Its main advantage over opus caementicium was that it is waterproof, the reason for its widespread use in Roman baths, aqueducts, cisterns and any buildings involving water. One of Pliny’s main literary models for his section on zoology was the work of Aristotle. He uses a simple classification system of size, starting with the large mammals, such as elephants, and ending with tiny insects. Pliny's use of the term signine references Signia (modern Segni), the town in Latium which was famous for its tiles. In Books 811, Pliny the Elder covers the vast topic of zoology. Pliny the Elder describes its manufacture: Įven broken pottery has been utilised it being found that, beaten to powder, and tempered with lime, it becomes more solid and durable than other substances of a similar nature forming the cement known as the Signine composition, so extensively employed for even making the pavements of houses. In his Natural History, Pliny the Elder organises his discussion of crafts according to the raw materials they utilize. A piece of opus signinum from the Roman Villa of Haselburg, near Höchst im Odenwald Reconstructed opus signinum in the European Archaeological Park of Bliesbruck-Reinheim It is a form of Roman concrete ( opus caementicium), the main difference being the addition of small pieces of broken pot, including amphorae, tiles or brick, instead of other aggregates. Pliny attempted to document all known facts about the natural world. The prevailing wind would not allow his ship to leave the shore. His Natural History contained over a million words in 37 volumes. Pliny the Elder died on August 25, 79 AD, while attempting the rescue by ship of a friend and his family from the eruption of Mount Vesuvius that had just destroyed the cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum. Pliny The Elder: Great Minds SciShow 7.44M subscribers Join Subscribe 9.6K Share 393K views 9 years ago Before there was Google, there were encyclopedias. He served as cavalry officer in Germany and governor (procurator) in Spain, and at the. Opus signinum ('cocciopesto' in modern Italian) is a building material used in ancient Rome. Pliny the Elder wrote the worlds first encyclopedia. Born into the municipal aristocracy of Comum, Pliny (PLIHN-ee) the Elder followed an equestrian career.
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