Collections, University of Oklahoma Libraries High resolution images of works by Solinus in .jpg and .tiff format.