Aelian (Claudius Aelianus), a Roman born ca. 170 CE at Praeneste, was a pupil of the rhetorician Pausanias of Caesarea, and taught and practised rhetoric. Expert in Attic Greek, he became a serious scholar and studied history under the patronage of the Roman empress Julia Domna. He apparently spent all his life in Italy where he died after 230 CE.

Aelian's "On the Characteristics of Animals," in 17 books, is a collection of facts and beliefs concerning the habits of animals drawn from Greek authors and some personal observation. Fact, fancy, legend, stories and gossip all play their part in a narrative which is meant to entertain readers. If there is any ethical motive, it is that the virtues of untaught yet reasoning animals can be a lesson to thoughtless and selfish mankind. The Loeb Classical Library edition of the work is in three volumes.

The "Historical Miscellany" (Loeb no. 486) is of similar nature. In 14 books, it consists mainly of historical and biographical anecdotes and retellings of legendary events. Some of Aelian's material is drawn from authors whose works are lost.

Aelian's "Letters"--portraying the affairs and country ways of a series of fictitious writers--offer engaging vignettes of rural life. These are available in Loeb no. 383.

Aelian (Claudius Aelianus), a Roman born ca. 170 CE at Praeneste, was a pupil of the rhetorician Pausanias of Caesarea, and taught and practised rhetoric. Expert in Attic Greek, he became a serious scholar and studied history under the patronage of the Roman empress Julia Domna. He apparently spent all his life in Italy where he died after 230 CE.

Aelian's "On the Characteristics of Animals," in 17 books, is a collection of facts and beliefs concerning the habits of animals drawn from Greek authors and some personal observation. Fact, fancy, legend, stories and gossip all play their part in a narrative which is meant to entertain readers. If there is any ethical motive, it is that the virtues of untaught yet reasoning animals can be a lesson to thoughtless and selfish mankind. The Loeb Classical Library edition of the work is in three volumes.

The "Historical Miscellany" (Loeb no. 486) is of similar nature. In 14 books, it consists mainly of historical and biographical anecdotes and retellings of legendary events. Some of Aelian's material is drawn from authors whose works are lost.

Aelian's "Letters"--portraying the affairs and country ways of a series of fictitious writers--offer engaging vignettes of rural life. These are available in Loeb no. 383.

Aelian (Claudius Aelianus), a Roman born ca. AD 170 at Praeneste, was a pupil of the rhetorician Pausanias of Caesarea, and taught and practised rhetoric. Expert in Attic Greek, he became a serious scholar and studied history under the patronage of the Roman empress Julia Domna. He apparently spent all his life in Italy where he died after AD 230.

Aelian's "On the Characteristics of Animals," in 17 books, is a collection of facts and beliefs concerning the habits of animals drawn from Greek authors and some personal observation. Fact, fancy, legend, stories and gossip all play their part in a narrative which is meant to entertain readers. If there is any ethical motive, it is that the virtues of untaught yet reasoning animals can be a lesson to thoughtless and selfish mankind. The Loeb Classical Library edition of the work is in three volumes.

The "Historical Miscellany" (Loeb no. 486) is of similar nature. In 14 books, it consists mainly of historical and biographical anecdotes and retellings of legendary events. Some of Aelian's material is drawn from authors whose works are lost.

Aelian's "Letters"--portraying the affairs and country ways of a series of fictitious writers--offer engaging vignettes of rural life. These are available in Loeb no. 383.

Originally published in 1953, this volume gathers together the poems of Nicander (2nd century BC), the renowned Ancient Greek poet, physician, and grammarian. Consummately edited, the text contains the original Greek poetry with a parallel page translation, together with a brief biography, an introduction to the verse, and a generous notes section at the end. This remains a fascinating edition that will be of value to anyone with an interest in Nicander.

Originally published in 1953, this volume gathers together the poems of Nicander (2nd century BC), the renowned Ancient Greek poet, physician and grammarian. Consummately edited, the text contains the original Greek poetry with a parallel page translation, together with a brief biography, an introduction to the verse and a generous notes section at the end. This remains a fascinating edition that will be of value to anyone with an interest in Nicander.

Medicine, zoology, botany and mineralogy are the themes of Nicander's two extant poems of the Hellenistic period - "Theriaca" and "Alexipharmaca." Fragments of other poems also survive, including some fairly substantial pieces of his "Georgica." His didactic poetry, along with that of his approximate contemporary Aratus, had some influence on later poets, notably Virgil and Ovid. This fully annotated English translation of Nicander's work was first published in 1953.