gems, history of gemology, Roman, Rome, Greek, Greece, history of mineralogy, history of science, Arabic mineralogy

Rackham’s Loeb Classical Library edition presents Books 3–7 of Pliny the Elder’s Natural History in parallel Latin and English texts. These books comprise Pliny’s geographical and ethnographical survey of the known world: Books 3–6 describe Europe, Africa, and Asia, including the Mediterranean lands, the Near East, India, and regions beyond, while Book 7 turns to humanity, discussing human characteristics, unusual peoples, remarkable births, longevity, exceptional physical and intellectual abilities, inventions, and other notable features of human life. Pliny draws extensively upon earlier Greek and Roman authorities, travelers, administrators, and geographical writings, preserving a large body of ancient geographical and ethnographic information, often intermingled with reports of marvels and fabulous peoples. For the history of gems and precious materials, these books provide geographical context for the regions from which luxury goods and mineral products reached the Roman world, although Pliny’s systematic treatment of stones and gemstones occurs later in Book 37.