The influence and use of Pliny’s Naturalis Historia in Isidore of Seville’s Etymologiae

Abstract

This article discusses the controversial subject of the use - whether direct or indirect, through intermediary sources or excerpta - of Pliny’s Naturalis Historia in Isidore of Seville’s Etymologiae. The types of sources used by Isidore are analysed according to the classification established by Fontaine [1960: 149]: 1) sources documented thanks to a specific parallel text; 2) sources used in a non-literal way; 3) evidence from previous sources on the same subject, which Isidore probably did not use himself; 4) texts that, without having a direct relationship to a passage in Isidore, contain a string of words identical to those used by him. On the basis of various examples, some direct mentions of Pliny, other indirect uses and possible direct uses are analysed, even if the author is not mentioned. We also consider how Isidore works, through a comparison of some texts. Here, the technique called ‘conflatio’ is claimed as a form of work of Isidore when composing his Etymologies. In the conclusion, we defend Isidore’s knowledge and use of Pliny’s Naturalis Historia. It is likely that Isidore had Pliny’s entire work in his library, even if he used it only in a timely manner for what he needed. We also discuss the actual need to carry out an in-depth, systematic study of this issue.