Dublin Core
Title
Plin. HN 6,122
Subject
Kingdoms of the Parthian Empire
Creator
Veit Erik Brandt
Date
late 1st c. CE
Rights
Pliny the Elder, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Language
Latin
Literary Sources Item Type Metadata
Work:
Naturalis Historia
Location:
Roman Italy, Roman Empire
Date:
late 1st c. CE
Original Text:
Regna Parthorum duodeviginti sunt omnia; ita enim dividunt provincias circa duo, ut diximus, maria, Rubrum a meridie, Hyrcanium a septentrione. ex his XI, quae superiora dicuntur, incipiunt a confinio Armeniae Caspiisque litoribus, pertinent ad Scythas, cum quibus ex aequo degunt; reliqua VII regna inferiora appellantur. quod ad Parthos attinet, semper fuit Parthyae in radicibus montium seapius dictorum, qui omnes eas gentes praetextunt.
Translation:
The Parthians possess in all eighteen kingdoms, such being the divisions of their provinces on the coasts of two seas, as we have stated, the Red Sea on the south, and the Caspian Sea on the north. Of these provinces the eleven designated the 'Upper Kingdoms' begin at the frontiers of Armenia and the shores of the Caspian, and extend to the Scythians, with whom the Parthians live on terms of equality. The remaining seven kingdoms are called the 'Lower Kingdoms'. In regards to the Parthians, Parthia has always been seated at the foot of said mountains*, which surround all of these peoples.
*= Caucasus
*= Caucasus
Edition/Translation:
Brosius, M. 2006.
The Persians. An introduction. Peoples of the Ancient World 1. Abington.
Brodersen, K. (ed. and trans.). 1996.
C. Plinius Secundus d.Ä., Naturkunde 6 [liber VI]. Zürich & Düsseldorf.
Online Reference:
Manuscript of Pliny the Elder, Naturalis Historia, Florence, Biblioteca Medicea Laurenziana, Inv.-Nr. Plut. 82.4, fol. 3r. accessed under Wikimedia (30.01.2021).