The Etymologies of Isidore of Seville

A complete English translation of the Etymologies of Isidore of Seville.

Stephen A. Barney (Edited and translated by), W. J. Lewis (Edited and translated by), J. A. Beach (Edited and translated by), Oliver Berghof (Edited and translated by)

9780521145916, Cambridge University Press

Paperback, published 15 April 2010

490 pages
24.6 x 19.1 x 2.3 cm, 1.03 kg

'… we should be delighted that this collaboration has been published by such a distinguished press. The book as a whole is an irreproachable work of translation … all interested in the study of the Middle Ages may certainly rejoice at this important contribution.' Ana-Isabel Magallon, The Medieval Review

This work is a complete English translation of the Latin Etymologies of Isidore, Bishop of Seville (c.560–636). Isidore compiled the work between c.615 and the early 630s and it takes the form of an encyclopedia, arranged by subject matter. It contains much lore of the late classical world beginning with the Seven Liberal Arts, including Rhetoric, and touches on thousands of topics ranging from the names of God, the terminology of the Law, the technologies of fabrics, ships and agriculture to the names of cities and rivers, the theatrical arts, and cooking utensils. Isidore provides etymologies for most of the terms he explains, finding in the causes of words the underlying key to their meaning. This book offers a highly readable translation of the twenty books of the Etymologies, one of the most widely known texts for a thousand years from Isidore's time.

Introduction
Correspondence of Isidore and Braulio
The Etymologies: I: Grammar and its parts
II. Rhetoric and dialectic
III. Mathematics, whose parts are arithmetic, music, geometry, and astronomy
IV. Medicine
V. Laws and the instruments of the judiciary, and chronology
VI. The order of scripture, cycles and canons, liturgical feasts and offices
VII. Gods and angels, prophetic nomenclature, names of the holy fathers, martyrs, clerics, monks, and other names
VIII. Church and synagogue, religion and faith, heresies, philosophers, poets, sibyls, magicians, pagans, gods of the gentiles
IX. Languages of the nations, royal, military, and civic terminology, family relationships
X. Certain terms in alphabetical order
XI. Human beings and their parts, the ages of humans, portents and metamorphoses
XII. Four-footed animals, creeping animals, fish, and flying animals
XIII. Elements, that is, the heavens and the air, waters, the sea, rivers and floods
XIV. Earth, paradise, the regions of the whole globe, islands, mountains, other terms for places, and the lower regions of the earth
XV. Cities, urban and rural buildings, fields, boundaries and measures of fields, roads
XVI. Earthly materials from land and water, every kind of gem and precious stones, ivory likewise, treated along with marble, glass, all the metals, weights and measures
XVII. Agriculture, crops of every kind, vines and trees of every kind, herbs and all vegetables
XVIII. Wars and triumphs and the instruments of war, the forum, spectacles, games of chance and ball games
XIX. Ships, ropes, and nets, iron workers, the construction of walls and all the implements of building, also wool-working, ornaments, and all kinds of clothing
XX. Tables, foodstuffs, drink, and their vessels, vessels for wine, water, and oil, vessels of cooks, bakers, and lamps, beds, chairs, vehicles, rural and garden implements, equestrian equipment.

Subject Areas: Classical history / classical civilisation [HBLA1], Literary studies: classical, early & medieval [DSBB], Language: history & general works [CBX]