"In the whole world, wherever the vault of heaven turns, Italy is the most beautiful of all lands, endowed with all that wins Nature's crown . . . No land is more distinguished in regard to what man may reasonably expect to enjoy--chiefly crops, wine, olive oil, fleeces, flax, clothes and young cattle."
Yes, my friends. Pliny the Elder was a locavore--and have you heard that the word "locavore" is the New Oxford American Dictionary's 2007 Word of the Year? (Frankly, I find that word a bit awkward, but I'm obviously all behind any movement that encourages eating close to home around the world.)
Interestingly, Pliny the Elder died when the volcano, Mount Vesuvius, erupted and covered the ancient city of Pompeii in 79 AD. Even more interesting, of course, is that his 37-book series, Natural History, survived.
My older daughter, bless her heart (that's a "Southernism" usually reserved for when you are going to insult someone, by the way, but here I mean it completely endearingly) actually sought out and purchased for me this amazing collection of selected works from Natural History. It is extraordinarily readable, with little paragraphs about a wide variety of topics: Near Eastern sea routes, comets, time, trees and plants, will power, cinnamon and cassia, milk and butter, purple dye, aqueducts, and on and on and on.
So there I was this week, with my new Pliny the Elder shopping tote (I chose the one about the conscience for me, and the one about new beginnings as gifts) and my Pliny book, looking like a Pliny groupie, when I fell upon another book that caught my eye, 1491: New Revelations of the Americas Before Columbus. 1491! It felt almost contemporary!
And so I got it, and along with Pliny, it is my vacation reading for the next two weeks. I believe that the best way to prepare for moving forward is by looking back, and learning.
And I have much to learn.
(Same book, different cover)
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3 comments:
Pliny the Elder is one of the reasons we know about Vesuvius. He was a true hero, selflessly giving his own life in an attempt--as head of the local naval force--to save others trapped on the far side of the bay from his estate. At first he watched the whole thing unfold, and knowing what it was still went. However, overcome by fumes and gasses the rescue force was repelled and went into another harbor.
It was the next attempt which brought Pliny's end. They made their landing and found people in need of aid. Pliny died trying to get a few more people out of harms way.
His works are brilliant, timeless and inspirational. Science is built on the back of Pliny's work, but arrogantly won't admit it.
Thank you for inspiring me to read Pliny again. And Merry Christmas!
Podchef
http://kitchengardens.net
Wow! What a great summary of the noble Pliny's demise! And what brave acts of generosity for us to remember just before Christmas. Thank you for sharing your knowledge--and your Pliny passion--with us!
Okay you have both inspired me I shall have to check out Pliny, my Mum visited Pompeii when she was 16 she is now 87 she will be interested in Pliny and she loves reading!
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